14 DAY TRIAL // Recycling is always an eco-friendly way of keeping landfills clean and dealing with no longer needed items in an appropriate manner. When such operations are combined with charity or art, they provide a win-win situation: both for the environment and for the people benefiting from these projects.
Such an initiative comes from SustainU, an American clothing company offering high quality apparel while relying on fabrics made of 100% recycled materials.
The enterprise plans to turn a clothes recycling action into a fashionable contest, attracting a large number of participants from colleges located in all 50 states.
OneShirt Challenge seeks to divert old clothes from landfills and redirect them to nonprofit organization that would make the best of those items considered anything but a fashion statement.
While doing so, SustainU is eager to expand the project promoted last year, which has successfully collected and redistributed 16 tons of apparel, with the help of teens from 100 colleges.
The company encourages students to 'wear a better story' and embrace its sustainability goals. SustainU is one of eco-conscious companies in the US that has committed to cutting down water supplies and harmful emissions to make its production process even more sustainable.
Developers want to launch the ingenious competition as a way of celebrating Earth Week, this year in April. Since recycling is very popular in the US at this point in time, mostly when it involves rewards and public recognition, the brand will use its reputation to attract as many participants as possible.
Its initiative does not only give to the needy, it also helps create hundreds of jobs in the US, by sponsoring training programs and educational projects, according to SustainU.
Until April 21st, volunteers will collect, sort and weigh the donated products. The winner will be the college that will succeed in raising the largest amount of clothes. The reward, represented by 50 customized SustainU shirts has a small financial value, but this doesn't seem to intimidate eco-conscious students who are keen on making a difference.