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Circularity, not Waste

How workwear at KAYA&KATO gets a second life

What if an apron wasn’t just thrown away, but recycled—and returned as brand-new workwear? At KAYA&KATO, this isn’t a vision for the future—it’s already happening. Because real sustainability doesn’t start with the product itself, but with the question: What happens after it’s been worn?

The textile industry has a serious problem: each year, tons of clothing end up in landfills—including professional garments that are often discarded far too early. The impact? Huge. The benefit? Short-lived. We want to change that!

Our closed-loop recycling system closes the loop—for less waste, fewer raw materials, and more responsibility.

How Our Circular System Works

Collection & return: We collect used workwear—directly from our customers.
Sorting & preparation: Each garment is assessed, sorted, and prepared for recycling.
Recycling process: Materials—even blended fabrics!—are mechanically broken down into fibers.
Production of new materials: These fibers are turned into new yarns and fabrics that meet our high quality standards.
Manufacturing of new products: The fabrics are transformed into durable, premium workwear.
Use & circularity: The new pieces return to kitchens, hotels, and care teams—ready for the next round.

Circularity You can Wear

With our circular products — like the Circular PIKE bib apron and the Circular LIVERPOOL overshirt — we show what circularity looks like in practice. These models are designed for recycling from day one, made from recyclable materials and equipped with a functioning take-back label.

Closing the loop — Together

We take responsibility as a company—and make it easy for our customers to join the loop. No extra effort. No compromises. Because true sustainability means designing with the end in mind from the beginning.

For our customers, this means:

Becoming an active part of the circular economy
Choosing workwear with real impact — sustainable, transparent, and timeless

Truely being #partofthedifference!