Leading zipper and fastening systems manufacturer YKK (Türkiye) A.Ş. has claimed the prestigious Red Dot Award 2025 in the Sustainable Design category for its Recycled Mono‑material Detachable Button & Rivet. Crafted from 100% recycled materials and designed for complete recyclability, the innovation marks a significant move toward circularity in fastener design.
The Red Dot jury, renowned for its stringent evaluation of design excellence, has honored YKK’s fastener for its environmental impact, innovation, and user‑centric recyclability.
Winning designs will be featured in the upcoming Red Dot Yearbook 2025 and showcased at the Red Dot Design Museum in Essen, as well as across global digital platforms.
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This award aligns with YKK’s ambitious “Sustainability Vision 2050”, unveiled in 2020. One of the key targets: transition entirely to sustainable textile raw materials by 2030. In pursuit of this goal, YKK introduced the first-generation Detachable Button & Rivet two years ago at the Kingpins Show in Amsterdam, facilitating easy separation of metal accessories for recycling.
Building on that foundation, the second-generation Recycled Mono‑material Detachable Button & Rivet intensifies YKK’s commitment. Utilizing a single recycled material, the design boosts circularity by enabling components to be separated and reintegrated into production as raw materials — eliminating mixed-material waste.
In a LinkedIn post, YKK Europe described the innovation as “a game-changer in circular design for the denim industry…[crafting] from 100% recycled materials and designed for effortless separation during recycling.”
What This Means for the Fashion Industry
Design-for-recycling: Encourages future adoption of detachable, mono-material accessories.
Material efficiency: Promotes closed-loop supply chains by keeping metals in circulation.
Sustainable branding: Supports consumer demand for eco-friendly and responsibly designed products.
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Final Word
By winning the Red Dot Award, YKK not only underscores its leadership in sustainable design but also sets a new benchmark for the fashion and textile accessory industry. As brands chase greener credentials, designs like this detachable fastener could soon become the norm—not the exception.
