Old clothes as raw materials for your new clothes
Return logistics
To be circular, it is of course a must to keep the chain closed. Therefore, it is vital to collect the delivered products after use. Together with its partners PostNL and Dobbi, Schijvens Corporate Fashion organises the ‘return logistics’ with an innovative approach.Â
Recycling Counter
We began manufacturing circular corporate fashion in 2017. This means that we collect the client’s used clothing and use it for the production of new circular corporate fashion. Check out our recycling counter to view the current state of our progress.
8
6
4
7
6
4
Distributed as recycled
2
1
0
2
9
1
7
Recycled in production
5
3
8
9
9
1
R-ladder
At Schijvens Corporate Fashion we collect used clothing. We do this NOT in order to reuse or recycle the clothing as a low-grade product, but in order to return it to the chain as a high-grade product. The R-ladder, which is also used by the government, is used as a guideline for this. The customer can choose between different options that are connected to the R-strategies via a completely innovative portal:
RE-COVER
Cleaning and return to stock when your employee leaves the company for example.
RE-PAIR
When the article is damaged it can be sent to Schijvens Corporate Fashion for repair.
Return procedure
The client collects the clothes in boxes or containers, depending on the size of the location. The customer can then easily arrange a collection order via the Schijvens portal. The clothing is then collected by PostNL and, depending on the R-selection, is transferred to Dobbi (for cleaning) or Schijvens (for repair, restock or recycling).Â
Environmental savings
Using your used corporate fashion as a raw material for new clothes reduces pollution and waste: about 96% water consumption, 36% energy consumption and 20% CO2 emissions. Working with a good feeling is also part of the clothing you wear!
96%
water
20%
CO2
35%
energy
Recycling
We collect the used clothing in our own distribution centre in Hilvarenbeek. There, the clothing is sorted, counted, bundled and registered. The bales of clothing are transported by sea to the recycling factory in Turkey, where they are shredded and refined. We mix these textile fibres with fibres from recycled polyester to make the yarn strong enough. We then spin them into new yarns that we use to knit and weave fabrics and then manufacture corporate fashion.
How do the clothes get past customs?
Together with our recycling partner Gama, we have designed and constructed a machine that processes the clothing with a blade on a conveyor belt and then presses it into a bale. This enables us to comply with Turkish import regulations. Across the border, our recycling partner Gama has a special permit that allows them to import our clothes. As a result, we have already transported more than 200,000 kilograms of worn clothing to the recycling plant.Â
