From Shirts to Insulators: Recycled Honda Uniforms Find New Utility in Vehicles
August 10, 2023
— MARYSVILLE, Ohio
Recycled Honda uniforms are shredded into fibers and repurposed for insulation in new Honda and Acura automobiles
Uniform recycling program reduces waste to landfill from Honda manufacturing and R&D facilities in Alabama, Indiana, North Carolina and Ohio
Honda’s “Triple Action to Zero” approach focuses on “resource circulation” to make new products from 100% sustainable materials by 2050
Honda associates put a lot into the products they make, now including the shirts right off their backs. Honda is advancing a recycling initiative that takes uniforms worn by associates at its U.S. manufacturing and R&D facilities and transforms them into sound-absorbing insulation for use in Honda and Acura automobiles. This program diverts approximately 45,000 pounds of uniforms from reaching landfills each month as Honda works toward its commitment to use 100% sustainable materials in its products in the future. Watch a video of the uniform recycling process at https://honda.us/UniformRecycling.
Recycled Honda Uniforms Find New Utility in Vehicles
Honda has established a global “Triple Action to Zero” approach, with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities, use of 100% clean energy and resource circulation (100% sustainable materials), by 2050. Achieving that goal – which targets zero environmental impact – will require innovative solutions, including how Honda sources materials for new products by recycling and reusing material from end-of-life vehicles and Honda operations.
“To achieve our Triple Zero goal of 100% sustainable material use, we need to take every possible opportunity to recycle materials at end of life for reuse in our products, thereby minimizing our utilization of virgin materials,” said Negar Gilsinger, manager of Resource Circulation for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “By maximizing end-of-life material recycling, we are giving our uniforms a second life in Honda and Acura vehicles.”
The Honda uniform recycling program leverages cross-industry collaboration between Honda and its uniform suppliers Aramark and Cintas Corporation, as well as insulation supplier UGN Automotive and textile recycler Leigh Fibers. Uniforms from Honda production and R&D facilities in Alabama, Indiana, North Carolina and Ohio are recycled and reused in five different insulator parts on all nine Honda and four Acura models made in North America. In the future, Honda plans to expand the uniform recycling program to other facilities in North America.
“Collaborating with Honda suppliers in the uniform recycling program has brought great value to our supply chain sustainability efforts,” said Rob Long, senior procurement specialist with Honda North American Indirect Procurement. “As Honda works to advance sustainability, we appreciate our suppliers’ efforts to innovate their business operations to reduce waste and give new life to our Honda uniforms.”
More than 380,000 pounds of uniforms have been recycled since the program launched at the end of 2021. The uniforms Honda associates wear have always been an important part of the company’s culture and success, symbolizing Honda’s “One Team” approach, which promotes collaboration and the understanding that the ideas of all associates are valued.
Transforming Uniforms into Insulation Honda associate uniforms that are cleaned by uniform suppliers – Aramark, at Honda Indiana and Ohio facilities, and Cintas Corporation, at Alabama and North Carolina facilities – are evaluated after washing. If the uniforms are undamaged, they are sent back to associates to wear. When uniforms are designated for reuse in Honda and Acura vehicles, they are baled and sent to Leigh Fibers, which specializes in reprocessing and custom-blending fiber-based materials.
At Leigh Fibers’ facility, the uniforms are shredded into material that meets the required fiber grade for use as vehicle insulators. Zippers and buttons from the uniforms are first extracted and collected so that no metal or plastic goes through the shredding process. Then the material gets blended into mixed fibers and tested to ensure the fiber material meets the fiber length requirements. The newly reprocessed fibers are then packaged and delivered to insulation supplier UGN.
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UGN blends, consolidates and trims the fibers into material that is molded into insulation and returned to Honda auto manufacturing plants for new vehicle production. Typically, UGN creates insulation from post-industrial fibers, which are sourced from textile companies, and polyester sourced from recycled water bottles. The uniform recycling program marks the first time Honda and UGN are using post-consumer textile waste for sustainable insulation material.
“It is part of UGN’s history and culture to maximize recycled content in our parts, reduce landfill by recycling our own by-products, and promote circular, mono-material technologies that enable end-of-life vehicle recycling,” said Pranav Singh, director of Purchasing & Packaging for UGN Automotive. “Reusing Honda uniforms contributes to these efforts by increasing the amount of recycled materials available for insulators and opens the door to other post-consumer textile waste projects.”
Expanding Recycled Materials in Vehicles The uniform recycling program builds on Honda’s longstanding commitment to reduce waste and incorporate higher recycled content in Honda and Acura vehicles. This includes working with suppliers to transform post-industrial textile scrap, such as fibers from denim, into vehicle insulation/absorption material. In collaboration with UGN, Honda annually reuses approximately 2,800 tons of recycled post-industrial textile waste – equivalent to 5.6 million pairs of jeans – and 3,000 tons of post-consumer PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles – equivalent to 6 million water bottles – for vehicle sound-absorbing insulation.
Other approaches to using sustainable materials in Honda and Acura vehicles have included soybean-based foam for vehicle headrests, recycled plastic water bottles and recycled Honda car bumpers for wheel liners, plant-based material for the seat fabric in the 2019 Acura RDX and Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid vehicle, and processed volcanic rocks for the roof liner in the 2003 Honda Element.
To learn more about Honda’s Triple Action to Zero approach and the concept of resource circulation, read Our Perspective, “We Have Set a Great Big Goal: Nothing.”
About Honda’s Commitment to the Environment Honda is working toward its global goal of zero environmental impact by 2050 through its “Triple Action to Zero” approach, including achieving carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities, 100% utilization of renewable energy, and resource circulation, utilizing 100% sustainable materials by reprocessing products back to raw materials and reusing those materials in the creation of new products. Toward this goal, Honda will strive to make battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicles represent 100% of auto sales in the U.S. and globally by 2040.
About Honda’s Commitment to the Environment Honda is working toward its global goal of zero environmental impact by 2050 through its “Triple Action to Zero” approach, including achieving carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities, 100% utilization of renewable energy, and resource circulation, utilizing 100% sustainable materials by reprocessing products back to raw materials and reusing those materials in the creation of new products. Toward this goal, Honda will strive to make battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicles represent 100% of auto sales in the U.S. and globally by 2040.
To reduce the environmental impact of its business operations, Honda also is offsetting CO2 emissions from its North American manufacturing operations through long-term virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs) for renewable wind and solar power that seek to cover more than 60% of the electricity Honda uses in North America. Honda also promotes environmentally responsible business practices with its suppliers and retail dealer partners across North America.
How China cleaned up its air pollution – and what that meant for the climate
How China cleaned up its air pollution: Beijing’s air quality went from hazardous to good while Delhi and Lahore still struggle. Discover how China dramatically reduced pollution since 2013—and why cleaner air may have unintended consequences for global warming and climate change.
Delhi: 442. Lahore: 334. Beijing: 16. These are the levels of PM 2.5, one of the principle measures for air pollution, on November 19. As Pakistanis and Indians struggle with hazardous air quality, in Beijing – a city once notorious for its smog – the air quality is currently rated as good. Ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Chinese government was so concerned about pollution that it introduced temporary restrictions on cars, shut down factories and stopped work on some construction sites. The measures worked and one study later found that levels of air pollution were down 30% during the period when the temporary Olympic restrictions were in place. It would take a few more years before the Chinese government implemented a clean air action plan in 2013. Since then, China has achieved a dramatic improvement in its air quality. In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we speak to Laura Wilcox, a professor at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science at the University of Reading in the UK, to understand how China managed to clean up its air pollution. But Wilcox’s recent research uncovered some unintended consequences from this cleaner air for the global climate: the pollution was actually helping to cool the atmosphere and by taking it away, it may have accelerated global warming. Wilcox explains:
What we’re seeing is a removing of cooling that’s revealing warming that’s already there. So the air pollution isn’t the cause of the warming. It’s just letting us see stuff that we’ve already done.
Dive into “The Knowledge,” where curiosity meets clarity. This playlist, in collaboration with STMDailyNews.com, is designed for viewers who value historical accuracy and insightful learning. Our short videos, ranging from 30 seconds to a minute and a half, make complex subjects easy to grasp in no time. Covering everything from historical events to contemporary processes and entertainment, “The Knowledge” bridges the past with the present. In a world where information is abundant yet often misused, our series aims to guide you through the noise, preserving vital knowledge and truths that shape our lives today. Perfect for curious minds eager to discover the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of everything around us. Subscribe and join in as we explore the facts that matter. https://stmdailynews.com/the-knowledge/
Primo Brands and River Partners Launch Groundbreaking River Restoration Project in California
Primo Brands and River Partners to launch a nearly 1,000-acre restoration project along California’s Sacramento and Feather rivers. The initiative will generate 50,000 acre-feet of water benefits annually while restoring habitats, improving flood protection, and strengthening climate resilience for communities and ecosystems.
Before and after: An example of the transformative riverway restoration that Primo Brands and River Partners have joined forces to implement at 10 different sites along the Sacramento and Feather rivers in Northern California to generate lasting water, community, and ecosystem benefits. Credit: River Partners (CNW Group/Primo Brands Corporation)
Primo Brands and River Partners Launch Groundbreaking River Restoration Project in California
A major public-private partnership aims to conserve water, restore ecosystems, and strengthen climate resilience across the Sacramento and Feather rivers.
Tampa, Fla. & Stamford, Conn. — August 25, 2025 — Primo Brands Corporation (NYSE: PRMB), one of North America’s leading beverage companies and owner of the Arrowhead® Mountain Spring Water brand, has announced a major collaboration with River Partners, a California-based nonprofit specializing in large-scale river and floodplain restoration. The initiative represents a transformative step toward conserving water resources, restoring critical habitats, and advancing climate resilience for communities across California.
Restoring the Lifeblood of California
The project focuses on revitalizing nearly 1,000 acres along the Sacramento and Feather rivers—two waterways that form the backbone of California’s water system, supporting agriculture, biodiversity, and millions of residents. Over the next three years, River Partners will restore 10 multi-benefit floodplain sites with support from Primo Brands’ financial investment.
The restoration is expected to deliver nearly 50,000 acre-feet of volumetric water benefits (VWBs) each year, equivalent to more than 16 billion gallons of water—roughly what 500,000 Californians consume annually.
Beyond water conservation, the initiative will:
Reconnect rivers to floodplains to improve groundwater recharge.
Restore salmon spawning and rearing habitats in degraded river corridors.
Enhance biodiversity and protect endangered species.
Improve flood protection for vulnerable communities.
Renew Tribal access to culturally significant natural resources.
Corporate Commitment to Water Stewardship
“At Primo Brands, our mission is to Hydrate a Healthy America™,” said Charles Fogg, Chief Sustainability Officer at Primo Brands. “Collaborating with River Partners allows us to advance our water replenishment goal of helping to restore 100% of water used or displaced by our operations in high-priority watersheds facing shared water challenges.”
River Partners President Julie Rentner emphasized the significance of the collaboration:
“The Sacramento and Feather rivers are the lifeblood of California’s water system. This partnership will not only yield measurable water benefits but also provide critical improvements for endangered species, flood protection, Tribal access, and public health through restored lands.”
A Model for Nature-Based Solutions
The effort underscores the growing role of nature-based solutions in tackling water scarcity and climate change. With one of the largest restoration footprints in the western U.S., River Partners will apply decades of experience to ensure measurable and scalable outcomes.
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By aligning private investment with nonprofit expertise, Primo Brands and River Partners are demonstrating a replicable model for safeguarding California’s most critical water supplies.
About the Partners
Primo Brands is a North American leader in healthy hydration, with a diverse portfolio of trusted bottled water brands including Poland Spring®, Pure Life®, Saratoga®, Mountain Valley®, Arrowhead®, Deer Park®, Ice Mountain®, Ozarka®, and Zephyrhills®. The company manages over 80 springs, actively conserves more than 28,000 acres of land, and delivers hydration solutions to homes, businesses, and retail outlets across the U.S. and Canada. Learn more.
River Partners, founded in 1998, is the leading nonprofit dedicated to restoring California’s rivers and floodplains. Its large-scale projects—spanning nearly 20,000 acres statewide—combine farming techniques, ecological science, and community collaboration to advance climate resiliency, biodiversity, and water conservation. Learn more.
Dive into “The Knowledge,” where curiosity meets clarity. This playlist, in collaboration with STMDailyNews.com, is designed for viewers who value historical accuracy and insightful learning. Our short videos, ranging from 30 seconds to a minute and a half, make complex subjects easy to grasp in no time. Covering everything from historical events to contemporary processes and entertainment, “The Knowledge” bridges the past with the present. In a world where information is abundant yet often misused, our series aims to guide you through the noise, preserving vital knowledge and truths that shape our lives today. Perfect for curious minds eager to discover the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of everything around us. Subscribe and join in as we explore the facts that matter. https://stmdailynews.com/the-knowledge/
Socially Engaged Design of Nuclear Energy Technologies
What prompted the idea for the course?
The two of us had some experience with participatory design coming into this course, and we had a shared interest in bringing virtual reality into a first-year design class at the University of Michigan. It seemed like a good fit to help students learn about nuclear technologies, given that hands-on experience can be difficult to provide in that context. We both wanted to teach students about the social and environmental implications of engineering work, too. Aditi is a nuclear engineer and had been using participatory design in her research, and Katie had been teaching ethics and design to engineering students for many years.
What does the course explore?
Broadly, the course explores engineering design. We introduce our students to the principles of nuclear engineering and energy systems design, and we go through ethical concerns. They also learn communication strategies – like writing for different audiences. Students learn to design the exterior features of nuclear energy facilities in collaboration with local communities. The course focuses on a different nuclear energy technology each year. In the first year, the focus was on fusion energy systems. In fall 2024, we looked at locating nuclear microreactors near local communities. The main project was to collaboratively decide where a microreactor might be sited, what it might look like, and what outcomes the community would like to see versus which would cause concern. Students also think about designing nuclear systems with both future generations and a shared common good in mind. The class explores engineering as a sociotechnical practice – meaning that technologies are not neutral. They shape and affect social life, for better and for worse. To us, a sociotechnical engineer is someone who adheres to scientific and engineering fundamentals, communicates ethically and designs in collaboration with the people who are likely to be affected by their work. In class, we help our students reflect on these challenges and responsibilities.
Why is this course relevant now?
Nuclear energy system design is advancing quickly, allowing engineers to rethink how they approach design. Fusion energy systems and fission microreactors are two areas of rapidly evolving innovation. Microreactors are smaller than traditional nuclear energy systems, so planners can place them closer to communities. These smaller reactors will likely be safer to run and operate, and may be a good fit for rural communities looking to transition to carbon-neutral energy systems. But for the needs, concerns and knowledge of local people to shape the design process, local communities need to be involved in these reactor siting and design conversations.Students in the course explore nuclear facilities in virtual reality.Thomas Barwick/DigitalVision via Getty Images
What materials does the course feature?
We use virtual reality models of both fission and fusion reactors, along with models of energy system facilities. AI image generators are helpful for rapid prototyping – we have used these in class with students and in workshops. This year, we are also inviting students to do some hands-on prototyping with scrap materials for a project on nuclear energy systems.
What will the course prepare students to do?
Students leave the course understanding that community engagement is an essential – not optional – component of good design. We equip students to approach technology use and development with users’ needs and concerns in mind. Specifically, they learn how to engage with and observe communities using ethical, respectful methods that align with the university’s engineering research standards.
What’s a critical lesson from the course?
As instructors, we have an opportunity – and probably also an obligation – to learn from students as much as we are teaching them course content. Gen Z students have grown up with environmental and social concerns as centerpieces of their media diets, and we’ve noticed that they tend to be more strongly invested in these topics than previous generations of engineering students. Aditi Verma, Assistant Professor of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, University of Michigan and Katie Snyder, Lecturer III in Technical Communication, College of Engineering, University of Michigan This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Gemma Ware, Host, The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
