Problem

Fire-hoses can be used for about 25 years, before they cease to be safe. General recycling proves difficult as they are composites, i.e. mixed materials that can’t be separated. As a consequence, a retired fire-hose will turn into waste.

The same fate awaits composites such as tea and coffee sacks and printing blankets. Parachute silk, coffee sacks and leather off-cuts from the fashion industry are also difficult to reuse.

Solution

Damaged decommissioned fire-hoses are cleaned and turned into luxury items such as handbags, travel bags, belts, wallets etc.

Leather off-cuts from Burberry’s production are transformed into sellable items such as handbags and carpets.

Retired Parachute silk and auction banners are used for lining Elvis & Kresse’s products.

Defected and worn-out printing blankets from the off-set printing industry are turned into new (vintage) raw material.

Jute or hessian coffee sacks are also used and large craft paper tea sacks are turned into packaging, mailing pouches and brochures.

Even unwanted shoe boxes collected from shoe shops are flattened and used to make packaging and labels. 

Elvis & Kresse products start at around £45 for a belt and £200 for bags. To minimise the risk of impulse buys and ‘buyer’s remorse’, products are never offered at discounted prices. All of their products come with a 1-year warranty. After that time a repair service is offered. 

Outcome

In the first 10 years Elvis & Kresse reclaimed 200 tons of material from fire-hoses and since partnering up with the Burberry Foundation in 2017, the company set out to recraft at least 120 tonnes of leather off-cuts into luxury Elvis & Kresse items over the first 5 years.

Elvis & Kresse pledges to donate 50% of its profits to charities. Recipients have been the Fire Fighters Charity, and the Barefoot College which helps train female solar engineers. 

The other half of the profit is reinvested to expand their work in reducing and reusing waste, protecting the environment and inspiring craftspeople.