Tentree launches circularity initiatives to tackle clothing waste

North American fashion brand, Tentree, is excited to announce the launch of their innovative Circularity by tentree program. This one-of-a-kind initiative will move the company closer to a fully closed-loop system by providing customers with ways to recycle or resell their old tentree clothing through partner programs Treet and SuperCircle.

In 2018, an estimated 11 million tons of textile waste were dumped in landfills, a 170 percent increase from 2000. Depending on the fabric, clothing items can remain in landfills for millennia without decomposing. Through their collaboration with textile recycler SuperCircle and resale expert Treet, Circularity by tentree is the first solution to combine the two routes of “reuse” and “recycle.”

The program aims to keep tentree clothing out of landfills and in use as new, upcycled items or as other tentree products. Customers submit their apparel to SuperCircle after requesting a free shipping label, and the company determines:

The item is eligible for resale. If so, the item will be listed on tentree’s Treet-powered resale shop, which will provide a selection of reduced, previously owned tentree items.

The thing is repurposed. When the clothing has been through too many adventures to be resold, tentree’s recycling partner, SuperCircle, will make sure that the goods are disassembled and recycled into new materials that may be used to make insulation, padding, or more clothes.

Diana Seung, president of tentree, said that their number one prioroty with Circularity by tentree was to keep clothing out of landfills. By preserving things, whether in their original form or as new upcycled products, you not only reduce trash but also the product’s carbon footprint and the need for new resources. Setting up a circularity program was the next step in closing the loop; eventually, we’d want to see recycled tentree products make a comeback in their newest releases.

After returning their item, shoppers will earn credit against future purchases, which tentree believes will serve as a motivator to encourage customers to keep their apparel in circulation.

Jake Disraeli, Co-Founder and CEO of Treet, stated that the company is paving the way for a new breed of circularity that combines resale with recycling to generate the most effect. To guarantee that every tentree item has the longest life possible, they are happy to join with this fantastic set of circular solutions.

The combination of resale and recycling options from Treet and SuperCircle into one project accelerates the circular economy process and guarantees that each item lives its most sustainable life.

Chloe Songer, co-founder and CEO of SuperCircle, said that they’re pleased to join with Treet to assist tentree — an industry pioneer in sustainability — go circular. tentree is accepting accountability for every product they’ve ever sold, keeping them out of the trash and thus setting a new benchmark for circular commerce. They take great pride in the fact that SuperCircle’s turnkey reverse logistics and technology platform powers both recycling and recapture.