Retold: A mail-in recycling service for used and unwanted textiles

According to Retold, 85% of all textiles thrown away in the US (roughly 13 million tons) are either sent to landfill or incineration. Additionally, they've reported that the average American throws away over 80 Ibs of clothing every year. Meanwhile, donated textiles often end up going to landfill, anyway. As textiles can take anywhere from 20 to 200 years to decompose depending on their composition and make, hazardous substances are introduced to our environment over the longterm and accumulate in our soil, water bodies, and air. In order to recycle existing textiles back into the product cycle, means of clothing collection need to offer ease and convenience for large-scale compliance.

Retold's collection program is a convenient means by which individuals can give their unwanted textile products extended or new lives. From worn out bras and wedding dresses to household textiles, users can send their goods to Retold using one of their Retold bags, available to purchase singularly, in bulk, or regularly through recurring subscriptions. Once received, users simply seal their textile goods in the bag and drop the parcel off at any post office/box, mailroom, etc. Pre-paid postage affords the benefit of not having to wait in line at the Post Office. For each bag of items returned to Retold, subscribers can choose from a variety of rewards in collaboration with "feel-good brand partners" — approximately a $15 return.

With their partners, Retold then sifts and sorts the collected goods based on type and quality, after which they are dispersed to one or more of the following:

1) Thrift stores: where used goods are resold.

2) Donation centers: which receive only those goods that are needed and can be

distributed or sold.

3) Recycling companies: that break down textiles to produce

new sellable fashion

4) Up-cyclers: Scrap-utilizing companies and manufacturers

that produce insulation, rags, car seat inners, etc.

Each partner is contractually bound to ensure that nothing from Retold goes to landfill. In collaboration with Noissue, Retold uses biodegradable and compostable packaging made from cornstarch. They also carbon-offset their bag freight to customers.

To date, Retold reports having diverted 1,784 pounds of textiles from landfill.