From old DJI workwear to new upholstery fabric
Initiative nominated for the Duurzame Dertig
What happens to workwear when it can no longer be worn? Through the collaboration between the Dutch Custodial Institutions Agency (Dienst Justitiële Inrichtingen, DJI) and Vepa, worn-out clothing is given a surprising new purpose. The clothing is processed into raw material for a new upholstery fabric, which is used to reupholster existing furniture. This way, the material eventually returns to DJI – but in a completely different form.
More than 1,000 chairs and other seating products have already been upholstered with this circular fabric. The collaboration demonstrates how waste streams within an organisation can be transformed into valuable raw materials.
From worn-out clothing to new raw material
Dienst Justitiële Inrichtingen (DJI) and Vepa are giving worn-out clothing from employees and detainees a new purpose. Together with various partners, we have developed a new upholstery fabric in which old clothing is reused as a raw material. And it has gone far beyond being just a promising concept. The fabric has been extensively tested, further developed and has now proven itself in practice. This creates a unique circular system: material that becomes available within DJI ultimately returns to the organisation as part of its interior.
Developed for everyday use
Developing a circular material is one thing. It also needs to be suitable for intensive everyday use. That is why the development process focused not only on the proportion of reused materials, but also on properties such as quality, appearance and durability. The upholstery fabric was extensively tested before being put into use. It is now being used to reupholster chairs and other seating products at DJI. By reupholstering existing furniture, it is not only the textile fibres that are given a second life. The lifespan of the furniture itself is extended as well. As a result, fewer new raw materials are needed and existing materials remain in use for longer.
More than 1,000 pieces of furniture reupholstered
What started as a circular idea is now being implemented on an increasingly large scale. More than 1,000 chairs and other seating products have already been upholstered with the new fabric. The project demonstrates what can be achieved when different partners throughout the value chain work together. Waste becomes a raw material, existing furniture is reused and materials are kept in circulation for as long as possible.
Nominated for the Duurzame Dertig
The collaboration between DJI and Vepa has also attracted attention beyond the two organisations. The project has been nominated for the Duurzame Dertig, a Dutch initiative that highlights sustainable projects and innovative solutions from across the Netherlands. For Vepa, the nomination is above all a welcome recognition of the joint efforts to create a circular value chain. The strength of the project lies not only in the end product, but particularly in the collaboration required to make the effective reuse of materials possible.
You can vote for this project at www.duurzamedertig.nl/stemmen The winners will be announced on 27 October.