Modibodi has just launched an undergarment recycling initiative as part of its plan to reach a carbon negative target by 2023.
Speaking with Ragtrader, Sarah Forde, head of sustainability and public affairs at Modibodi, said this initiative is in line with the brand's core priority in sustainability.
“Modibodi has continued to uncover and identify new areas to challenge ourselves and extend our sustainability efforts,” Forde said.
“In September, we’re launching an Australian End of Life Recycling Pilot, where we will accept our customer's well-loved end of life Modibodi underwear and send it to our recycling partner to turn into another useful material input.
“Underwear is not generally accepted for recycling, so this is a significant pilot for us."
According to Forde (pictured below), the pilot program is designed to monitor participation, learn about the age of product being returned, and return volumes.
"The pilot will not only keep product out of landfill it will provide us with data to continue conversations with the recycling industry.
"Customer satchels are received by a partner Hoxton Industries for sorting and any necessary washing, then forwarded to our recycle partners.
"The products will be mechanically shredded and then processed into new materials – however not new textiles.
"We will publish our learnings in November and look to continue conversations with the industry to support the acceptance of underwear for recycling in the future."
According to Modibodi, 92% of its consumer base agree with the initiative. As part of the plan, consumers can send in their old, clean underwear, where the company will give $10 off their next Modibodi purchase.
“We continue to look for opportunities to partner because we know that we can’t move the dial on our own, it’s through responsible innovation – like the development of our 97 per cent Biodegradable Briefs – that we learn and improve.”
Sustainability is a key focus for Modibodi, with the brand launching leakproof apparel to reduce the use of disposable period and incontinence products.
To achieve its goal of being carbon negative by 2023, the brand has three key areas of focus: carbon auditing, logistics and life cycle analysis.
Through its partnership with Carbon Neutral, it will complete a carbon audit, giving oversight of the brand footprint - including greenhouse gas emissions from Modibodi headquarters, warehouses, and distribution to customers.
In logistics, the company has streamlined its distribution model from its manufacturing hub in Asia, with the expansion of its warehousing capabilities into the US with a local third-party logistics provider.
And to better understand the greenhouse gas emissions from its products, Modibodi undertook a life-cycle assessment (LCA). The assessment reviews Modibodi’s raw material extraction, transport, manufacturing, distribution, customer use, and product end of life.
According to Forde, the LCA outlined key initiatives to focus on, including circular fashion models, using renewable fibres, increasing recycled fabrics and educating its customers to prolong product life.
“Sustainability doesn’t stop, and it means different things to different brands,” Forde continued. “To us, it’s about really trying to address those material challenges in our sectors, both the textile sector with a lens towards the environment and people particularly in the supply chain, and the Personal Hygiene sector with a focus on waste reduction and period equity.
"Modibodi has continued to uncover and identify new areas to challenge ourselves and extend our sustainability efforts.”
More broadly, Forde outlined that sustainability initiatives are required across the industry.
“We need to continue to have conversations about the challenges in the industry and share knowledge,” Forde continued.
“The supply chain is complex, climate action is urgent and balancing competing priorities with small teams requires deep understanding and work.
“Collaboration is key to helping the sector move forward across brands, but also internally across departments. Building knowledge across internal teams puts real action front and centre to decision-making.
“While it’s important to focus on the present, we understand it is vital to take a long-term view and prioritise projects in a way that sets us up to keep moving forward.”