Jeans donated by celebrities and musicians such as Lindsay Lohan and Sheryl Crow have been used in insulation for a five-story habitat for humanity in New York City.
The Denim Drive, launched in September 2005, collected nearly 20,000 pairs of jeans that have been converted to 80,000 square feet of UltraTouch denim insulation through a process of cleaning and shredding the raw denim by JBM Fibers in Brownsville, Texas and manufactured into eco-friendly UltraTouch denim insulation by Bonded Logic, Inc. in Chandler, Arizona. JBM Fibers and Bonded Logic generously donated their services to the project. The insulation utilised on this project is 100% denim, free of carcinogens and formaldehyde, and more effective than traditional insulations in resisting extreme cold and in providing superior noise reduction.
“We are proud to be partnering with Habitat for Humanity-New York City to help preserve and strengthen the South Bronx community,” said David Lauren, Senior Vice President of Advertising, Marketing, and Communications at Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation. “This effort is consistent with the Company’s commitment to volunteerism and to contributing in a meaningful way to underserved communities.”
“We are committed to creating homes that are both affordable and green. Environmentally friendly materials, such as this blue jean insulation, are better for our volunteers, the families who will live here, our communities—and our earth,” said Roland Lewis, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity – New York City. “Polo is a longtime supporter of Habitat-NYC, and we are delighted that our homes will benefit from the warmth and safety of denim insulation.”
In addition to the South Bronx project, 60,000 square feet of Denim insulation is being sent to Habitat for Humanity International Operation Home Delivery in Canton, Mississippi to assist in the hurricane disaster relief effort. Polo is also partnering with Volunteer Mobile, Alabama through the Points of Light Foundation, to sponsor two homes for families who lost their homes in the Hurricane.