Dive Brief:
- Landfill Dzine, an accessory line based in Selma, CA, recycles used irrigation hoses into fashion statements.
- The hoses were originally used in the agricultural industry to pump water into fields from wells.
- The castoff hoses are cleaned and cut, then transported to manufacturers who sew the reclaimed materials into flip flops, belts, handbags, and more.
Dive Insight:
Millions of pounds of used material are collected and baled for future use—until the time comes to transform the material into stylish pieces. The hoses featured by the brand are not traditionally recyclable, so the family-owned company's decision to divert it from landfills by transforming it into art is pretty creative.
Barbara Dillon, a sales consultant at Landfill Dzine said, “People are interested. The input I’m getting is they like the story and like the product; it’s encouraging.”
In August, Netafim USA, an irrigation manufacturer in Fowler, CA, began offering farmers free pick-up and removal of used irrigation tubing. The company also compensates the farmers for the material. The company recycles the hoses, tape, and tubes used in farming. The program has diverted more than 30 million pounds of materials from landfills since it was launched in 2007.