J Crew has partnered with Cotton Incorporated on a program that recycles denim into affordable home insulation. All consumers have to do is contribute a pair of previously owned denim apparel to Blue Jeans Go Green, a denim recycling program run by Cotton Incorporated, at a participating J Crew location.
With every donation comes a discount shoppers can use on brand new denim—and J Crew’s touting its new Eco Jeans Collection as an option. The retailer’s Eco Jeans are specially engineered for reduced environmental footprint thanks to water-saving cotton-dyeing technology and a manufacturing process fueled by renewable energy.
As for where the denim ends up after consumers drop off their well-worn pairs for new, sustainable versions, Cotton Incorporated handles that side of the transaction. Blue Jeans Go Green has produced four million square feet of insulation to date.
An entire home can be insulated with just 2000 pairs of recycled jeans. The UltraTouch Denim insulation is environmentally safe and itch-free, unlike fiberglass insulation, which benefits workers building the houses. It showcases extraordinary thermal performance and 30 per cent better sound absorption than fiberglass. It also features a mold and mildew inhibitor to keep the insulation viable for a long time.
