{"id":33286,"title":"Get involved with Thread Not Dead to help end waste","description":"Less than 1% of all clothing is turned back into new clothing at the end of its life.\n\nIf fashion is serious about circularity then it\u2019s time to think about \u2018making back\u2019 not just \u2018taking back\u2019. That\u2019s where Teemill comes in, turning the tide on \u2018useless\u2019 take-back schemes with our Thread Not Dead campaign.\n\nFrom 16th November 2023, anyone will be able to send back any worn-out 100% cotton clothing made by any brand, to be remade into new products. They will get Remill credit in return to spend with participating Teemill stores. \n\nHere, we\u2019ll show you how Teemill stores can get involved with the campaign and be part of the movement to end waste.","content":"

A dump truck of textile waste is burned or buried every second [1]. And less than 1% of all clothing is turned back into new clothing at the end of its life [2]. This is unsustainable.<\/p>

If fashion is serious about circularity then it\u2019s time to think about \u2018making back\u2019 not just \u2018taking back\u2019. That\u2019s where Teemill comes in, turning the tide on \u2018useless\u2019 take-back schemes with our Thread Not Dead<\/strong> campaign.<\/p>

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Teemill built the world\u2019s first open-access circular supply chain for clothing so anyone, anywhere, can use it to create and sell sustainable clothing designed to stay in the loop and out of landfill.<\/p>

All Teemill products feature a QR code on the label, which allows customers to send products back when they are worn out as part of a process called Remill.<\/p>

Through Remill, we\u2019ve already recovered and remade over 38,000kgs <\/strong>of material.<\/p>

Our goal is to take 100 million items back around the loop by 2027<\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote>

Designing products from the start to be remade and taking them back when they are worn out is where a world without waste starts. But for this to be a solution that can tackle the size of the problem, we need to scale it up.<\/p>

That\u2019s why we\u2019re excited that from 16th November 2023, we will take back 100% cotton clothing from any brand,<\/strong> in any condition, and will make sure that it\u2019s recycled back into new clothing. Customers will get Remill credit in return to spend with participating Teemill stores, as long as the items have a readable care label.<\/p><\/blockquote>

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\u201cLess than 1% of all clothing is turned back into new clothing at the end of its life. If fashion is serious about circularity then brands need to think about \u2018making back\u2019 not just \u2018taking back\u2019.\u201d says Teemill CEO, Chris Houghton<\/p><\/blockquote>

Here, we\u2019ll show you how Teemill stores can get involved with the campaign, become Thread Not Dead ambassadors, and help us spread the word about how everyone can do their bit to address fashion\u2019s clothing waste crisis, simply by sending us some worn-out cotton clothing.<\/p>

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Scaling up circular solutions<\/h2>

Customers who have bought Teemill products can continue to scan the QR code on their Teemill products to send them back, and if they have any other 100% cotton items of clothing that are worn out, they can include these in the package too.<\/p>

\"\"If your customers are not ready to send back one of your products but have 100% cotton clothing to send back, they can do this by visiting our campaign page<\/a> to get a free UK returns label.<\/p>

Anyone can send back their 100% cotton clothing to us, even if they\u2019ve never shopped with a Teemill store before. This means that stores can win new supporters and customers even before the first purchase and start new relationships grounded in a shared desire to end waste.<\/p>

All returns will be rewarded with a Remill credit via email. This is a voucher code which can be used at checkout with participating Teemill stores.<\/p>

\u26a0\ufe0f How to become a participating store: <\/strong>To make sure these customers can spend their Remill credits on your store, enable your Remill Plugin<\/a><\/u> and set how much you would like a Remill credit to be worth when applied in your checkout. The maximum worth of the voucher is \u00a35.<\/p>

Make sure to tell your customers that they can spend their credits in your shop once they receive their Remill credit voucher code.<\/strong><\/p>

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What happens to clothing that is sent back<\/h2>

Returned items are sent to our recycling factory where the material is shredded and respun into new recycled yarn mixed with 50% organic cotton for strength and durability.<\/p>

\"\"This Remill yarn is sent to our garment factories in India to be made into new clothing. These new Remill products are made available for any brand or business to use through Teemill Studio and through our custom t-shirt printing services for larger bulk orders.<\/p>

\"\"Each Remill item has a printed label to distinguish it as recovered material.<\/p>

These products will have their own QR code on the care label so that the next customer who buys them can scan the label to start the cycle all over again when it\u2019s worn out and keep the material in use.<\/p>

\"\"\u2013 You can add remade products to your own store to help explain the message of circularity. Simply choose one of the recycled products in Studio<\/a><\/u>. Try out our ready-made circularity-themed designs.<\/a><\/u><\/em><\/p>


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What makes Remill different from other take-back schemes<\/h2>

\"\"Recent reports such as the Take-Back Trickery report by the Changing Markets Foundation [3] have found that the take-back schemes of large fashion retailers are not effective in making sure that items that are returned don\u2019t simply end up in landfill after collection.<\/p>

Only a tiny fraction of the clothes donated to take-back bins with fast fashion brands are actually turned into new clothing. Much of it is downcycled, meaning it is turned into lower-value products like insulation.<\/p><\/blockquote>

The Remill model by contrast offers fibre-to-fibre recycling, with full traceability, keeping material in circulation so it can be worn again and again and again.<\/p><\/blockquote>

The key difference is the approach we have taken from the start, <\/strong>by founding Teemill on the values of a circular economy, with transparency built into our supply chain from day 1.<\/p>

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We don\u2019t think you can have a great product unless you have a great supply chain. For us, that means looking after the people and places where our stuff is made. We participate in industry-leading certification programmes to ensure we meet the highest standards. And then we go further.<\/p>

Our certifications include:<\/p>