It’s a fact of life that kids outgrow and wear out clothes at a rapid rate, including their school uniforms. And it’s also true that old clothing doesn’t always find a useful ending. In fact, every year, 92 million tonnes of textile waste is produced globally.
At SJS, we are determined to ensure we don’t add to it.
SJS is no stranger to the impacts of textile waste. Students have covered such topics as plastic clothing and fast-fashion in their PYP Grade 5 Exhibition projects, MYP Personal Project and DP Extended Essays over the years. Through their work we’ve learned that unsustainable fashion practices add to climate change, nature, land and biodiversity loss, pollution and waste.
With sustainability an important pillar of the Our Students Soar Strategic Plan, our school has a responsibility to tackle our contribution to this waste problem. And we’ve got some great partners to help us do it.
The Solution
The best solution for keeping up with the need for uniforms for ever-growing children is to find them second-hand. The Parent Association regularly hosts the Eagles Nest Used Uniform Sales so that SJS uniforms can be passed onto other students rather than heading to landfill, which in turn generates revenue that goes back into PA events for the community. The Eagle Update contains notices for each uniform sale with the next taking place on Saturday, April 25.
But what about the clothes that can no longer be worn?
Thanks to the combined efforts of Ms. Richards, Annual Giving and Community Relations Manager, and Mr. Nagtalon, Facilities and Transportation Manager, we now have a solution. SJS has partnered with Debrand to sustainably dispose of our textile waste from uniforms.
Working with major companies like Lululemon, Arc’teryx and Target, Debrand is a local Vancouver business that specializes in textile sustainability and responsible disposal.
We partnered with Debrand for the first time in January. Our impact results are now in, and they’re pretty exciting.
Sustainability in Numbers
In our first collection through Debrand, SJS diverted 720 lbs from the landfill. That’s about the same weight as an adult grizzly bear!
Of the collection, 91% went to fiber reclamation, which is a downcycling solution that shreds textiles to create shoddy fibre that can be used for filings and insulation. Imagine your old school uniforms are helping to keep people warm in winter! The remaining 9%, which contained non-recyclable materials, was directed into energy. The incineration of the products generates energy that can be redirected into usable energy for homes or businesses.
“Debrand is grateful to be supporting SJS in finding the worth in waste. Together, we are pushing the industry forward and enabling SJS to work towards its sustainability goals and commitments. We’re excited by what’s to come!” — The Debrand Team
With this new partnership SJS can take tangible action to reduce our impact of textile waste on our environment.
If you have outgrown or worn out uniform items, please bring them in for the next Used Uniform sale on Saturday April 25, 2026. Clothing can be dropped off to either reception during the week leading up to the sale. Please do not donate any used uniform items to thrift stores or charity shops. Any items which cannot be resold now have a new future!
