The VC Summer North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NAYGN) Chapter discovered there are more items that can be recycled than just paper, plastic and aluminum. Old blue jeans can be given new life too! The Blue Jeans Go Green™ Denim Recycling program recycles old denim into environmentally safe UltraTouch™ Denim Insulation. Portions of the insulation manufactured from this program are distributed to Habitat for Humanity affiliates and disaster relief projects across the country. Celebrities like Brad Pitt, Hayden Panettiere and Heidi Klum have supported this unique program that has diverted over 600 tons of denim from landfills. Distribution of this insulation expanded when a Grant Program was launched in 2010 for architects, contractors, builders and project developers to apply for grants of UltraTouch™ Denim Insulation to be used in community-based green buildings.
NAYGN hosted a Denim Drive during the month of February to contribute to the Blue Jeans Go Green™ Denim Recycling program. UltraTouch™ Denim Insulation is manufactured at a recycling plant in Phoenix, Arizona. To save on shipping costs, the VC Summer NAYGN Chapter teamed up with Richard Petty Motorsports to arrange transportation of the collected denim to Phoenix during the month of March. On site contractors, Westinghouse and CB&I, as well as SCANA corporate headquarters participated in the campaign.
The results yielded over 500 pieces of denim collected and hauled up to the Richard Petty Motorsports race shop. Some of the UltraTouch™ Denim Insulation has made it back to the SCANA Women’s Build Habitat for Humanity Project. Additionally, all Habitat for Humanity affiliates in South Carolina now have the opportunity to use the UltraTouch™ Denim Insulation due to the efforts from the VC Summer NAYGN Chapter.