On average, each American throws away about 82 pounds of clothing and textiles annually, with the majority ending up in landfills. The EPA reports that over 17 million tons of textiles were generated as municipal solid waste in 2018. This figure, as confirmed by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, marks an increase of more than 50% since 2000, primarily due to the rise of fast fashion. The recycling rate for clothing and footwear remains low at just 13%.
Denim stands out as one of the most recyclable items in this waste stream. Made primarily of cotton—a natural and biodegradable fiber—authentic jeans can be transformed into building insulation, pet bed inserts, and thermal packaging, or repurposed through resale and creative reuse.
Here are five creative ways to give your old jeans a new purpose while having some fun.
1. Transform your unwanted denim into insulation.
Since 2006, Cotton Incorporated’s Blue Jeans Go Green program has been converting denim into insulation. The initiative has collected over 5 million pieces of denim, diverting more than 2,290 tons of textile waste from landfills. The recycled fiber is processed into UltraTouch™ Denim Insulation by Bonded Logic, which is utilized in homes, thermal packaging, and pet bedding, with some insulation donated annually to community projects in need.
The program accepts denim items (jeans, jackets, skirts, shirts) that are at least 90% cotton, regardless of their condition. Drop-off locations include Anthropologie, which aims to divert 10 tons through the program, and a rotating list of retail partners available on the Blue Jeans Go Green recycle page.
Denim can also be mailed directly to the program at Cotton’s Blue Jeans Go Green™ Program c/o Phoenix Fibers – CIMI, 400 East Ray Road, Chandler, AZ 85225 (note that the free prepaid label program ended in August 2025, so shipping costs must be covered).
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Madewell’s denim trade-up program offers a practical way to recycle old jeans, regardless of the brand. By dropping off any pair of jeans at a Madewell store, customers receive $20 off a full-priced pair of Madewell jeans. The program runs year-round with no limit on the number of pairs you can bring.
The initiative has collected over 2.3 million preloved pieces. Gently worn jeans are resold through Madewell Forever, the brand’s resale platform with ThredUp. Jeans beyond repair are recycled into housing insulation and sustainable packaging through the Blue Jeans Go Green partnership.
Customers can also mail in denim using a free Clean Out Kit or shipping label if a Madewell store is not nearby.
2. Convert your denim into shorts.
Turning long jeans into shorts is an easy way to repurpose them, even for those who don’t sew. All you need is a sharp pair of scissors to cut them to your desired length. Remember the saying, “measure twice, and cut once.” For those who sew or enjoy using a glue gun, this tutorial by Craft & Creativity offers creative embellishment ideas for your cutoffs.
3. Repurpose your denim into a reusable bag.
One creative way to upcycle denim is to create reusable bags. These bags serve various purposes, such as gift packaging, purses, or reusable grocery carriers. There’s also a unique phone charging bag project, which can be crafted with a glue gun or craft glue.
4. Create friendship bracelets from denim.
Upcycling denim into friendship bracelets is a popular project among my girls, who enjoy using their creativity to craft unique pieces. Start by gathering supplies like buttons, embroidery floss, and other embellishments. Cut the denim into strips and let the creativity flow.
Once you have your supplies, let the fun begin. Encourage kids to brainstorm and sketch their designs, then help them bring their vision to life.
Kids can proudly wear their bracelets or give them as thoughtful gifts.
For more denim upcycling ideas, visit this Pinterest board.
5. Craft a supply holder using old jeans and recycled cans.
This project is perfect for organizing craft supplies in one convenient location. You can create a kid-friendly holder by including washable markers, colored pencils, safety scissors, and glue sticks. Adding a handle transforms it into a portable craft supply kit. This example is from 8Trends.com.
Denim scraps are also useful as ties for garden plants, drawer liners, coasters backed with felt, small coin pouches, and journal covers. Denim’s natural fraying can add a deliberate, artistic touch, even with imperfect cuts. A growing community of textile artists on Pinterest’s denim upcycle boards offers ideas organized by skill level and material quantity.
Your old jeans are too valuable to throw away. If they’re still wearable, consider donating them to a local thrift store or trading them in at Madewell. If they’re beyond wear, recycle them through Blue Jeans Go Green or transform them into something new. Use Earth911’s Recycling Search to find nearby textile recycling drop-off locations.
Editor’s Note: Originally published by Wendy Gabriel on February 6, 2017, this article was updated in April 2026. Feature image courtesy of Shutterstock.com.
