OLD UNIFORMS GET NEW LIFE IN DOG BEDS

Old uniforms nearing the end of their life are being rescued from landfills in a program that provides dogs with comfortable places to sleep.

Westpeak, a manufacturer of uniforms and PPE, is creating dog beds from repurposed gear and donating them to animal charities across the South Island.

The company offers a “full circle service,” according to Westpeak New Zealand’s marketing and sustainability head, Courtney Thompson.

Clients can choose to participate in this sustainability program, with many organizations employing “hundreds and hundreds of staff,” allowing thousands of clothing items to be diverted from landfills.

“As long as it’s clean and odor-free, we’ll take it,” Thompson said.

Clothing with stains, zippers, and logos is also accepted.

The returned items are shredded, stuffed into a liner, and then placed inside a washable, waterproof canvas cover—all produced on-site.

Since the program was introduced to Westpeak’s clients a couple of years ago, about 20 organizations have joined in, helping to gather enough clothing to fill over 100 dog beds, each containing up to 10kg of fabric cushioning, Thompson noted.

Sarah Conroy, administrator at Design Windows West Coast, joined the program nine months ago and recently donated 20kg of old uniforms collected from around 45 staff members.

“When someone gets a new uniform or if an item is worn out, we place it in the recycling box.

“Previously, we would have tossed those old clothes in the bin or tried to repurpose them as rags.”

She noted that transforming the old clothing into dog beds is a “great alternative to adding more waste to landfills.”

“It’s a really great idea, and as a pet lover, I’ve been excited to see our first batch turned into pet beds,” Conroy said.

Her two cavoodles are enjoying a cozy, sustainable dog bed filled with repurposed clothing, while local dog shelters are also reaping the benefits of the initiative.

SPCA branches in Nelson, Greymouth, and Christchurch, along with Christchurch Bull Breed Rescue, have all received these dog beds to give to new pet owners. “It’s a fresh, new bed for them to take home,” Thompson added.

She described the recycling program as “a little bit different” from others available.

“This one is really unique because it helps dogs waiting for their forever homes,” she said. “It provides a wonderful feel-good factor not just for dog lovers but for businesses as well.”

Companies can also choose to donate the beds to their staff.

This clothing initiative is part of Westpeak’s commitment to sustainability, which includes a partnership with Trees that Count, aiming to plant at least 500 native trees each year, as well as donating to an environmental fund with every item sold.