Multinational product manufacturers are coming to the realization that effective sustainability strategies are needed. While the world today still emphasizes making a profit, recent analyses of consumer trends say that a “green shift” is a necessity. While all industries are dealing with this change, the textile industry is known for being unsustainable. Manufacturing new textile products is extremely wasteful due to the massive amounts of water used and deforestation.

In the US and Canada textiles are only recovered at a low rate; only about 14.4% of textiles are recycled annually and either resold in thrift stores or sold as bulk used clothing and mixed rag. So what are major companies involved in the textile industry doing about it?

The North Face, an American company, is leading sustainability across the outdoor clothing market. On the consumer level, they’re using their “Clothes the Loop” program. Any of their store locations will accept any clothing or footwear in any condition. This clothing is then reused or repaired, or recycled into raw materials. The North Face is also recycling a relatively unheard of waste product, polybags. North Face locations collect the plastic film bags clothes are packed in for shipping. These plastic bags are not usually recyclable by other means. In addition, the North Face is using new Bluesign Technologies to reduce factory waste.

Fast fashion will never be sustainable. Here at Bank & Vogue we work to ensure textiles and clothing are recycled worldwide and applaud the work of other companies that are making the effort to be sustainable.