Clothes recycling is a labour-intensive process. Clothing collected through doorstep collection by local authorities or charities or clothes recycling bins ends up at a sorting facility.*
Once there, the method of garment checking is done manually. Better quality garments are baled, exported to developing countries and sold by local merchants.
Articles unfit for reuse (eg. torn/ stained)are divided into material types and recycled. Cotton and linen get cut into industrial rags. Wool will be shredded and made into felt or yarn.
With so many clothing items still ending up in landfills worldwide, we all do more to keep clothing out of the ground.
Below is an infographic of the process. Comment below if anything important is missed out.
If it’s more convenient, try H&M recycling service
