Notice every time you do your dry cleaning, each piece of your clothing is returned atop a wire hanger?. Convenient, Yes - Eco-friendly, No. About 3.5 billion hangers escape from US closets each year, ending up in already overflowing landfills. Stretched out end to end, that’s roughly enough wire to travel to the Moon and back - twice. Startling, considering they take over 100 years to decompose.
We had the chance to chat with Josh Cohen (pictured, left), hailing from Melbourne, Australia - whom with his buddies Christian Ferrante and Ash Singam (pictured, right) have created a rather clever alternative. Green Hanger made from 100% recycled paper completely replaces the antiquated (and eco-ghastly) wire hanger.
In short, eco-conscious companies (and consumers) who care about what their threads are hanging on, can now make the choice to go green. A brilliant concept, in a changing world - we just had to talk to to these guys.
Tell us about Green Hanger, how did it start?
Green Hangers started by helping a few mates move and having a discussion on what to do with all the remaining wire hangers. After some research and development, we found an alternative which wasn’t eco friendly but made our version completely eco friendly by eliminating print, glue or any bonding agents as well as being environmentally led not advertising led.
Coat hangers? It’s a rather obscure product to re-invent - is there any particular affinity with the product? (Anyone in the dry cleaning business maybe?)
Traditionally coat hangers have just been a commodity and expense, now with Green Hanger we have the power to promote a cause and create awareness around a big issue. In OZ 77 million hangers end up in landfill - the Green Hanger seeks to reduce this. Also the dry cleaning industry is inherently a “dirty” industry with bad chemicals and practices. The Green Hanger goes towards promoting a greener industry and moving one step forward to becoming a better overall industry.
How important do you think “Green Marketing” is today?
I think its very important as long as the people and practices behind the organizations are true to their beliefs and don’t use the “environment” as a great way to make money while not practicing what they preach. Since everything has to be certified, accredited and assessed from all aspects of production, distribution and manufacture, it is important that companies look at the whole picture not just one component to hang their whole hat on.
What is a Green Hanger made of?
Green Hangers are made from 100% recycled and recyclable cardboard from post consumer waste.
Any plans on selling advertising on the facade?
We are against any forms of printing on our hangers as the inks and printing process ads another level of management and environmental concerns to manage. The other hanger companies promote that they have a recycled hanger but forget that most of them glue another sheet of paper to the front then print with ink all over the front. Plus who wants an add for a new Disney flick or type of new coffee by Nescafe in your wardrobe.
What type of customer buys a Green Hanger?
A customer that sees the potential in making a difference and willing to try something new and different in the market. It is hard to think that there is a cardboard alternative to the wire hanger, but it is stronger and hold more lateral force than a wire one.
How have you let your audience know about the benefits of Green Hanger thus far?
Through our website, word of mouth and face to face discussions at festivals and events.
We see you’re an Australian based company, any plans on marketing Greenhanger offshore?
Through our intensive e-marketing campaign and high google rankings for keywords, we have been able to spread our message wide and far fielding enquires from Canada, US, UK, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand and France. People are very interested in the product and we are in negotiations in setting up distribution arms in the UK and US.
What is the life expectancy of a Green hanger?
We have thouroughly product tested the Green Hanger and in the home they last for along time, upto 6 -12 months, in dry cleaners they have a lower expectancy due to the high turnover.
We love the product, how do we get some for our own home?
To get some go online for the OZ home - we are shortly offering packs of 25 which will be perfect for the home.. Currently for OS clients you will soon see throughout US and UK so stay tuned.
About Green Hanger
The Green Hanger was born in response to the ever-increasing number of wire and plastic hangers ending up in landfill each year. They have produced a fashionable solution to an unfashionable problem and it’s available immediately. When you choose Green Hanger, you are using a product that is attractive, functional and most importantly environmentally sound. It’s the perfect solution for any rag-trade business that wants to operate with minimal impact on the environment.
The vision clear, and the vision strong. Green Hanger is more than just a product, it’s a vehicle with the power to make the fashion industry leaner and greener. It demonstrates a commitment to actively reducing impact on the environment, while helping to educate, promote and reinforce awareness surrounding some of the world’s greatest environmental challenges.
Green Hanger is actively leading the change, providing an alternative choice to existing outdated technology like wire and plastic. Visit Greenhanger.com.au to place an your order. We know what our threads will be hanging on.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Wow i first read the title and thought this was about abortions
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:43 pm
This is ridiculous. Why are wire hangers eco-ghastly? Because they take 100 years to break down…?? Get with it. These hangers do NOTHING to help the environment.
As a matter of fact recycling is a lot of the time worse than making new products…
I wish you eco-hacks would get a clue….
Look to the sun…
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:45 am
Just quit throwing away wire hangers. Most dry cleaners will take them off your hands.
A ‘disposable’ hanger is not the answer here. It would be smart not to look at creating new things as the answer to every problem. Smart use and reuse is often the way to sustainability.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:30 am
I think this is actually a great initiative! If all wire hangers were eradicated, and there was only “RECYCLABLE” cardboard hangers, then there could be a recycling program just like softdrink companies do with Cans and bottles.. Just my 2 cents
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:00 am
It is amazing how bad we are totally screwing this planet, it is great to see some new innovation that people may actually use.. if the price isn’t too high per unit?? How much are they anyhow? And do they have a distributor on the east coast
?
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:23 am
This isn’t a good thing, I thought it was becoming a well known fact that recycling is in fact damaging the environment more so than putting things in a landfill. And the thought that landfills are overflowing is ridiculous. Recycled paper and cardboard is also kind of stupid, it’s not like it saves trees. trees that are used for paper are grown to make paper, just like we grow food to eat. So recycled paper takes away the demand for these trees which would mean that less trees are being grown. People really should know better about recycling, its obviously bad if you think about it, but its just been pounded into our heads as a good thing.
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:32 am
I dont understand why people would want to continue to live with wire hangers.. surely this is a first step atleast to phasing them out. What’s the alternative? live with these hangers and continually produce 100s of millions a year out of wire and having them taking 100s of years to break down. I think youll find these hangers are made from post consumer waste from old magazines, newspapers, junk mail and print off cuts. surely this is a better alternative if we need to produce something to hang our clothes off… Haters are one thing, but at least leave a comment with an alternative, or get off your asses and do something to help as well…
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:37 am
For those of you who don’t understand the benefits of recycling I suggest you all take the time to read a little more. It doesn’t take 5 minutes to grow a tree for paper use, it takes YEARS, but next time you eat your next big mac, and you throw away the rapper.. how long do you think you used that for? Years to grow a tree, 10 -15 seconds to use the wrapper? How long was it even on the burger for!!!
Recycling is a MUST now days, in a true step forward in becoming a sustainable planet.. I think this is an awesome article, and great to see start ups at least trying to work in an industry that helps others, and the planet, and not just their pockets. Let me know where we can find them in canada, you have customer #1!
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:12 am
We are still talking about the downsides of recycling? Come on people, in what century do you live? Recycling is a must, don’t you get it? And if you don’t then try reading about recycling. And if you have a mind of an infant and you still don’t get it, then you still haven’t climbed down of the trees!
What do you think, that all these experts, all these researches are a conspiracy for doing more harm to the environment?
Kyle said: “Recycled paper and cardboard is also kind of stupid, it’s not like it saves trees. trees that are used for paper are grown to make paper, just like we grow food to eat.”
Kyle, are you out of your mind? How old are you? Trees that are used for paper? You know they don’t grow trees for paper (a tree at best takes 10-15 year to grow), they cut forests! And with recycling, you recycle used paper, you don’t cut more trees!
You are so ignorant, you are fools and you have the nerve of posting your rediculus thoughts!
April 24th, 2008 at 2:26 am
I ‘m definately not an expert on this, but remind me why we couldn’t just recycle the wire hangers?
April 24th, 2008 at 4:54 am
Um, I don’t throw out the current metal hangers. I use them to hang my clothes on. And, yes, Ted, how dare other people not only think for themselves but also have the gall to post their thoughts!
Of all the possible things that could be done to actually help the environment, these hacks thought of this? Sure, every little bit “helps” at an unmeasurable, feel-good level, but otherwise stunts like these make me think their creators must be starved for attention.
Underground coal fires. Power plant turbine bearings. Grid upgrades. Waste methane. Pick something that matters and has a macro effect and you’ll be on the right track.
April 26th, 2008 at 4:41 am
Ummm…if you get rid of wire hangers how will you get into your car when you lock yourself out? “No more wire hangers EVER!”
April 26th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
For now, biodegradable hangars look good, but when the starving immigrants from Bangladesh and other Asian countries arrive (with their university degrees)and start going door to door collecting and recycling iron coat hangars and other things may be their only form of employment. Once these hoards of starving Asian people start to arrive, a lot of our recycle programs will make sense, especially when they show us how to make a dollar at them!
April 26th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
this is a joke, right? why is a throw-away cardboard hanger better for the environment than a wire hanger that can be kept in the closet and used again?
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:17 am
I’m sure most people who care about their clothes DON’T use wire coat hangers. An alternative would be great. Wooden coathangers are popular - surely these would be more ecofriendly? I’d like some feedback from users letting us know how sturdy they are.