Recycle your Old Blue Jeans

Photo by permission of Ben Donley

Updated 2/17/2010:

What’s blue, made out of old recycled blue jeans, itch-free, and keeps you warm during the winter and cool in the summer?  No, not your favorite blue sweater or blanket!  Bonded Logic’s Ultra-touch insulation.  Previously, I have written about having this terrific insulation in my own home as sound insulation since it is itch-free and formaldehyde-free.  With four rambunctious boys and hardwood floors throughout the house, the noise level would be deafening.  I can’t tell you how much this demin insulation absorbs sounds especially in the basement!

As I mentioned in my Bonded Logic article, you can easily use this insulation for your exterior walls.  We chose to use Icynene, an open cell spray foam insulation, which we felt was a better insulator than the cotton insulation.

People have asked me in the past if you can send your blue jeans to Bonded Logic.  I have always replied “ no” since their insulation is made up of  blue jeans scraps from the factories.  I recently found out that this is not true.  There have been demin drives in the past as well as currently, where your old jeans could become someone else’s warmth.

• Green Jeans Insulation Inc was collecting the jeans  to send them to Bonded Logic.  (Via  a tip from Jana’s Care 2 blog post citing Plenty magazine‘s article.)    However, Green Jeans indicated that  they are no longer taking the blue jeans.  This made me a little blue.

• Certain universities are collecting old jeans  as participants in the Cotton, Blue to Green® Denim Campaign. The university campaigns are run by the students to educate their fellow  jean wearing students that cotton is  not only comfortable but is renewable and recyclable.  Those participating students are making an impact on the environment in their own way by recycling their jeans.

• According to Sean Desmond, the Director of Sales and Marketing at Bonded Logic, the Company sponsors demin drives throughout the year.  The next drive is scheduled for April, 2009 in conjunction with National Geographic with a Washington DC centralized collection point.  Perhaps the White House? Stay tuned to Green Talk as this event is formally announced.

• (New!) You can send your jeans directly to JBM Fiber in Brownville, Texas.  They are a leader in textile recycling and fiber conversion.   (You pay for shipping.) Before you run to the post office, I would suggest calling the company to confirm that this policy still exists.

What if you don’t want to send your jeans to be reused in insulation? Here are some other alternatives to recycle your jeans:

• Freecycle your old jeans because someone may want to use them for a craft or if gently worn, wear them again.

• Donate them to a charity such as Goodwill.

• Have your jeans made into sandals at Recyle Your Jeans ( Tip via LivePaths)

• If you are a more crafty type of person, consider some of these projects in “25 Things to Do with Old Jeans.”

• Learn how to sew with demin.  Here is your chance with this helpful article.

• Learn how to revamp outdated or too short jeans into new stylish ones.

What are your ideas what to do with your old blue jeans?

Similar Posts:

• Recycle Your Jeans at the Gap March 5-14, 2010
• Why Not Feel As Comfortable with Your Insulation As Your Jeans?
• Second Life Denim Jean Rugs from Summer and Winter Weaving
• Recycle Yoga Mats Through RecycleYourMat
• Do You Get A Headache when You Walk into your Closet?

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Tagged as: crafts and jeans, handbag and jeans, making sandals out of jeans, Old blue jeans, recycling blue jeans, recycling jeans, redesigning jeans, remaking jeans, torn blue jeans