How H&M’s Recycling Machines Make New Clothes From Used Apparel | World Wide Waste

Summary

The video explores H&M's efforts to tackle textile waste through innovative recycling technology, focusing on their Looop machine, which turns old garments into new ones. It highlights the process in Hong Kong and Sweden, where used clothes are sanitized, shredded, and spun into new fibers to create garments. While recycling technology holds promise, experts argue that overproduction and consumer behavior remain key issues. Despite H&M's commitment to using recycled materials, the video stresses that true change requires confronting growth and shifting how clothes are made and consumed globally.

Takeaways

• 😀 H&M is investing in technology to recycle used clothes into new garments, addressing textile waste through a process that involves shredding, sanitizing, and re-spinning fabric.
• 😀 The Looop machine in Hong Kong is the first of its kind to recycle used clothes into new clothing items all in one facility.
• 😀 The recycling process involves removing buttons, labels, and zippers from garments before breaking down the fabric into fibers that can be turned into yarn and knitted into new clothing.
• 😀 H&M has partnered with the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) to develop and scale garment-to-garment recycling technology.
• 😀 Consumers can pay to watch the recycling process firsthand at H&M’s stores in Hong Kong and Stockholm, with the Looop recycling service costing $18.
• 😀 Fast fashion, which relies heavily on polyester, is a major contributor to textile waste, with synthetic fibers now outpacing cotton as the dominant material in clothing.
• 😀 Textile waste is a global issue, with millions of garments being discarded or burned in markets like Accra, Ghana, contributing to significant environmental harm.
• 😀 While recycling technology is a promising solution, it is not enough to solve the textile waste crisis; experts argue that reducing overproduction and consumption is crucial.
• 😀 H&M has set ambitious goals, such as using only recycled polyester by the end of the decade, but faces criticism for not reducing its overall clothing production.
• 😀 The industry’s challenge lies not only in developing recycling systems but also in addressing the overproduction and disposable culture that drives excessive textile waste.

Q & A

What is the main recycling technology featured in the video?

The video showcases a garment-to-garment recycling technology called the Looop. It is the first of its kind, capable of turning used clothes into new garments in a single facility. This process takes place in Hong Kong and is also demonstrated in a store in Stockholm, Sweden.

How does the recycling process work in the Looop system?

The process begins with technicians sanitizing the fabric in an ozone chamber. Then, they remove any non-fabric elements like buttons and zippers. The fabric is shredded and mixed with recycled cotton fibers, then turned into a fiber web. This web is spun into yarn and knitted into a new garment, such as a sweater.

How much does it cost for consumers to participate in the recycling process?

In Hong Kong, consumers pay about $65 to recycle their clothing, while in Stockholm, they can see the process in action for just $18. This price is roughly the same as buying a new pair of sweatpants from H&M.

What are the challenges faced by fast fashion companies like H&M in addressing textile waste?

The primary challenge is that recycling technology, while innovative, is not yet at a scale that can handle the massive amount of textile waste generated by the fashion industry. Additionally, the growth of fast fashion contributes significantly to overproduction, exacerbating the waste problem.

What does the video suggest is the core problem of textile waste?

Experts in the video argue that recycling alone cannot solve the textile waste issue. The core problem is overproduction and the disposable culture fostered by fast fashion. Reducing consumption and manufacturing fewer clothes are seen as essential steps to addressing the issue.

How much clothing waste is recycled into new garments today?

Currently, less than 1% of used clothing is recycled into new garments. The rest of the textile waste is often turned into lower-value products like mattress stuffing or insulation.

What impact has polyester had on the fashion industry and textile waste?

Polyester, a synthetic fiber made from petroleum, overtook cotton as the most popular fiber by the year 2000. It is cheaper to produce and more prevalent in fast fashion, contributing to the increase in clothing waste. Polyester is essentially plastic, which makes it difficult to recycle effectively.

Why is the Kantamanto market in Accra, Ghana significant in the discussion of textile waste?

The Kantamanto market is one of the largest secondhand clothing markets in the world. Each week, 15 million garments pass through, but nearly half of them end up in landfills, are burned, or are dumped into waterways. This highlights the global scale of textile waste, especially from brands like H&M.

What is H&M’s goal in terms of recycling and sustainability?

H&M aims to use only recycled polyester in their products by the end of the decade. The company has also invested in technologies like the 'green machine,' which recycles polyester, and is working on building a larger factory to recycle thousands of tons of clothing per day.

What do experts say about the future of textile recycling in the fashion industry?

Experts agree that recycling technologies need to scale significantly in order to make a real impact on the textile waste problem. However, they also emphasize that the true solution lies in addressing overproduction, reducing consumption, and changing the business model of companies like H&M, which continue to focus on growth.