LOOP Upcycling in Malaga is WA’s first corporate upcycling social and repurposing enterprise, transforming discarded uniforms and materials from companies like Fortescue Mining, Virgin Airlines and Transperth into new products.

Some of the newly created items include laptop sleeves, tote bags, and even teddy bears made from FIFO uniforms, which Fortescue gives to families.

Other items are bought back by the companies as staff gifts or merchandise, creating a circular economy model that reduces landfill and creates meaningful employment for people from refugee and migrant backgrounds.

Loop Upcycling chief executive officer Franco Randazzo said they had already empowered more than 100 individuals from refugee, migrant, domestic violence and justice-impacted backgrounds to help rebuild confidence, skills and financial independence through meaningful work.

“As a social enterprise, Loop has an environmental benefit, as well as a social benefit,” Mr Randazzo said.

“We’re proving that waste can be a resource and that circularity can drive real social change.

“To date, we’ve supported more than 85 businesses across industries - from mining and construction to government and professional services - including partners like Fortescue, Woodside, HBF, Metronet and 7-Eleven.”

He added that the enterprise had diverted more than 4450kg of textiles from landfill, transforming redundant uniforms and materials into something of value again.

“We’re proving that waste can be a resource and that circularity can drive real social change.

“We are also hoping to change the traditional mindset about upcycling to help both government and other organisations realise that it is not always more expensive to upcycle, and the benefits for both the participants and organisations can be both real and tangible.”