Lady LUX

H&M may be the epitome of fast fashion but sustainability is an important part of the company’s culture. To further its efforts, beginning in February 2013, H&M will offer customers shopping discounts in exchange for used garments. The program will be available in all 48 markets worldwide as the retailer aims to reduce the environmental impact of clothes throughout their lifecycle.

“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,” said Karl-Johan Persson, H&M’s CEO, in a statement.

Each year, tons of textiles are thrown out with domestic waste and end up in landfills. Over 95% of these clothes could be still be worn, reused or recycled, depending on the condition of the garment. Through this global initiative, customers can help save natural resources and reduce the environmental impact of textile waste.

The Swedish brand will be the first fashion company to incorporate a garment collection program in selected stores worldwide. Customers can bring in any piece of clothing, from any brand and in any condition. In return, they will receive a voucher for each bag donated.

H&M’s Conscious Foundation has made it its mission to reduce the environmental impact of garments throughout the lifecycle by closing the loop on textile fiber and supporting social projects along H&M’s value chain. The goal is to find long-term technical solutions to reuse and recycle textile fibers on a larger scale.

Tagged in: causes, sustainability, green, recycle, sustainable approach, sweden, conscious foundation, hm, karl-johan persson,