YKK Receives Red Dot Award for Detachable Button and Rivet Design
Among the hurdles in denim recyclability is the prevalence of trims, including buttons and rivets. Whether jeans are headed for mechanical or chemical recycling, these metal pieces cannot be processed along with the rest of the garments.
Trim manufacturer YKK’s Türkiye facility has introduced a solution to this roadblock with the creation of detachable buttons and rivets. This development recently received recognition from the Germany-based Red Dot Design Awards, winning in the Sustainable Design category.
YKK’s solution encompasses the detachable trims as well as a machine that easily removes the trims before recycling. Typically, roughly 30 percent of the jean fabric would be wasted associated with prepping denim clothing for recycling, but this shrinks the trim-related waste to zero. Although there is a special device used to remove the trims—which can be provided to recyclers—there is no specialized equipment needed to place the trims on a garment. Manufacturers can continue to use their normal machinery to attach the trims.
Not only are the buttons and rivets detachable, but they are also monomaterial, allowing them to also be more easily recycled once they are separated from the fabric. YKK calls this “the first circular trim combination.”
YKK Türkiye was among the applicants from more than 60 countries that submitted their designs for consideration. The Red Dot Design Awards are adjudicated by a jury comprised of 43 experts—including designers, professors, journalists and consultants—from 21 countries. The entries are judged on the quality of function, the quality of seduction, the quality of use and the quality of responsibility.
As part of its win, YKK will be featured in the Red Dot Yearbook 2025, and the button and rivet designs will be showcased at the Red Dot Design Museum in Essen, Germany, as well as on digital channels.
This innovation from YKK reflects the company’s focus on sustainability. Its goal is to switch to 100 percent sustainable textile raw materials by 2030. On LinkedIn, YKK Türkiye notes, “With our focus on sustainable design, we aim to support the circular economy and drive the evolution of fashion.”
YKK also wrote, “Red Dot, one of the world’s most prestigious design awards, represents design excellence. Winning this award once again highlights the quality of our products, our innovative mindset and our firm commitment to sustainability.”