Five good things we love this week: Repair, renew and reuse
This week we love companies that are creating waves in the recycling, repurposing and repairing industry to close the loop in industry waste. Many companies are identifying the need to take responsibility for the full lifecycle of their product, including what happens to it when it is no longer useful. We have featured five interesting concepts.
1. United Repair Centre
This fantastic business “are social pioneers on a mission to repair the clothing industry.” A one-stop shop for circular solutions, this innovative company has a goal “to lead a revolution of repairs by putting people first. Together, we are on the way to leading B2B clothing life extension services, with a comprehensive suite of solutions fostering repair as central to brand circularity.
Our mission is to create direct jobs on a large scale, predominantly for those distant from the labour market, while processing millions of pieces of clothing annually. Through our innovative approach, we're demonstrating the profitability of extending clothing lifetimes and fostering job creation, supported by our worldwide presence, cooperative ecosystem, and role as social pioneers.”
Working alongside brands to repair, renew and remake clothing not only creates a circular solution for a fast fashion industry, but creates further revenue opportunities for brands.
https://www.unitedrepaircentre.com/
2. VEJA x DARWIN
VEJA X DARWIN is a test hub for repairing and recycling to launch the store of the future in Bordeaux. A similar concept has also just launched in the Veja store in Madrid.
“Darwin is a different place, a life-size playground for ecological and social innovation, inspired by urban cultures. …VEJA has chosen this hybrid place to launch its new project: a space to clean, repair and recycle your old pairs.
VEJA x DARWIN brings together never launched VEJA prototypes, sneakers with minimal defects at reduced prices and a few pairs of old collections.
Since 2005, VEJA has been creating sneakers differently, mixing social projects, economic justice and ecological materials.
Clean, repair, recycle VEJA x DARWIN’s goal is to test a laboratory and invent the store of the future. A shoemaker’s workshop will repair and clean worn pairs of sneakers, while those in poor condition will be collected and recycled.”
https://project.veja-store.com/en/single/limits
3. Worn Wear by Patagonia
“Worn Wear allows you to trade in and buy used Patagonia® gear.
85% of clothing ends up in landfills or gets incinerated.* One of the best things we can do for the planet is keep stuff in use longer and reduce our overall consumption. That means buying less, repairing more and trading in gear when you no longer need it.”
The website allows you to trade in your used Patagonia clothing for store credits, and consumers can also ‘shop used’ as well as new.
https://wornwear.patagonia.com/
4. On X Novoloop
On is an athletic clothing company that believes in the power of movement. In a recent collaboration with Novoloop it has created a pair of trainers with ‘lifecycled plastic’ soles. Novoloop says,
“Our Lifecycling™ platform transforms non-recyclable plastics, such as bags and packaging, into performance materials. We chemically alter the post-consumer polyethylene to create building blocks, which we use to make thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). This reduces carbon emissions by up to 41% compared to traditional methods.
Then, when scrap is generated in the process of using TPU, we take it back and recycle it.”
On has a mission to create a more sustainable future.
“We believe progress lies in technological innovation. Experimenting better. From the humble garden hose stapled to the outsole of our first prototype – all the way to our ultimate vision of building a brighter future with fossil-free materials and circular systems. Our three main focuses are: fossil-free materials, design for circularity and circular business models.”
The company offers subscription trainers. Once you wear them out (after six months or more), you send them back for recycling and receive a new pair.
5. Greentoys
This lovely company makes toys from recycled milk bottles!
“At its core, Green Toys Inc. has always been an eco-friendly toy company. In fact, we say that to us, “every day is Earth Day.” Our commitment to sustainability and playfulness is part of our DNA and we hope to inspire others to share in this passion.
From our 100% recycled materials to our US-based manufacturing, we’re raising awareness about sustainability while delivering unquestionably safe products. We believe that the best way to encourage environmental change is through goods people buy and use every day—and in our case that’s children’s products.
We care about your kids – how they play, what they play with, and what the future holds. We are constantly exploring and innovating to deliver the best products possible for a playful planet for all.”
