HOUSTON – Houston’s dedicated healthcare professionals, numbering over 100,000, frequently enough face the challenge of overflowing closets filled with outdated or worn-out scrubs. Recognizing this issue, FIGS, a medical apparel company, launched “Scrubs That Don’t Suck,” a year-round recycling program designed to tackle textile waste within the healthcare industry. A recent event, held at the Houston Marriott Medical Centre between April 4-6, 2025, encouraged healthcare workers to drop off their old scrubs for recycling.

Trina Spear, Co-Founder and CEO of FIGS, emphasized the company’s commitment to both quality and sustainability: “Our mission is to serve those that serve others and continue to break barriers while doing so. This means creating the highest quality, most innovative scrubs for the healthcare community, but also offering them a first of its kind convenient solution to contribute to a more sustainable future.”

Participants in the program received a $50 credit toward the purchase of new FIGS scrubs, providing a financial incentive to participate in the recycling effort. This initiative addresses a significant environmental concern by diverting textile waste from landfills.

While getting paid to declutter may seem unusual, the rapid wear and tear on scrubs, due to frequent washing and demanding shift work, makes this initiative particularly appealing to healthcare workers. It provides a practical and straightforward way to promote sustainability while refreshing their professional wardrobes.

FIGS highlights the significant waste generated by discarded medical scrubs. Healthcare professionals often cycle through numerous sets of scrubs annually, leading to a significant accumulation of textile waste that frequently ends up in landfills. According to the American Hospital Association, U.S. hospitals generate more than 30 pounds of waste per bed per day, a portion of which is textiles like scrubs.

Event Details Recap

• When: Friday, April 4 – Sunday, April 6, 2025, from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Where: Houston Marriott Medical Center
• Perks: $50 credit toward new FIGS scrubs and giveaways

FIGS emphasizes that medical scrubs represent a significant, frequently enough overlooked source of textile waste. These items are rarely accepted for traditional donation and frequently end up in landfills. The “Scrubs That Don’t Suck” program directly addresses this issue, tackling a high-volume waste category within the healthcare industry. this is particularly relevant considering that U.S. operating rooms alone generate approximately 2,000 tons of waste daily, according to a study by the association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN).

The event also provided a platform for Houston’s healthcare community to participate in an Earth Month initiative specifically tailored to their workwear. This initiative underscores the importance of sustainable practices within the healthcare sector.

For those unable to attend the event in person, FIGS offers a mail-in option through their website, ensuring accessibility for healthcare workers across the region.

Let’s face it: Those scrubs from your intern year might not be the most stylish or cozy anymore. Fortunately, “Scrubs That Don’t Suck” provided a responsible option to relegating them to the back of your closet or the trash can.

The Environmental Impact of Textile Waste: A U.S. Perspective

The “Scrubs That Don’t Suck” initiative highlights a crucial issue: the environmental impact of textile waste in the United States. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), textile waste accounts for nearly 5% of all landfill space. In 2018, the U.S. generated 17 million tons of textile waste, with only 15% being recycled. This means a staggering amount of clothing and other textiles, including medical scrubs, end up in landfills each year.

The decomposition of textiles in landfills contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, primarily methane, a potent greenhouse gas with a substantially higher global warming potential than carbon dioxide. Additionally, the production of textiles often involves environmentally harmful processes, including the use of dyes and chemicals that can pollute water sources.

FIGS’ recycling program offers a tangible solution to mitigate these environmental impacts by diverting scrubs from landfills. By recycling these materials, the program helps conserve resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and minimize pollution associated with textile production and disposal.

Beyond environmental benefits, “Scrubs That Don’t Suck” promotes a culture of sustainability within the healthcare community. By providing a convenient and incentivized recycling option, FIGS encourages healthcare workers to adopt more environmentally responsible practices in their professional lives.

The program’s success depends on continued participation and expansion. Raising awareness about the environmental impact of textile waste and promoting similar recycling initiatives across the healthcare industry are crucial steps toward creating a more sustainable future.

FIGS’ Commitment to sustainability: A Deeper Dive

FIGS’ “Scrubs That Don’t Suck” program is just one facet of the company’s broader commitment to sustainability. FIGS has implemented various initiatives to minimize its environmental footprint throughout its operations. These include:

• Sustainable Materials: FIGS utilizes sustainable materials,such as recycled polyester and ethically sourced cotton,in its scrub production.
• Ethical Manufacturing: FIGS partners with ethical manufacturers who prioritize fair labor practices and environmental responsibility.
• Reduced Packaging: FIGS has streamlined its packaging to minimize waste and utilize recycled materials.
• Carbon neutral Shipping: FIGS invests in carbon offsetting programs to neutralize the carbon emissions associated with its shipping operations.

By integrating sustainability into its core business practices, FIGS aims to set a positive example for the apparel industry and inspire other companies to adopt more environmentally responsible approaches.

Real-World impact and Future Possibilities

The impact of the “Scrubs That Don’t Suck” program extends beyond environmental benefits. by providing healthcare workers with a cost-effective way to update their scrubs,the initiative can improve comfort and confidence on the job. A fresh set of scrubs can boost morale and contribute to a sense of professionalism, ultimately enhancing patient care.

looking ahead, there are numerous opportunities to expand and enhance the “Scrubs That Don’t Suck” program. These include:

• Expanding Partnerships: Collaborating with more hospitals and healthcare facilities to establish convenient drop-off locations.
• Developing Innovative Recycling Technologies: Investigating new technologies for recycling textile waste, such as chemical recycling, to create new materials from old scrubs.
• Creating a closed-Loop System: Aiming to create a closed-loop system where recycled scrubs are used to produce new FIGS products, further minimizing waste and resource consumption.
• Educating Healthcare workers: Providing educational resources and workshops to raise awareness about sustainable practices and encourage responsible consumption.

By embracing innovation and collaboration, FIGS can continue to lead the way in promoting sustainability within the healthcare apparel industry and beyond.