The thing is when you own magical jeans, why would you ever want to get rid of them? While you may not be willing to part with your favorite jeans, the jeans that aren’t your booty’s best friend may find themselves kicked out of your closet, and then who knows where?
As we opt to live a cleaner and greener lifestyle, there are ways to make sure your jeans find new life once again. This concept is called Recycled Denim.
A quick Google search can tell you that recycled denim can mean a couple of different things. The first meaning/use of the phrase is simply, denim produce from 100 percent recycled cotton without using bleach. According to an article titled, Denim Companies Answer the Call to Call for Sustainable Jeans, on the website, fibre2fashion.com, there are two sustainable processes that can be taken to sustainably make denim.
One process is a ‘dry method’ and the second is a ‘wet method.’ Fibre2fashion.com writes,“[The wet process] wherein simple enzymes are used to decrease water wastage and the second is the dry method. This method uses various techniques such as scraping, whickering, grinding and distressing. Instead of chemical dyes, vegetable dyes are utilized to get the authentic indigo shade of denim.”
If you’re after a sustainable yet capsule wardrobe, one way to achieve this is to purchase classic jeans that will forever be a timepiece of style. Also, opting not to purchase strongly destresses denim as well as bleached go toward a greener tomorrow.
The website also shares the concept called ‘green jeans.’ In this capacity, makers are transforming waste (plastics) into denim. Here plastic water bottles and bottle cap go into a pair of denim. Keep in-mind that water waste is a huge issue with denim creation. The article above sites that one pair of jeans can expend 2,500 gallons of water (along with a pound of chemicals)—yikes! A green solution is coined ‘advanced denim,’ meaning waterless denim dyeing.
According to an article titled, Advanced denim technology reduces water use up to 92% with 30% less energy consumption, on textiletoday.com, this technology implements 3-5 dyeing vats opposed to the traditional variation ranging from 12-15 vats. Here, the denim is dyed with sulfur dyes and not indigo. “This advance denim can cut the amount of water used to produce a pair of jeans by up to 92% while requiring up to 30% less energy than conventional denim manufacturing methods” writes the Textiletoday.com article
"At Alterre, it is our continued mission to be more sustainable..."
At Alterre, it is our continued mission to be more sustainable. We work with Verdn to support oceans plastic cleanup. As stated on our website, “For every recycled denim v slide sold, we pledge to help remove 160 bottles’ worth of ocean plastic (2 kg) from polluted rivers and shores in Southeast Asia and Africa through Empower AS.”
We are happy to make recycled denim slides and you can track your own unique impact after buying a pair.
The second meaning for sustainable denim in your Google search is using the raw fabric materials in your old jeans (post-industrial denim fabrics) to make new goods such as cotton fiber insulation which goes into new home/building construction. Pretty rad, right?
Living (or truly attempting to) live close to the possible zero-waste style of living is a passion here as well as with others who share this beautiful planet. Recycling denim is sustainable as well as improves indoor air quality, thermal indoor insulation, among other eco-friendly factors.
An article appearing on HGTV's website titled, The Benefits of Recycled Denim Insulation, laid out a blueprint of reasons as to why this green inventive way of thinking is so groundbreaking---plus, great for the planet. According to the HGTV article, this type of insulation is also better for our health, writing,
“Typically, this insulation is treated with an EPA-approved borate solution that provides a Class A fire-resistance rating, which certifies a product as effective against severe exposure to external fires, not readily flammable and not a contributor to the spread of fire. (Borate has lower toxicity than table salt and is safe for humans and the environment.)”
The piece also tells that denim insulation is cured with an EPA-registered fungal inhibitor which is a deterrent for pests, mold, and mildew.
Like anyone who aims to live a green and clean way of living, the cost of doing so is higher than traditional ways. The article references that using recycled denim insulation can be twice the dollar amount. However, the flip side is that recycled denim can remove harmful toxins (like asthma contributors) which is ideal for people with breathing conditions.
Okay, we’re currently kicking our White V Mules with the Red Gloss Twiggy Strap saying, ‘there’s no place like a sustainable home’ on repeat, but how can you make sure your jeans go toward a better tomorrow? Blue Jeans Go Green (.org) is the website to visit. The organization uses your unwanted jeans, made from recycled cotton and reprocesses it back into natural fibers.
Loving and saving the earth is our passion. For more on ways on how we are personally supporting social responsibility, visit here.
Sources:
- https://www.textiletoday.com.bd/advanced-denim-technology-reduces-water-use-92-30-less-energy-consumption/
- https://www.hgtv.com/design/remodel/mechanical-systems/the-benefits-of-recycled-denim-insulation
- https://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/7245/denim-companies-answer-to-the-call-for-sustainable-jeans
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