Have you been thinking about how to recycle old jeans?
Hands up if you own a pair of jeans! We’ve probably all got a pair – maybe even more. On average, we own 4 pair of jeans – now that is a lot of denim. Thankfully, authentic denim is made mostly from cotton, which is a sustainable fibre which can be stripped down to its natural form and turned into something new. We all need to know how to recycle old jeans and why.
I want to learn how to recycle old jeans
It is really important to learn how to recycle old jeans because of the devastating effect the production of jeans has on the environment. In China’s Xintang province, over 300 million pairs of jeans are made every year. What is even more staggering is the mix of toxic chemicals with 100 of gallons of water it takes to dye a single pair of jeans. This has caused environmental damage to rivers and ecosystems in China, Bangladesh and India. It is estimated that 70% of the rivers and lakes in Asia are polluted by 2.5 billion gallons of contaminated water produced by the textile industry.
Jeans can’t be that bad… right? When you know how to recycle old jeans you might think again
But what makes this process so environmentally poisonous? One of the most popular types of jeans is the ‘distressed’ look. To achieve this particular fashionable style takes several chemical-loaded washes which all contain heavy metals including cadmium, chromium, mercury, lead and copper which were found in 17 out of 21 samples, according to Greenpeace.
So, we have to ask ourselves, are brand names compromising our planet for profit? Not necessary; back in 2006, Levi’s stores across the UK, launched their green jeans which are made with completely organic materials that uses sustainable production processes. Likewise. M&S has been successful with its Fairtrade jeans, promoting the use non-harmful chemicals and pesticides on their cotton crops.
A great way to teach people how to recycle old jeans, is to order a recycled clothing bin from us. We will pay you an upfront cash amount, and when your bin is full, we will collect your unwanted jeans and give them a second chance at life for people in poorer communities, without further damage to our planet.