Lifecycle
Resources Waiting to Recirculate
80% of a textile’s environmental and climate impact comes from the fibre, yarn and fabric production.
5–10% are saved by recycling. It just makes new textile from old.
64% are saved by upcycling — our approach. We reuse textiles, just as they are. No environmentally burdensome recycling processes.
Reuse first, recycling only comes in as the last step, once reuse is no longer possible.
Source: Mistra Future Fashion, report 2019.05, p. 15 — Environmental and climate impact of Swedish clothing consumption.
MATERIAL
Our material comes from high quality hotel textiles. They were made to last, to keep hotel guests comfortable and allow for a good night’s sleep.
Hotels take good care of their textiles and work closely with laundry service companies to keep textiles in service as long as possible. Inevitably textiles will be removed from service due to simple stains or holes.
This is when Reused Remade enters the picture. The first stage of the material’s lifecycle is coming to an end as it sets foot into its second life.
REUSE
It is actually quite simple. We reuse the textile just as it is—there is no need for a recycling process. We cut, print and stitch beautiful and functional products for everyday use.
Each product is unique. There is history in the different patterns on the material we receive. The hotel linens we receive are naturally white. It is part of its history. When we dye or add colour, we use water-based dyes.
PRODUCTION
We choose our partners carefully. We only work with laundry service companies, stitching factories and printing facilities that follow ethical and fair production practices. For example, our sewing factory in Pakistan is Sedex-certified certified. It was also certified as Good Environmental Choice until December 31, 2022, when the Swedish Nature Conservation Society chose to phase out the Good Environmental Choice Textil labeling area.
Compared to virgin or recycled material our pre-used textiles make for better working conditions in factories. That is because our textiles have already been washed in their first life, most harmful lint and chemicals are already removed before they reach our production partners.
CONTRIBUTION
Reused Remade was evaluated by SDSN Northern Europe in 2018 and our circular business model contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) numbers 6, 8, 12 and 14.
For textiles, 64% of the environmental and climate impacts are attributed to the fiber, thread, weaving and dying processes. These are steps we avoid when reusing hotel textiles.
We design products that are functional and made to last, like our carrier bags, that have the durability of a lifetime. They are washable and can be used over and over and over again!