In an effort to assess the climate and water impact of three types of Nuuly rentals, we partnered with Third Partners, a sustainability consulting firm, to develop a dynamic data model , focused on product utilization and environmental footprint amortization over the garment’s lifetime.

More Wears = More Efficient Impact

A garment rented from Nuuly generally has a higher lifetime carbon footprint than the purchased alternative, due to the incremental impact of transportation and washing of each rent. However, the incremental wears from multiple users can make impact more efficient.

In other words, more rents equates to more transportation and washing, but also more wears.

The Environmental Impact of Renting Jeans

Here, we’ll be looking at the environmental impact of renting jeans , selected for study because of their inherent usefulness, durability and popularity —in other words, Nuulyers love, and love to rent, jeans.

Key finding: The average pair of Nuuly jeans gets 1.3x more wears than the purchased alternative. Due to higher utilization, the carbon impact per wear of Nuuly jeans is 23% lower.

Think of it this way: Nuuly’s efficiency gains from increased product utilization are similar to how a bus uses more fuel than a car, but is more efficient per passenger. While a bus trip has a higher carbon impact than a car trip, its impact intensity is lower per rider.

On average, and compared to the purchased alternative, Nuuly jeans have

• 3x more lifetime wears
• -23% carbon footprint*
• -23% water footprint*

*per wear

How The Average Nuulyer Can Keep The Average Pair Of Nuuly Jeans’ Impact Even Lower

Once your Nuuly jeans arrive for the month, wear them! Easy, right? The more you wear them, the more efficient their carbon and water footprint become. Increasing the average wears per rent by 50% results in a 16% reduction in carbon intensity for jeans. A few more tips for keeping utilization high and impact low for yourself and others in the Nuuly community:

• Leave fit feedback and reviews on your jeans to help other Nuulyers find their best fit
• Challenge yourself to wear your jeans 5x per rental cycle
• Carpool your return: bring your sister’s, neighbor’s, or roommate’s Nuuly to UPS or an Urban Outfitters store location when you return yours

PS–If You’re Washing And Drying Your Nuuly Jeans At Home… Please Don’t

At-home washing + drying is a significant driver of carbon and water impact in the rental phase of jeans and increases shrinking and damage. If your jeans are in need of a pick-me-up, Nuulyers have told us they have spot-cleaned with stain sticks and perked them up with a squirt of fabric refresher or popping them into the freezer overnight (truly!). We’ll take care of the cleaning in our water-efficient washing machines once they’re back at the hub.

Want more info on Nuuly’s sustainability and circularity? Right this way .