Patagonia expands garment recycling program

By

Cassidy Mantor

Published
Jan 30, 2017

Patagonia announced the expansion of its Worn Wear garment repair and recycling program, adding an online platform for resale.

Eco-friendly brand Patagonia has long operated with a solid repair policy on its products in assurance that it stands by its products.

Now the brand has expanded its garment recycling program, rebranded and called Worn Wear, to have a heavy emphasis on repair and reuse. Old garments that consumers bring to the program will then be repaired and resold online on Patagonia's website.

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Consumers bringing in their older but still usable products will in turn get store credit.

Rick Ridgeway, Patagonia's vice president of environmental affairs explained, "If we can make really durable products, and we can work with our customers to keep them in service and in good repair, then we're providing a solution to the environmental crisis."

Asking consumers to buy less is not a new approach for Patagonia, and it works for the brand. However this program is designed to differentiate Patagonia from fast fashion brands, like H&M, which also runs a recycling program, by identifying their consumers' preferences to reduce their footprint and environmental impact.

Patagonia's goods are durable therefore there is a realistic chance that a 10 or 15 year old piece of clothing will still be in good enough shape to qualify for the program.

The new Worn Wear program begins with a national college tour starting in February and officially launches April of 2017.