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Recycle, Reuse & Reduce: new life for old denims

By: Fibre2Fashion.com
The afterlife of denims is always blue. Used and old denims can be diverted
from the landfill and given a new life by recycling it into many useful
applications.

Increase in population has driven the demand for consumer goods, which
ultimately results in more quantities of landfills. This is not only depleting
the available natural resources, but is also deteriorating the environment.
Recycling and reusing products is the need of the hour. Denim apparels
have become an inevitable part of every individual’s wardrobe. Old and used
denims can be creatively recycled into unimaginable, creative, and useful
products.

Recycled denims are adorable for a number of reasons. It is basically made

from post industrial denim fabrics, which is scrap. Furthermore the energy
spent in recycling old materials is lesser comparatively over the energy spent
in converting raw materials into products.

What’s on your wall? Recycled denim for insulation:

Old denims can be recycled into

insulation materials used for homes,
offices, hotels etc. These insulation
materials are made up of 85% factory
scraps consisting of cotton fibres, and
natural denim. They buy scraps from
the manufacturers directly. The
insulation material made out of these
scraps is 100% recyclable. It provides
outstanding thermal virtues and 30%
better sound absorption comparatively
over similar sound proof materials.
Approximately 300 tons of waste
denim generally used for landfill can be
transformed into insulation material.
500 pair of jeans can completely insulate one home.

Levi Strauss & Co. has recently launched a $100,000 denim insulation fund to reuse
unwanted denim while keeping it out of landfills. “Denim is a staple in nearly everyone’s
wardrobe, but it shouldn’t be a staple in our landfills,” said Jill Nash, vice president of
corporate affairs, Levi Strauss & Co. “By encouraging our consumers to donate unwanted
jeans and then promoting recycled denim as insulation in buildings, we can green our
communities from the inside out and extend the lifecycle of every pair of jeans.” (Source:
levistrauss.com)
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Old denims find way into new cars:

Old denims now have found their way into the next generation Ford Focus cars. Recycled
cotton materials from used blue jeans are used as a part of carpet backing and sound
absorption in Ford cars. Post consumer cotton used in a car is obtained from
approximately two pair of jeans. “Recycled content is a way to divert waste from landfills
and reduce the impact of mining virgin material.” says Carrie Majeske, product
sustainability manager of Ford. (Source: corporate.ford.com)

Recycling denim pants into sandals:

Another great way of personalizing old jeans is recycling them into sandals. They make
soft, springy shoes making a perfect accessory for both eco warriors, and funky
fashionistas. The sandals have good foot support.

Creative crafts from old jeans:

Denim is a prime fabric for recycling. Shaped with

a little creativity craft items made from old
denims give an instant flair, and style for a
minimum or almost no cost. Cutting off the old
jeans short and adding laces give a new twist to
old denims. Legs of the old jeans will make
wonderful wine bags. Cutting the good parts of
denims into squares and sewing them together
makes an excellent quilt. Apart from this used
denim fabrics also make appealing purses,
pillows, aprons, pot holders, place mats, and
many more.

Recycled denims are a great and creative way to dress up while going one’s contribution to
the environment as well. Recycled products have the lowest carbon footprint. So its time to
recycle, reuse, and reduce carbon footprints.

References:

1. planetgreen.discovery.com
2. treehugger.com
3. corporate.ford.com
4. recycleyourjeans.com
5. allfreecrafts.com

Image Courtesy:

1. allfreecrafts.com
2. greenlivingideas.com
3. besttopdesign.com