Calvin Klein launches take-back program in the U.S.
Calvin Klein Inc. wants to help customers responsibly dispose of their pre-loved items — from any brand.
The luxury brand, part of PVH Corp., has launched Re-Calvin, a take-back program designed to empower customers to send in their used items for reuse, recycling or responsible disposal. Developed in partnership with Trove, a leader in branded resale and customer trade-in, and Debrand, a comprehensive sortation and circular logistics partner, Re-Calvin is a free service from Calvin Klein.
It gives U.S. customers a simple, accessible way to extend the useful life of clothing, shoes and accessories from any brand through donation, recycling, downcycling or, when necessary, responsible disposal that is converted from waste to energy. Re-Calvin also accepts intimates such as bras, swimwear and underwear — a category often excluded from circularity programs.
“As Calvin Klein continues its sustainability journey, we are proud to introduce a program that makes circularity more accessible for our customers and delivers alternative uses for pre-loved items,” said David Savman, global brand president, Calvin Klein. “It was important that we partner with experts with a proven ability to build and scale programs that handle a wide range of products and categories, making it easier than ever for customers to responsibly extend the life of their items.”
The way it works
Customers in the United States can visit calvinklein.us/re-calvinto print a free shipping label and send in items from any brand. Once received, each package is processed and routed for one of the following:
- Reuse: Items in good condition are donated or sent to secondhand distribution partners.
- Recycle/Downcycle: Items that cannot be reused, including intimates, are recycled into new fibers whenever possible, or downcycled into materials such as insulation or padding.
- Responsible Disposal: As a final step, if no reuse, recycling or downcycling option is available, items are to be converted from waste to energy or alternative fuel conversion.
Only items suitable for a new owner are directed to reuse. Garments with significant wear, damage, heavy stains and all intimates are directed to end-of-use streams, including recycling, downcycling and responsible disposal. Customers receive an email update after their parcel is processed, detailing how their items were routed, ensuring transparency throughout the process.
Re-Calvin is powered by Trove’s new Takeback Plug-In, which enables Calvin Klein to seamlessly manage item intake, routing and transparency at scale. The plug-in integrates directly into Calvin Klein’s existing U.S. website, enabling the brand to operate a multi-brand takeback program that includes complex categories such as intimates.