New York-based fashion retailer J.Crew has joined forces with technology and logistics platform SuperCircle to introduce a swimwear recycling program, accessible both online and at its nationwide chain of stores. The initiative allows customers to exchange used swimwear from any brand for a US $5 credit, applicable towards the purchase of full-price men’s, women’s, or kids’ swimsuits, with credits accumulating up to US $20. Swimwear can be sent by mail or exchanged in person at any J.Crew store.

Led by SuperCircle, returned swimwear will undergo repurposing, with old fibers converted into new clothing items. Garments unsuitable for fiber-to-fiber recycling will be processed through open-loop recycling channels to create various products such as furniture batting, insulation, and padding.

CEO and co-founder of SuperCircle, Chloe Songer, underscores the urgency of recycling solutions amidst alarming textile waste statistics, with a significant portion of new textiles ending up in landfills within a year of production. SuperCircle's business model involves partner companies paying a monthly platform usage fee along with a recycling fee tied to the volume of materials collected, addressing the growing need for sustainable practices in the fashion industry