I & G Cohen Ltd have a long history and rich tradition in textile recycling. It is a dynamic company, evolving and adapting to changing environments while still retaining its roots in quality care and dependable service.

History

I & G Cohen Ltd is a family business with long traditions in textile recycling and the reduction of textile waste. Established in 1959 by Gerald Cohen and his father Israel in the Chorlton area of Manchester, the company relocated a year later to larger premises in Salford and has remained there ever since. Gerald’s son Elliot Cohen joined the company in 1974 which was a great source of pride with three generations working together.

The company has always adapted to change and consequently now also offers bespoke products to Eastern Europe as well as Africa and Asia. One of I&G Cohen’s greatest achievements is how we have evolved and diversified in recent years. We now offer a comprehensive range of kerbside and textile bank collection services, working in partnership with a large number of local authorities, waste management companies, schools and charities providing opportunities for clothing recycling. The company has since rebranded its collection scheme as CARE2COLLECT. We now collect around 300 tonnes of second hand clothing per week. This allows clothing to be re worn and reused, avoiding ever increasing use of landfill and textile waste.

Achievements

I&G Cohen are pleased to say that our success hasn’t gone unnoticed and we have been privileged to have won a number of prestigious awards. In 2008 we were awarded the UK’s most esteemed business accolade - the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise: International Trade category. In the same year we won EN Magazine’s Family Business of the Year Award and more recently the International Trade Award, Salford Business 2009. In 2003 the company won the Salford Exporters Excellence Award. The company is located in the heart of the historical textile industry and we are proudly on permanent exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry as part of its history of textiles and recycling in modern Britain.

I & G Cohen Ltd have always been at the forefront of textile recycling in the UK. We were one of the founding members of Recyclatex, a group of companies formed to ensure a cost effective and reliable national textile recycling service is provided to local authorities, waste management companies and charities. Elliot Cohen was the President of the Textile Recycling Association from 2000-2003.

The company has also been at the forefront of campaigning for textile recycling in the UK. I & G Cohen Limited have been active members of the DEFRA Sustainable Clothing Roadmap and active in discussions with government agencies to improve clothing recycling rates and averting textile waste.

I & G Cohen Ltd is a commercial organisation with a strong ethical ethos, awareness of the environment and a keen sense of our corporate social responsibility. We focus on quality throughout the organisation, high levels of customer service, and acting in a socially responsible manner.