Earth5R

ESG & CSR For Clothing, Apparels & Fast Fashion Industry 

Case Study: Fast Fashion Company’s Sustainable Textile Recycling Program with Earth5R

INTRODUCTION

A leading fast fashion company which is known for its rapid production cycles, was struggling with a serious waste problem due to the synthetic fibers used in its clothing. Fast fashion items were being discarded quickly, contributing to a growing environmental problem. To address this issue, the company collaborated with Earth5r to initiate a large-scale recycling and collection program, focused on turning fashion waste into growth prospects through a circular economy approach.

THE ISSUE AT HAND

The fast fashion model, while popular for its affordable nature, had led to an overwhelming generation of synthetic fiber waste. Consumers throw away clothing after a short usage period, but the synthetic material of these clothes make recycling difficult. The company thus needed a sustainable solution that not only reduced waste but also empowered communities.

EARTH5R’S INTERVENTION & SOLUTION

    • Earth5r structured a comprehensive campaign to handle the problem at both the community and environmental levels. Here’s how the program incorporated sustainable fashion practices in the program:

      Collection Campaign and Setup: Earth5r launched a social campaign across different urban areas, encouraging locals to drop off their used fast fashion clothing in specially designed collection boxes that were placed in residential buildings. The project received overwhelming community support, with thousands of clothing products being collected.

      Segregation and Livelihood Creation: The collected fabrics were sent over to a facility in a nearby slum area, where Earth5er had established a livelihood program that employed around thousand women. These women were trained to segregate the clothing into three categories:

      • Category 1: Reusable Clothes: Clothes in good condition were disinfected and cleaned under strict supervision maintaining proper hygiene conditions. These were then donated to homeless people and those in need through one of Earth5r’s NGO partners.

      • Category 2: Upcyclable Clothes: Clothes that were not in wearable condition but could be upcycled were cleaned and made into new products such as rugs, handicrafts, and other sustainable goods.

      • Category 3: Non-Reusable, Non-Upcyclable Clothes: Clothes that could neither be reused nor upcycled were sent to recycling facilities, where they were processed and repurposed. These synthetic fibers were used to make materials for goods like construction tiles.

OUTCOMES

  • 5 Tons of clothing in good condition were given away to the homeless locals, ensuring essential needs were met while achieving significant waste reduction through Earth5r’s NGO partners.
  • Clothes Upcycled: Around 8 Tons of clothing were upcycled and made into sustainable products like rugs and handicrafts, contributing to a growing market of eco-friendly goods.
  • Clothes Recycled: On an average 12 Tons of synthetic fiber clothing were sent to recycling facilities, where they were processed and repurposed into products for construction and other industrial uses.

  • Livelihood Creation:
    Around 1,000 women from local slum communities were provided with stable employment through this initiative. The program generated significant income and improved their families’ quality of life.
  • Carbon Offset and Environmental Impact:
    The program resulted in a total carbon offset of 1,500 tons by preventing waste from reaching landfills, reducing the need for virgin materials, and promoting reuse and recycling of synthetic fibers.
  • Circular Economy Value:
    The overall value generated through the process of upcycling and recycling efforts was approximately Rs.10 Crores. This significantly contributed to the local economy and supported sustainable fashion practices.

THE ROAD AHEAD

The success of this project has led the fast fashion company and Earth5r to explore further partnerships, with the aim to scale this program across other urban areas. With plans to expand collection centers and establish additional livelihood programs in more cities, this initiative is set to continue reducing waste, generating jobs, and contributing to a sustainable circular economy.

About Earth5r

Earth5r is a sustainability-driven platform that offers solution to companies to take on-ground action and achieve their ESG goals. This is done via innovative community engagement and circular economy models. Through its tailored initiatives, Earth5r helps companies minimize their environmental footprint while enhancing social value.