By Sara B. Hansen
(DENVER, Colo.) Smartwool won't replace your lost sock if dryer gremlins take it. But the company will do the next best thing, turn that orphan sock into a dog bed.
The Denver-based apparel company will celebrate National Sock Day (Dec. 4) by launching its new K9 Camp Cushion made using recycled sock shreddings to keep more than 12,000 pounds of discarded material from landfills.
Recycling socks
Smartwool, the leader in responsibly sourced Merino wool socks, started its Second Cut Project in April to recycle socks, even if you didn't buy them from the company.
Since then, the company has collected more than 90,000 worn, mismatched socks and recycled them. The company encourages customers to add a free recycling sock bag to each order.
Becoming sustainable
The company plans to become 100% circular by 2030 and uses the Second Cut Project to give any sock a second life. Globally, only 12% of clothing is recycled, and socks are one of the most discarded items.
"At Smartwool, we're passionate about reducing our environmental impact to ensure future generations can enjoy the outdoors," says Alicia Chin, Smartwool's sustainability and social impact senior manager.
"The launch of the Second Cut K9 Camp Cushion demonstrates our commitment to local, innovative solutions to industrial waste, is the beginning of our path towards 100% circularity, and reflects the values of our fun-loving brand."
Smartwool works with Material Return, a North Carolina company that processes millions of pounds of textile and furniture waste each year. Material Return converts the waste into ReturnTex, the yarn Smartwool uses to make dog beds.
The dog beds are available in three sizes and can be purchased exclusively at Smartwool.com.
Comments / 3