DENTON, TX – A groundbreaking sustainability initiative aimed at reducing textile waste has been launched at the University of North Texas (UNT), spearheaded by assistant professor Iva Jestratijevic. The Zero Waste Textile initiative, the first of its kind at a U.S. university, seeks to repurpose and recycle unwanted textiles within the UNT community.
Funded by a $1,000 grant from the State of Texas Alliance for Recycling, the project has introduced eight pink recycling bins located at Chilton Hall for the collection of unwanted textiles from faculty, staff, and students. These items include fabric, clothing, shoes, and accessories, all of which are redirected for reuse rather than ending up in landfills.
Jestratijevic, a former international fashion model with a doctorate in fashion and retailing, is passionate about combating the high rate of textile waste produced by U.S. consumers. “The average U.S. consumer throws away around 100 pounds of textiles annually, one of the highest rates in the world,” she stated. This initiative represents a significant step towards environmental sustainability in the retail and fashion industries.
The initiative’s visual identity is marked by ‘Earthy,’ a cartoon-style globe logo designed by student Ceceille Darter, who was inspired to contribute after taking Jestratijevic’s Branding and Promotion class. “I learned a lot about how much textile waste is produced and how certain brands are extremely unsustainable in their practices,” Darter said.
In its early stages, the initiative has already seen success. During the first sorting event, 60 pounds of textiles were diverted from landfills, and more than 200 new and like-new clothing items were donated to UNT’s Diamond Eagle Student Resource Center, supporting students in need.
Looking ahead, the project plans to organize campus-based “community closet” events, providing students the opportunity to shop for free clothing, with unclaimed items being sent to the Chickasaw Nation ReUse Center in Oklahoma.
Jestratijevic and her students also aim to study the data collected from donated items, assessing brand names, condition, and distribution paths, alongside analyzing the environmental impact of textile waste.
This initiative not only contributes to zero-waste goals but also serves as an educational tool for students and the community, raising awareness about textile waste and sustainability. Jana Hawley, dean of the College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism at UNT and a pioneer in the study of textile waste, expressed pride in the college’s role in launching the initiative, emphasizing the project’s contribution to innovative solutions and awareness in textile recycling.
