Fiber Project

2.2 Fiber Project EN

As of December 2022, we have reused or recycled more than 50,438 kg of clothing through 27 recycling stations in Shanghai
with the support of our growing number of partners.

Our Partners

Our Recycling Stations

Our custom-branded clothing recycling stations around the city provide the public with a convenient and responsible option to dispose their old or unused clothes.

Through a Closed-Loop System,
we try to ensure that little to none of the valuable resources that went into making our clothing are discarded as waste into landfills and incinerators.

Environmental Impact

In a finite planet, we need to manage our resources more efficiently and intelligently.

Treating old or unwanted items as resources or raw materials for new products instead of as waste, reduces the need to burn more coal, dig for more oil, pollute more water, or deplete more land.

REUSE

Clothing that is still relatively new and wearable are sorted and sent to less-developed countries or regions to be donated or sold to low-income communities, providing them with affordable apparel.

This typically accounts for 25% – 35% (up to 65% in EU or US).

UPCYCLE

Some clothing are repurposed through creative re-use of its material, and transformed into new products with equal or greater value, using little to no additional energy, water, or other resources.

This accounts for about 8% – 10%.

RECYCLE

Most of the clothing we collect is mechanically broken down into raw fiber before they are once again spun into new yarn and woven into new textiles. These are then made into new garments.

This accounts for 45% – 55%.

DOWNCYCLE

The remainder is converted into non-woven textiles where they are typically made into household products like mops and cleaning cloth, or used as insulation and sound proofing material for the construction and automobiles industries.

Other uses include stuffing for toys, sofas and car seats.

One of the key objectives of the Fiber Project is also to help our community better understand the benefits and impacts of textile recycling.

For every unit of clothing we collect, we save approximately 60% of the resources (and environmental impact) required to produce a unit of new clothing. (Read Technical Research)

Through careful sorting and selection,
the Fiber Project provides children in underprivileged communities with decent and clean clothing.

Social Impact

Clean and decent clothing is possibly one of the most under-appreciated possessions for most people.

But for children in impoverished communities, the clothes we provide make a significant difference to the children’s physical and emotional well-being.

We work with schools in underprivileged communities.
Clothing in good condition is carefully sorted and selected.
Children with clothing needs are individually identified with the assistance of the school teachers and principals.
Each child receives a package of clothing that is appropriate for her/him.

A video or a million words…

UNICEF

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