US' Bleckmann acquires The Renewal Workshop

Over the past six years, The Renewal Workshop has developed a proprietary system for renewing and reselling products that would otherwise be considered waste. Research from more than 50 product assessments for brands ranging from high fashion to specialty technical shows that on average 82 per cent of products classified as waste can be renewed and resold, the company said in a press release.

By acquiring The Renewal Workshop's technology, process and environmental impact methodology and combining it with Bleckmann's extensive supply chain expertise, Bleckmann is positioned to immediately provide circular services to help brands access the fast-growing recommerce consumer base globally. With the use of The Renewal Workshop solution by Bleckmann, fashion and lifestyle brands may significantly decrease their environmental footprint.

The Renewal Workshop solution adds new value to Bleckmann's current Returns management solutions. With the addition of renewal to the returns processing, Bleckmann can unlock more value for brands and put more products back into use. The acquisition also enables Bleckmann to provide Recommerce sales solutions, making it even easier and more efficient for brands to serve the growing resale market.

“We have been following the developments of The Renewal Workshop in the last couple of years and admire the impressive work done by the founders and the entire TRW team. To Bleckmann, the comprehensive Renewal System complements our efforts to offer sustainable solutions to our clients,” Jurrie-Jan Tap, chief business development officer at Bleckmann, said in a media statement.

"We are thrilled to find a values aligned partner that brands can trust to provide truly sustainable circular services. Bleckmann has the resources, expertise, and commitment to scale renewal and recommerce for the industry. The potential for renewal to make a meaningful difference in the Climate Crisis is real. Our most recent research demonstrates that brands can achieve an average reduction of 51.5 per cent in carbon emissions by renewing an existing product instead of producing a new one. Bleckmann is the ideal partner to help every brand committed to sustainability achieve their goals,” Nicole Bassett, co-founder and co-CEO of The Renewal Workshop, said.

“Bleckmann’s reach makes them the perfect company to take on the Renewal Process. With their global footprint, they can build on what we started in Europe and the US and unlock renewal and recommerce quickly and efficiently. We could not have asked for a more mission aligned and trustworthy partner to carry this work forward,” Jeff Denby, co-founder and Co-CEO of The Renewal Workshop, said.