Bestseller Advances Sustainability with Textile Recycling Initiative

Fashion conglomerate Bestseller is significantly enhancing its commitment to environmental sustainability by integrating textile-to-textile recycled polyester into its extensive supply chain. The brand Only has updated its foundational jersey program, converting basic tops to utilize recycled polyester derived from textile waste. The initial collection of these updated styles is now available to consumers.

This initiative is a collaborative effort involving Only, the specialized textile recycling company RE&UP, and the Turkish garment supplier Deniz. RE&UP's technology employs mechanical and thermo-chemical processes to regenerate cotton and polyester fibers, even from blended fabrics, creating high-performance, traceable 'Next-Gen' fibers. This addresses a market gap for recycled fibers, which are projected to reach 44 million tons by 2030.

Pernille Tøttrup, Sourcing Process Manager at Only, highlighted that this process allows for the creation of garments from worn-out clothing and factory textile waste, maintaining the performance and durability typically associated with virgin polyester. The initial production phase successfully converted 11 styles to incorporate RE&UP's recycled polyester, resulting in over 100,000 T-shirts.

RE&UP has set an ambitious target to process one million tons of textile waste by 2030, aligning with Bestseller's broader sustainability objectives. This move is part of a wider trend within Bestseller, with brands like Jack & Jones also integrating recycled components into their collections. Dorte Rye Olsen, Head of Sustainability at Bestseller, emphasized the company's proactive approach to reshaping its material sourcing strategy, prioritizing organic cotton and recycled polyester.

Bestseller aims for 50% of its polyester usage to originate from recycled or alternative sources by the end of 2025. This goal is supported by enhanced supplier collaboration and supply chain transparency. The company's 'Fashion FWD' strategy is also being updated to incorporate innovative materials into production processes, reflecting a deep commitment to circular production systems and reducing the demand for virgin materials. Globally, the fashion industry generates approximately 92 million tons of textile waste annually, with only a small fraction being effectively recycled, making initiatives like Bestseller's crucial for driving systemic change toward a more sustainable future.