Every year, forty thousand miles of plastic waste flow through the global ocean, enough to circle the Earth at the equator. However, by visiting specific stores, you can help reduce this waste by returning items like worn sneakers, obsolete laptops, or furniture headed for the landfill.
Several retailers have established authentic end-of-life systems for their products, going beyond mere public relations to create effective systems with measurable results. The following seven companies demonstrate these efforts with updated numbers for 2026.
Patagonia
Patagonia’s Worn Wear program is one of the most extensive take-back systems in the retail apparel industry. In 2025, over 137,000 trade-ins were completed, with nearly 71,000 of these arising from return and warranty claims. The online Shop Used feature, introduced in September 2024, has significantly boosted the secondhand market. Wearable items are cleaned, repaired, and sold through Worn Wear, while unrepairable items are recycled.
In terms of material innovation, Patagonia partnered with Eastman in 2024 to process 8,000 pounds of clothing waste via molecular recycling. This process breaks down apparel into chemical components for new fiber creation. By fall 2025, over 90 percent of Patagonia’s fabrics were recycled, organic, or traceable. The brand’s 2025 Work in Progress Report highlighted that reducing hang tags by over 40 million pieces prevented 170,000 pounds of packaging waste. Despite these advancements, Patagonia acknowledges the ongoing challenge of mechanically recycling blended fabrics on an industrial scale.
Apple
Apple’s trade-in and recycling program enabled 15.9 million devices to find new owners via refurbishment in 2024. Devices that are beyond refurbishment are dismantled by Daisy, Apple’s disassembly robot, which can process 36 iPhone models to recover materials like aluminum and copper. Another robot, Dave, disassembles Taptic Engines to salvage rare earth magnets and steel.
Apple’s material recovery is impressive. In 2024, 24 percent of all materials used in Apple products were recycled or renewable, up from 10 percent in 2019. Recycled aluminum made up 71 percent of Apple’s aluminum purchase. The company avoided 6.2 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions by using recycled and low-carbon materials, as reported in its 2025 Environmental Progress Report. Moreover, Apple has achieved over 99 percent of its 2025 goal to use 100 percent recycled rare earth elements in magnets and cobalt in Apple-designed batteries. Customers can return devices at any Apple Store or ship them for free.
Best Buy
Best Buy has collected 2.7 billion pounds of electronics and appliances since its recycling program began in 2009, making it the largest retail collector of e-waste in the nation. The program accepts most consumer electronics at over 1,000 stores, collecting more than 400 pounds of product every minute the stores are open.
The program has expanded to include a mail-in recycling service for customers without store access, allowing them to ship old tech in specialized boxes. A home haul-away service is available for those unable to transport large items. Best Buy ensures all recycling partners follow strict environmental management standards. TVs and monitors incur a $25 fee, while most other electronics are accepted for free.
Nike
Nike’s Reuse-a-Shoe program, initiated in 1995 to recycle worn athletic shoes into Nike Grind material, has evolved into the global Recycling + Donation (RAD) service.
The program accepts athletic footwear and apparel from any brand, assessing each item for donation or recycling. Wearable items are donated to partners like Soles4Souls, while worn-out footwear is turned into Nike Grind for use in playground surfaces and new Nike products.
Part of Nike’s Move to Zero initiative, the program aims for zero carbon and waste across the supply chain. Participating stores accept shoes of any brand, excluding cleats, boots, or sandals. Nike Refurbished also cleans and resells slightly imperfect footwear at select stores to extend product life.
Staples
Staples was the first U.S. retailer to offer a universal e-waste takeback program in 2007. Currently, the program accepts over 50 types of materials, including computers and phones. Since 2021, Staples has recycled 7,000 tons of e-waste and 19 million ink cartridges, aiding HP in recycling 1 billion cartridges.
Staples’ Easy Rewards program offers 500 points monthly for tech recycling. Ink cartridge recycling earns $2 per cartridge for members who spend a minimum on ink, up to a limit. Staples uses certified recyclers and routes recycled toner into road construction materials. All U.S. Staples locations accept electronics at customer service desks.
IKEA
In the U.S., furniture is the largest category of discarded household goods, with Americans discarding around 12 million tons annually. IKEA’s Buyback & Resell program aims to tackle this issue by allowing customers to trade gently used IKEA furniture for store credit. Items that pass inspection are resold, while others are recycled as part of IKEA’s zero-waste-to-landfill policy.
The program, available in 33 U.S. stores, accepts over 5,000 product types. Globally, IKEA’s circular efforts reduced its climate footprint by 24.3 percent while increasing revenue by 30.9 percent. IKEA Family members receive 50 percent more store credit through May 2026.
REI
REI’s Re/Supply program sold nearly 1.4 million used outdoor items in 2024, doubling its 2019 volume. Trade-ins of gently used gear earn members store credit, with items inspected, cleaned, and resold at a discount. Selling used items through Re/Supply reduces carbon emissions by at least 50 percent compared to new items.
REI achieved 90 percent operational waste diversion in 2024, becoming the first major U.S. retailer to do so. Three distribution centers hold TRUE Zero Waste certification. In 2024, over half of the polyester and 45 percent of the nylon in REI products were recycled. REI also charges partners a recycling fee to limit plastic bag use, with most brands eliminating them entirely.
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Editor’s Note: Initially written by Sarah Lozanova on April 10, 2017, this article received substantial updates in April 2026.
