Ok Canada, we need a program like this here in our great country! We are a nation of denim lovers too, aren’t we? I think it’s time we started dropping our jeans for a cause!
Recently, our neighbours to the south kicked off another successful recycling campaign aimed at recycling all those worn out, yet beloved, American denim jeans. Already in its ninth year, the Blue Jeans Go Green denim recycling program is the brainchild of Cotton Incorporated. With over one million pieces of denim collected to date, Cotton Incorporated has diverted over 600 tons of denim waste from landfills since the programs inception.
So what happens to all those pairs of worn out jeans? The get recycled – and made into sheets of denim insulation! What a great idea! This denim insulation then gets distributed to various organizations across the United States, including Habitat For Humanity.
“J.Crew brands has announced their continued participation in a fall denim drive in partnership with Cotton Incorporated’s Blue Jeans Go Green™ denim recycling program in J.Crew and Madewell retail stores. The drive first kicked off in 74 Madewell stores on August 12, while J.Crew’s 269 participating stores started the program on August 21. Both brands have decided to extend their participation in the denim drive – J.Crew will host until December 31, 2014 and Madewell will host until January 31, 2015.
J.Crew brands first partnered with the denim recycling program earlier in 2014 with much success. “We are delighted that J.Crew has decided to continue to support Blue Jeans Go Green™,” said Andrea Samber, Co-Director of Strategic Alliances at Cotton Incorporated. “We are also thrilled that Madewell has joined in the partnership and has introduced their loyal denim customers to the program.”
During the denim drive, customers can bring pairs of old jeans to their local J.Crew or Madewell store. Those who contribute during the drive will receive $20.00 towards their next denim purchase in-store. The denim collected will then be recycled into UltraTouch™ Denim Insulation as part of the Blue Jeans Go Green™ program.”
I chose to highlight the work of Erek Hansen, known as “Eco Erek”, a 14-year-old who has taken part in the Blue Jeans Go Green program for the last few years, collecting over 20,000 pairs of used denim jeans himself. That’s pretty amazing for anyone – let alone a 14-year-old teenager. So great to see a young kid doing so much to help our environment, and communities in need!
This video made me think of something I never really thought of before – our love of our denim. Ever notice how attached many of us are to our favourite pair of jeans?
Consumers care about their denim in a way that they don’t seem to care about most other apparel products.” Ric Hendee – Cotton Incorporated
I would have to say that is true, from what I’ve seen in my years of wearing denim!
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Disclosure: Canadian Blog House received compensation for this post. All opinions are our own.
