Paneco, a Japanese company founded by Work Studio and led by CEO Kazuhiro Hara, has developed a new solution to recycle used garments and textile scraps and turn them into panels suitable for furniture solutions.

The company reclaims waste from the textile supply chain - including leather and carbon fiber - and transforms it. After removing zippers, buttons and decorative elements from garments, it crushes and grinds them. A fiber-binding agent is added to these fibers, resulting in a material that has the same strength as wood fiber board, while having a fiber content of more than 90%. This material can also be used both to make furniture elements, but also as a construction material. In addition, it is 100% recyclable after use.





The new panels are all different from each other and, due to their imperfections, they have an irregular appearance reminiscent of granite. They can be used in various ways such as, for example, to create upholstery, ottomans, shelving systems, partitions, tables, seating, cabinets and more.




Why H&M loves Paneco
Recently, the Swedish fast fashion chain H&M chose Paneco to decor the interiors of its new store opened at the beginning of March in Tokyo, in the Ikebukuro area, in the Toshima district. The store covers an area of 1,000 square meters and occupies three floors dedicated to men's and women's proposals and the Divided line, designed for young consumers and offered at affordable prices. H&M Japan also announced that it will use furnishings such as fixtures, fixtures, displays, tables and coat hangers made from Paneco panels composed of defective clothing recycled by the brand for other stores in Japan.





Promoting circular fashion
H&M is involved in a program that includes other environmentally conscious initiatives. In addition to the introduction of Paneco panels, it uses LED lighting throughout the store with the aim of reducing energy consumption by up to 50% compared to conventional lighting, uses wall paints and other surfaces that contain less than 1%* volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to try to reduce air pollution and improve indoor air quality. The floors in some of its stores are also made of linoleum, a renewable material made from linseed oil. The Swedish company also believes in collaborating with its customers and involve them in projects that help promote circular and sustainable fashion models. All H&M stores in Japan also collect unwanted clothing regardless of brand or condition. For every bag of used clothes brought into the store, customers receive a 500 yen voucher to be used on purchases of 3,000 yen for a maximum of two vouchers per person per day. Collected clothing is sorted for reuse, reuse, recycling or energy, and nothing is disposed of. Part of these disposed clothes are used for producing Paneco panels.