A welcome and growing trend in retail, in-store recycling programs are popping up on a regular basis, ready to collect everything from your used batteries and CDs to your old socks, shoes, and apparel riddled with holes. Joining H&M, Puma, Patagonia, and other big name brands, The North Face has launched their Clothes The Loop program to take that unwanted apparel and footwear off your hands, regardless of brand.
In 2010, the U.S. EPA estimated that over 26 billion pounds of apparel, footwear, and other textiles were thrown away, nearly 85 percent of which ended up in the landfill. Much of that can be reused or recycled and kept in a closed production cycle, helping to protect and preserve valuable material resources as well as building a healthier planet in the process.
Drop your items into the specially marked recycle bins at participating The North Face stores and you will receive a voucher for $10 off your next purchase of The North Face products. So far, The North Face has 10 participating store locations including San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Minneapolis, and New York.
The items you drop into the bins are sent to a recycling center where they are carefully sorted based on over 400 categories. They are then reused to extend their life or recycled into raw materials for use in products like insulation, carpet padding, stuffing for toys, and fibers for new clothing.
All proceeds from the program go to The Conservation Alliance, which funds community based campaigns to protect wilderness and outdoor recreation areas.