Recycling as solid fuel (RPF)
Clothing deemed unwearable (estimated 20%) are transformed into energy in the form of calorie dense solid fuel (RPF)*1. Solid fuels substitute fossil fuels and are used for industrial purposes such as for boilers in paper manufacturing.
*1 Japan Only
Recycling as automobile soundproofing materials
The roughly 20% of clothing donations that cannot be reused are transformed into soundproofing materials for automobiles or high-calorie solid fuel (RPF)*1. Approximately 22 T-shirts (4.3kg clothing weight)*2, are cut, turned back into fiber, and recycled into enough soundproofing material for one car, reducing engine noise in a petrol car and high-frequency waves in an electric car.
*1 Japan Only
*2 Assumes 1 T-shirt weighs 200g (Source: Nihon Tokushu Toryo Co. Ltd.)
