EcoZeal

Blue jeans. Who doesn’t have at least one pair? They come in slim, straight, baggy, boot-cut, lo-rise, bell bottom, bleached, stone washed, embellished and plain. You can dress them up or down, they’re durable and comfortable (when you find the right pair) and they go with anything.

With over three hundred million people in the US alone, you can imagine that the number of used jeans awaiting disposal each year must be astronomical. Where do all those jeans go?

Unfortunately, most of them end up in the landfill.

But a few companies out there – surprisingly few, given the ready availability and low cost of the material – are determined to give new life to old jeans.

Jeans for Warmth

For sheer volume of fabric recycled, the winner amongst them is Bonded Logic, manufacturer of natural fiber insulation products. Their Ultra Touch cotton fiber insulation is largely made from the scraps left over from the jeans manufacturing process. It provides excellent thermal and acoustical performance, contains no irritants and does not itch. Ultra Touch is available as batting and in loose cellulose form as well as a foil-faced radiant barrier.

The Write Choice

On the other end of the spectrum in terms of production is artist and papermaker Ray Bliss Rich.

He creates beautiful handmade papers from natural fibers, including invasive species like kudzu. His hand made paper from old jeans is available on a limited basis. (If you surf his site be sure to visit his online gallery of delicate original sumi-e paintings.)

Once you have paper, you need something to write with. Green Earth Office Supply carries Recycled Jeans Pencils made from 20% reclaimed denim fiber. A pack of 12 costs $6.00. Prefer a pen? Try the Southampton Recycled Denim Pen from Stony Brook University’s online store.

And for those of us who can’t draw a straight line, there’s the ruler made from old blue jeans from Greenline Paper Company.

It’s In the Bag

Remember the trend back in the 70’s of making purses and bags from your old jeans? Who has time to do that any more? They’re not easy to find online, but if you’re looking for a purse minus the work to make it, you do have a couple excellent choices. Worn Again and Custom Gifts by Talina both offer handmade purses bags reclaimed from old jeans at very reasonable prices.

Recycling Jeans Into…Jeans!

Finally, for that favorite pair of jeans you just can’t bear to part with, there’s new hope. Denim Therapy specializes in old blue jean reconstruction. They will repair your tattered old jeans to wearable condition for about $7 per inch of tear, plus shipping.

Hopefully as our society becomes more aware of the real cost of production, distribution and disposal more people will begin to take note of the tremendous potential there is in putting old blue jeans and other garments to use.

Insulation made from reclaimed denim is harmless enough for kids to cuddle.