NIKIN launches buyback scheme for worn clothes

NIKIN, the textiles company based in Lenzburg in the canton of Aargau, Switzerland, has launched a buyback scheme for worn clothes from its range, further details of which can be found in a press release. The Circular Cashback program will be up and running from November 1, allowing customers to claim a refund for the material value when they return their circular garments. The longer that customers retain their garments, the higher the refund that they can claim. According to the sustainability-focused company, under the terms of this initiative up to 25 percent of the original purchase value is paid out in cash.

The new program from NIKIN is made possible by the innovative textile material naNea, as the press release explains. The biodegradable and recyclable polyester fiber naNea is manufactured by OceanSafe AG from Bern. Textiles produced on this basis can, according to the press release, be recycled time and again at consistent quality levels.

“We already had circular products on offer, but we realized that an additional incentive was needed to encourage customers to make voluntary returns. With the buyback program, we are now seeking to offer a suitable incentive and realign our business model”, comments NIKIN co-founder and CEO Nicholas Hänny.

Founded in 2016 by Hänny and Robin Gnehm, NIKIN is known for its tree planting campaign. For every product the company sells, NIKIN plants a tree in collaboration with its partner organization One Tree Planted. To date, more than 2.2 million trees have been planted, the company states. ce/gba