A H&M Recycling Initiative

H&M launched a new initiative in 2013 which focuses on recycling old clothing. The main goal of the initiative is to ensure that all unwanted clothing, or textile materials, can be reused or recycled. They are accepting any form of old clothing that you might have which can be split into three different categories:

• Rewear – clothing that can be worn again will be sold as second hand clothes.
• Reuse – old clothes and textiles will be turned into other products, such as cleaning cloths.
• Recycling – everything else is turned into textile fibres, and used for things like insulation.

We think that this is a fantastic idea. It enables people to discard unwanted clothing without feeling like they have ‘wasted’ clothing. It is also of great benefit for the planet as a whole. As the fashion industry grows and more and more people are demanding clothes, the number of natural resources that we can use to make clothing gets smaller. We are actually now at a point where the number of natural resources is less than the demand for clothing. This means that action needs to be taken in order to ensure that demand for clothing can be met. This is why I believe the initiative to be a great idea. It helps to lift the burden placed on the planet by our clothing needs whilst not dropping the amount of clothing that we want.

How does this relate to hoarding?

You might wonder then how this could relate to hoarding. If you are suffering from hoarding then  you may have a number of clothes that you don’t use. We understand how difficult it is to part with items especially when there is an emotional connection to the item. One thing to consider though, especially if you are looking to start tackling a hoard or even just clear out a few items, is the positive effect you could have on other people and the planet.

By donating items you could make another person’s life better by allowing them to buy and wear your clothes. Even if the clothes you have are no longer fit to wear, your donation could be a big help. It allows H&M to recycle your clothing into other materials, or clothing, which  means that less of our planet’s natural resources are being used up.

I think this is a really good opportunity for those suffering with hoarding to have the chance to start tackling their hoard. One of the reasons that people start hoarding is due to a fear of wasting items. By donating items to this initiative all of the items that you donate will serve a purpose in the future which is fantastic because you know that no matter how much you donate, none of it will be wasted.

Find out more about how you can donate to the initiative in the article below.

 

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Remember, if you or someone you know is suffering from hoarding, you can contact us at www.facebook.com/CloudsEndCIC for help.

To read more stories like this one, why not take a look at some of our other blog articles here.