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The short and long answer: order a takeout bag. If you’re wondering where to recycle your clothing there are convenient ways to recycle your clothes from the comfort of your home. Brands can ship takeout bags with prepaid labels that you can ship back to them with your old clothing. Some retailers will take back old clothing with their label to be repaired, reused or recycled. And of course there are thrift, vintage and swapping websites and apps where you can also mail your clothing to be sold, recycled or donated.
If you’re worried about what happens to your clothing that doesn’t make it to your local Goodwill, you can rest assured that there are several sustainable brands partnering with companies that will break down your clothes and shoes to turn them into other materials like insulation. This solution ensures that your clothing is truly part of a circular life cycle and will minimize the amount of clothing and textile waste that is sent to landfills. So however you want to recycle those used pieces in your closet, know that they don’t have to be turned into landfill waste, but can have a second life. Happy recycling!
For Days: Recycle Everything In Your Closet
There’s a lot to love about this basics clothing brand. Their clothes are made from recycled and GOTS-certified organic cotton. Every order funds organizations that fight against plastic pollution. And, they will take back your old clothing in exchange for credit.
How It Works: Order a Take Back Bag. The bag can fit 25 pounds of old clothes (including undies). Once full use the prepaid shipping label to send back your old clothing. When they receive your items you’ll be reimbursed the $20 that you paid originally and you’ll receive a $20 credit towards For Days.
Levis: Recycle Denim
The heritage denim brand has been making strides to offer customers a chance to recycle their pre-loved denim. In 2017 a take back program rolled out in the U.K. Now, the brand offers a few recycling bins at several of their stores for customers to recycle their old jeans so that they can be turned into products like insulation.
How It Works: Visit your local Levi’s store and bring in your old jeans. In return you’ll also receive 20% off your next Levi’s purchase.
Reformation: Sell or Donate Clothing
Reformation, the cool it-girl brand from California has teamed up with online thrift store ThredUp to offer customers a way to donate or sell their old clothing, shoes and accessories.
How It Works: You can either sell or donate old items from your closet. Begin by using these links to order a Payout Kit or Donation Kit. Once your receive your bag fill it with high quality clothing, shoes and accessories. You can learn more about their quality standards here. Then drop your bag off to a FedX or USPS. Once your bag is received you’ll earn credits on Reformation’s site and ThredUp will make a $5 donation on your behalf to Circular Fashion Fund.
Native Shoes: Donate Your Shoes
Our goal by 2023, is for each and every pair of Natives Shoes to be 100% life cycle managed.
Native Shoes was launched with a great mission. The brand gives back to nonprofits and they’ve recently launched their Plant shoe made from pineapple leaf, cotton and materials sourced from plant sources like olive oil, corn and hemp.
How It Works: If you’re looking to give your worn shoes a second life, you can mail them to Native via their partnership with Zappos of Good. Login and create an account, then print a return label to put onto your box of shoes. Your shoes will be donated to partners across the globe. And, if they’re Native shoes they will be recycled and reground into materials used for seating, flooring and insulation.