resQdog manufactures dog accessories from surplus and recycled textiles, wants to help homeless dogs and speed up the employment of immigrants

resQdog Oy, which started its operations in May 2022, wants to awaken dog owners to responsible consumption. The company manufactures dog accessories from surplus and recycled textiles and the proceeds are used to help homeless dogs to start a better life. The products are sewn by immigrants living in Jyväskylä and the proceeds of the products are donated to charity.

"Dogs wear textiles just like us humans do. I wanted to offer dog owners an alternative that does not increase the environmental burden and helps skilled crafters find employment in Finland," explains resQdog's entrepreneur Laura Sojakka.

Fabric made from discarded fishing nets as well as leftover material from the production of Finnish textile companies are used as materials for dog accessories.

"The most ecological thing is to use the surplus material as it is. We use abrasion-resistant materials in our workwear, which certainly also work for dogs," says Mervi Koskensalo from Touchpoint, which is one of resQdog Oy's partners.

In Finland, 85 million kilograms of textile waste is generated per year, about 15 kilograms per person. Only about one percent of end-of-life textiles end up being recycled. By recycling end-of-life textiles into new materials, the amount of waste can be significantly reduced in the future.

"End-of-life textiles can be mechanically opened into recycled fiber, which can be used as such in pet coats and mattresses as filling material or by weaving them into new fabric. Using recycled fibers is an environmentally friendly choice because it saves natural resources. For example, up to 10,000 liters of water are used to grow and process the cotton used in jeans. This is equivalent to the amount of drinking water for one person for 17 years", sums up Minna Ainonen, environmental expert at Rester Oy, which processes end-of-life textiles in Paimio.

resQdog products are designed and manufactured in Finland. The company's goal is to offer immigrants opportunities to participate in Finnish working life. Cooperation is made with associations that organize rehabilitative work activities, which offer immigrants help and support in terms of language skills and working life skills.

resQdog Oy is a brand for homeless dogs, which makes products from recycled materials and surplus fabrics from the textile industry for the needs of dog families. resQdog products are designed in Finland and are sewn by immigrant women. The proceeds from the products are used to sterilize dogs, vaccinate dog populations, and treat diseases of homeless dogs. resQdog was founded in 2022. www.resqdog.com

Rester Oy offers textile recycling solutions with which companies' end-of-life textiles and production side streams can be processed into recycled fiber and high-quality raw materials. During the process, textiles are mechanically opened into fibers. Rester’s recycled fiber can be used in many different fields as an alternative to virgin raw material. Rester, founded in 2019, started its operation in November 2021. www.rester.fi

Touchpoint is a pioneer in responsible workwear, which, starting in 2021, has committed to responsibly recycle all Textiles it delivers to its customers. Touchpoint receives from its customers an equivalent amount of textile for further processing for each new collection delivered. Textiles do not end up as smoke in the atmosphere, but the textiles are processed into a new raw material at the end of its useful life. www.touchpoint.fi