Beginning February 2013,
customers will be able to exchange used garments for shopping discounts in
H&M stores (in all 48 markets worldwide). Sustainability is an important
part of H&M’s culture, and with this, the Swedish retailer strives to reduce
the environmental impact of clothes throughout their lifecycle.
“Our sustainability
efforts are rooted in a dedication to social and environmental responsibility.
We want to do good for the environment, which is why we are now offering our
customers a convenient solution: to be able to leave their worn out or defective
garments with H&M” says Karl-Johan Persson, CEO
H&M.
H&M will be the
first fashion company to roll out garment collecting in select stores worldwide.
Through this global initiative, H&M’s customers can help save natural
resources and contribute to reduced environmental impact by avoiding textile
waste. Any pieces of clothing, from any brand, and in any condition will be
accepted. In return, the customer will receive a voucher for each bag of
clothing donated.
Every year, tons of
textiles are thrown out with domestic waste, and end up in landfills. Over 95%
of these clothes could be used again; re-worn, reused or recycled - depending on
the state of the garment. Through its Conscious Foundation, H&M has made it
its mission to reduce the environmental impact of garments throughout the
lifecycle by closing the loop on textile fiber and supporting social projects
along H&M’s value chain. The aim is to find long-term technical solutions to
reuse and recycle textile fibers on a larger scale.
