25 years Kolping Recycling: A Feast of Solidarity in Fulda!

25 years Kolping Recycling: A Feast of Solidarity in Fulda!

Fulda, Deutschland - On June 12, 2025, a very special anniversary was celebrated in Fulda: Kolping Recycling looks back on 25 years of solidarity. The ceremony was a great success and attracted guests from all over Germany, who together appreciated the achievements of the company. Alexandra Horster, the Federal Secretary of the Kolpingwerk, opened the event with a warm welcome. In his speech, Michael Konow, general manager of the IHK, emphasized the immense economic and social importance of Kolping Recycling.

The founding idea of ​​Kolping Recycling was created in 1999, but only in 2000 Kolping Recycling GmbH was launched. Stephan Kowoll, who has been at the head of the company for 13 years, remembered the beginnings in a modest office at Künzeller Strasse 15. Since then, a lot has happened: from 2008 targeted investments were made in collective containers that led the company to professionalize its triple order.

unique collection system

KOLPING RECYCLING is proud to be the only social association in Germany with a nationwide collection system for used textiles. 40% of the old textiles come from their own containers, and around 300 street collections take place annually. A special highlight is the "Shuuz" program, which conveys around 1,000 pairs of shoes on recycling systems every week. A total of 8.5 million pairs of shoes have been recorded since the beginning of the program. These successes show how important the ecological commitment of Kolping Recycling that extends over twelve federal states.

The headquarters in Heinrichstrasse were expanded in 2023 by an additional camp in Bellinger Strasse in order to meet the requirements. Nevertheless, Kolping Recycling sees current challenges: poor quality of imported goods, delivery problems and new CO₂ and toll regulations represent hurdles. Here Stephan Kowoll demands a large portion of flexibility within the industry in order to continue to be able to act successfully.

social responsibility and future prospects

At Kolping Recycling, the social idea is very important. The company's profits flow directly into non -profit projects, and service orders are awarded to integration companies in order to integrate people into the first labor market. Over 500 collectors from different areas - non -profit, local and commercial - entrust their used clothing to the company, which underlines the good insight into the working methods of the volunteer gathering groups.

that there is a need for action in the industry, also mentioned Eric Rehbock, general manager of the BSVE, who pointed out the difficulties from which the industry is currently suffering. Nevertheless, there is hope for a national circulatory strategy that focuses on textiles and drives stronger regulations. This strategy could also be in connection with the current projects and developments at the EU level that aims to make the clothing industry more sustainable. The consumer is in demand and a change in consciousness in terms of long -lasting clothing is absolutely necessary to cope with the challenges in the textile sector.

In line with Adolph Kolping, who once said: "The needs of the time will teach you what to do," Kowoll concluded with a view of the future. It remains to be seen how Kolping Recycling will set its course in the coming years in order to continue to be successful both ecologically and socially.