Helpsy Receives 2024 Sustainable Business Leadership Award

Sustainable Jersey presented Helpsy with the 2024 Sustainable Business Leadership Award, in recognition of the company’s significant commitment to the core sustainability principles of people, planet and prosperity, along with strong support for values that the Sustainable Jersey program advances. Helpsy accepted the award at Sustainable Jersey’s Annual Luncheon at the New Jersey League of Municipalities Conference.

As a clothing collection company and a Certified B Corp 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.

“Helpsy’s mission is to keep clothes out of the trash,” says Alex Husted, Co-Founder of Helpsy. “We are dedicated to changing the way people think about clothing recycling while adhering to the highest level of social and environmental performance. We are honored to be recognized by Sustainable Jersey with the Sustainable Leadership Award and applaud them for sharing our vision for a sustainable and just future.”

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.

Sustainable Jersey Director Randall Solomon says, “Helpsy empowers municipalities and schools to be environmental champions in their local communities. The company is committed to diverting bulk quantities of unwanted clothing from the waste stream through recycling and reuse while providing millions in funding to hundreds of nonprofit, municipal and commercial partners.” He adds, “Aligned with Sustainable Jersey's mission, Helpsy measures its success in three key areas: profit, people and the planet. It is an example of a company that takes sustainability seriously while contributing locally to improving the quality of life in New Jersey.”