Clothing retailer H&M has said a dress it launched earlier this year dubbed as one of the world’s first truly recycled clothing items has been “greatly appreciated”. In a move welcomed by the Textile Recycling Association (TRA), H&M launched the dress in March which is made from 50% recycled denim and 50% wood pulp.
The vast majority of textiles which are recycled are sorted and re-worn in other countries, predominantly in Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Current technology means it is difficult to recycle them into new clothes, but markets do exist for things such as wipers, mattress fillings and insulation. This is mainly for lower grade material which is more difficult to sell on. The move by H&M was praised by Alan Wheeler, director of the TRA, who told letsrecycle that the body “welcomes” moves to include the recycled fibres derived from old clothing in the manufacture of new textiles. “Because jeans are usually of a similar colour blue and a relatively homogenous nature this makes them relatively easy to recycle compared to other textile products,” he explained.
A H&M spokesperson said: “The dress was very appreciated and we are thrilled that we could introduce this new more sustainable material to our customers and fans. The use of new, innovative more sustainable materials clearly shows H&M groups commitment to become 100% fully circular.”
Source: Let’s Recycle
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