Being a personal style blogger, sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the pressure to have the next new thing, and have something new to share with your readers. That habit can be dangerous if left unbridled, both to your bank account and to the environment. H&M has come up with a solution, or at least a step towards solutions by setting up I:Collect stations at H&M stores starting February 2013.
The first retailer to launch this clothing collective initiative, H&M is asking consumers to bring in their used clothes to an H&M shop, and, in return, the consumer will receive a discount on a future purchase. H&M’s partner company, I:Collect, will recycle the collected clothes and create new garments with them. According to H&M, as much as 95 percent of these clothes could be used again; re-worn, reused or recycled. Think of all the new clothes that could be made by last year’s trendy items.
The popular retailer’s CEO Karl-Johan Persson says,
Our sustainability efforts are rooted in a dedication to social and environmental responsibility. We want to do good for the environment, which is why we are now offering our customers a convenient solution: to be able to leave their worn out or defective garments with H&M.
I:Collect bins will be in-stores starting February 2013 all around the world.
Photo via H&M
I love the idea! It will be interesting to see how good the discount is. That will ultimately determine whether I take my used clothes down to the mall to H&M or just around the corner to the goodwill store like I do now.