Lindex expands textile reuse and recycling scheme

Swedish fashion retailer Lindex is expanding its Use, Reuse and Recycle initiative, which allows customers to hand in used textile for recycling and refuse to help the company’s long-term goals to close the material loop.

The scheme, which launched in limited stores in 2014, is now being expanded to including all stores in Sweden and Norway, and come autumn will also include 30 stores in Finland.

The expansion comes as the Swedish retailer teams up with second-hand store Myrorna, where the collection textiles will be either sold or recycled to create new products, where they become parts in new products such as cloths for the industry or isolation material.

"Every year approximately eight kilos of textiles are thrown away in Sweden. We want to change that, and together with our customers, reuse old textiles in the best possible way,” explains Sara Winroth sustainability manager at Lindex. “Our long-term goal is to close the material look and use fibres recycled by consumers in our own production in order to decrease our need of new raw materials.”

Since Lindex started its Use, Reuse and Recycle scheme it has collected more than six tons of textiles.

Myrorna sustainability manager, Emma Enebog added: "This collaboration gives us the possibility to reach new donors and is really in line with our ambition to increase reuse and make it easier for people to donate instead of throwing away.

“In addition the collaboration with Lindex contributes to us making a profit that is dedicated to social work for people in need of help and support in Sweden.”

Image: courtesy of Lindex