Sustainable Business Leadership Award

 

2024 Recipient: Helpsy

As a clothing collection company and a certified B corporation with an environmental mission to extend the useful life of clothing, Helpsy partners with municipalities, schools and organizations across 10 states to collect unwanted clothing. Helpsy operates 1,200 clothing collection points and provides free curbside service to millions of Americans. The company funds numerous charities and thrift stores to give consumers convenient alternatives to garbage. Currently they collect an item of clothing every second. In 2023 alone, Helpsy diverted nearly 15,000 tons of textile waste out of landfills saving municipalities about $1.3 million in tipping fees. Helpsy reported that 95% of what is collected is salvageable; 50% is sold as clothing and used again, while 45% becomes things like furniture insulation or wiping cloths. Helpsy is the official textile recycling partner of 48 municipalities, including Toms River.