Le Relais Collects and Sorts Unwanted Textiles for Resale
Elise Ying-Hei Ho — April 11, 2013 — Social Good
References: lerelais.org
It’s not uncommon for people to donate their clothes to charities, but a French social enterprise called Le Relais has found a new way to turn these donations into a means of employment for the disenfranchised people in France and Africa.
Founded in 1984 by Pierre Duponchel, Le Relais initially operated as a door-to-door service that collected unwanted textiles with the purpose of recycling them. Now, sorting over 60,000 tonnes of textiles annually, the enterprise has created over one thousand jobs for people in France and Africa.
After collecting unwanted textiles and garments including shoes, clothes, scarves and other items, workers of Le Relais sort the items based on quality and condition. Higher quality fabrics are usually sold to boutiques and others to markets and second-hand stores. To ensure that there is minimal waste, the items that are of lower quality are also recycled into industrial wiping rags.
Contact Information
Le Relais website
Founded in 1984 by Pierre Duponchel, Le Relais initially operated as a door-to-door service that collected unwanted textiles with the purpose of recycling them. Now, sorting over 60,000 tonnes of textiles annually, the enterprise has created over one thousand jobs for people in France and Africa.
After collecting unwanted textiles and garments including shoes, clothes, scarves and other items, workers of Le Relais sort the items based on quality and condition. Higher quality fabrics are usually sold to boutiques and others to markets and second-hand stores. To ensure that there is minimal waste, the items that are of lower quality are also recycled into industrial wiping rags.
Contact Information
Le Relais website
Trend Themes
1. Textile Recycling - There is an opportunity for innovative textile recycling solutions that help reduce waste and promote sustainable practices.
2. Social Entrepreneurship - There is an opportunity for social enterprises to create employment opportunities for disadvantaged people while also promoting sustainable practices.
3. Circular Economy - There is an opportunity for businesses to adopt a circular economy model, where products and materials are reused and recycled to reduce waste and promote sustainability.
Industry Implications
1. Textile and Clothing Industry - Innovative textile recycling solutions can disrupt the traditional linear model of the textile and clothing industry and promote sustainable practices.
2. Social Enterprises - Social enterprises can disrupt traditional business models by creating employment opportunities for disadvantaged people while promoting sustainable practices.
3. Waste Management Industry - Circular economy models can disrupt the traditional linear model of the waste management industry and promote sustainability by reducing waste and promoting recycling.
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