5 brands which encourage people to recycle clothes
With “Fast Fashion” contributing more to climate change than most other industries, there is a dedicated and tangible effort in the business to reduce, reuse, and recycle clothes.
Sustainability is not simply a new buzzword used in marketing, but rather a change in the zeitgeist.
Millennials and Generation Z are more environmentally conscious than previous generations, and they’re more than happy to make changes in their shopping habits in order to fight climate change.
Some brands are also changing their ways to keep up with the change in the times, with some actively encouraging customers to recycle clothes by offering incentives.
Levis
We all know Levis and have probably owned a pair of their jeans at some point. The denim giants have been offering discounts on their products in return for customers leaving a bag of any brand of clean, dry clothes or shoes at their collection boxes in store.
Shoppers in the USA will receive a 20% discount voucher, while people in the UK and Europe will be handed a 10% discount.
Levis’ Vice President of Sustainability, Michael Kobori, says the aim is to change consumer behaviour and make recycling clothes “the norm”.
H&M
One of the first big brands to offer rewards for old clothes on a large scale was H&M. The company rolled out garment collection boxes in their stores all over the world, with the idea of making it as easy as possible for customers to recycle clothes.
The reward vouchers differ from country to country, but in the UK for example, every time a shopper donates a bag of clothes, they receive a £5 voucher off their next £30 shop. The clothes can be from any brand and in any condition.
Marks and Spencer
M&S launched their “Shwopping scheme” way back in 2012, with the idea of reducing the amount of clothes that end up in landfills.
The British retailer wants customers to hand over an old or unwanted garment whenever they buy a new one, hoping to kick-start a “buy one, give one” culture.
This could allow unwanted items to be resold, reused or recycled by its charity partner Oxfam. The scheme is part of Marks and Spencer’s Plan A programme, an expansion of its partnership with Oxfam which began in over a decade ago.
On top of that, if customers donate a branded item, they will receive a voucher for £5 off when they spend £35.
The North Face
Outdoor gear specialist and industry giant The North Face puts all its recycled clothes towards nature conservation.
Through its Clothes The Loop Program the company encourages people to drop off unwanted clothing and footwear of any brand and in any condition at one of their our stores. All proceeds go towards the Conservation Alliance, a charity which funds community-based campaigns to protect wilderness and recreation areas.
Customers will also receive a $10 reward coupon toward their next purchase every time they donate.
Madewell
Denim label Madewell’s Denim Donation Program takes in your old jeans and puts them to good use by donating them to make insulation for Habitat for Humanity houses.
As if that wasn’t reason enough to donate, for every pair of jeans you hand in, the company will give you $20 off your next jeans purchase.
Sustainability and helping to recycle clothes is the future
It’s no coincidence that brands which are making a concerted effort in sustainability practices are faring better than those which are not.
With consumers more and more aware of brands environmental practices, companies need to change with the times in order to stay relevant.
At immago, we have years of experience with brands of all shapes and sizes.
We’ve helped steer them through stormy periods of the industry, and this latest drive towards sustainability is no different.
Contact us today if you have any questions about how we can help your business become more eco-friendly, or if you have any questions about sustainable practices, the textile supply chain, or anything else related to the textile industry.
If your business wants to take a step towards a greener model, then have a chat with our friendly and knowledgeable staff who will be happy to help.