Underwear Recycling 101: What Happens to Your Old Undies?
We’ve all been there—your favourite pair of undies has finally reached the end of its life. Maybe they’ve lost their stretch, developed holes, or just seen better days. Tossing them in the bin feels wrong, but what else can you do? That’s where we come in.
At Underwear for Humanity, we’ve created Australia’s first underwear recycling program, tackling waste in a meaningful way. Here’s how it works and what happens to your old bras and undies when you send them to us.
Why Recycle Underwear and Bras?
It’s estimated that 204 million underwear items are imported into Australia every year, and the vast majority end up in landfill. For small items, they create an enormous amount of waste!
Underwear and bras are worn daily, meaning they don’t last forever. Unlike many clothing items, they often can’t be donated due to hygiene concerns. Recycling these items helps:
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Keep textiles out of landfill.
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Reduce the environmental footprint of fashion.
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Create a circular economy where waste becomes a resource.
What Happens to Your Bras and Undies?
We treat bras and underwear differently because their materials and reuse opportunities vary. Here’s the breakdown:
Bras
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Wearable Bras: These are sorted by our work-training partner, Social Engine, and sent to Support the Girls, a charity that redistributes them to women in need across Australia. Your preloved bras find a new home and provide dignity to someone in need.
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Non-Wearable Bras: Bras that can’t be worn again are recommissioned and every bit of value is extracted, such as the metal and foam. The fabric is shredded and spun into a course yarn that is multi-fibre and used to weave blankets in India.
Underwear
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Underwear: Since used underwear isn’t suitable for donation, all items are shredded and turned into insulation, ensuring nothing goes to waste.
By separating these waste pathways, we maximise the potential of each item, whether through reuse or recycling.
How Does the Recycling Program Work?
We’ve made it as easy as possible to participate:
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Send It In: Pack your old bras and undies (we accept all brands) and post them to us.
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Sort and Process: Social Engine sorts wearable and non-wearable items, ensuring each piece is directed to its best next step.
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Recycle and Repurpose: Wearable bras go to Support the Girls, while all other items are shredded for industrial use.
Why This Matters
Recycling your old underwear and bras is about more than just keeping textiles out of landfill. It’s about:
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Supporting vulnerable communities with essentials like bras and underwear.
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Empowering Afghan refugee women through job training at Social Engine.
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Reducing waste and promoting a circular economy in the fashion industry.
This holistic approach benefits the planet and empowers people, proving that even small items like undies can create a big impact.
How You Can Join the Movement
If you are a customer of ours and you’ve got old underwear or bras lying around, it’s time to send them in. Together, we can turn what seems like waste into something valuable.
Let’s keep textiles out of landfill and create a world where nothing goes to waste.
