IDKIDS backs efforts to recycle and reuse textile waste

Idkids actively contributes to organizing recycling services for the textile sector via EcoTLC (an eco-friendly stream for Textiles, Linens and Shoes). Collection, sorting and resale are most often handled by intermediaries like Relais (with 60% of the French market); thanks to the support of EcoTLC, this activity has gradually become profitable and is now attracting new private actors.

In line with these commitments, Idkids recovers a Bangladeshi supplier's production surpluses, which are then resold at a very low price to the microcredit-financed "ladies" (Grameen Bank). In reselling them again at a profit, these ladies are able to launch their activities. Alongside this social business (200 employed ladies), Idkids reinvests all of its profits generated from the sale of surpluses to send children to school, in partnership with a local NGO.

This commitment within the textile sector, consistent with the Group's RESSEME project vision, rely on the collaboration established among the various national actors (sorting, collection, textile industry, clothing and shoe production) along with suppliers (social business).

The collected products are:

•  Either resold for a second use (often through the export market)
•  Or transformed into recycled threads for reuse in clothing
•  Or transformed into other products such as carpet tile, insulation; for example, the Group's HQE-rated warehouse has used such mixed-material insulation.

Idkids also contributes to professional objectives:

• Expand nationwide collection from 150,000 to 300,000 tons/year by 2020 (matching Northern Europe)

• Idkids is building consumer awareness through the annual "Love bag" operation; used clothes are picked up in Okaidi stores to be handed over to a sorter.
• Idkids gives its unsold articles to the "Solidarity donations" platform, which in turn redistributes the clothing to charitable associations and groceries.

•  Develop new uses: reallocation of subsidies into eco-design so as to facilitate end-of-life reuse and recycling opportunities (e.g. single-component products, accessory materials, buttons) as well as into research and development (e.g. mixed-material insulation).