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Garment Recycling

Friday, January 08, 2010

Incorporatewear recognises that in supplying high quality corporate clothing it also needs to meet the often demanding ethical and environmental aspirations of its clients. As such Incorporatewear operates to its own rigorously set policies; setting out to maintain an independent position which it believes provides for greater accountability and higher operating standards.

As part of its environmental commitment Incorporatewear encourages the recycling and reuse of garments where this is practical and acceptable. This is possible through its long-standing relationship with JMP Wilcox & Co Ltd, part of Wilcox Textile Reclaimers, a family-owned group of businesses which has recycled textiles for more than a century.

Wilcox is based in Bilston, in the West Midlands, and employs 300 people. It remains a family-run business and recycles more than 300,000 tonnes of garments every year.

“We take in and sort garments from charities, local authorities and, of course, Incorporatewear,” explains Martin Wilcox, the current Managing Director. “More than two-thirds of our receipts are re-used as clothing, whilst the majority of the rest is broken down for cleaning materials and sound-proofing. Less than 5% is deemed to be unusable and this is used in energy generation.”

Incorporatewear is well aware of the potential security pit-falls in recycling corporate clothing but are confident that Wilcox meets this challenge.

“All garments are de-tagged and rendered anonymous,” continues Martin Wilcox. “Typically we send items for re-use across Africa, which is our core market but, depending on clients’ preference, we will also destroy garments by shredding and incineration. We are very flexible and adaptable. In our long history we’ve had to be!”

Wilcox can also demonstrate the destruction or re-use of garments through certification or photographic evidence.

Brian Lamb, Incorporatewear’s Operations Director is delighted with Wilcox’s operation. “Over the years we’ve found Wilcox to be a very reliable partner,” Brian explains. “They provide a secure and responsible route for the disposal of garments which has proved highly effective in meeting our clients’ needs.”

You can read more about Wilcox at http://www.jmpwilcox.co.uk