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Students in Sustainable Business Club just organized a group tour of a hidden, yet important, player in the sustainable fashion industry. Ever wondered how premium brands clean and resell their used gear?

“You have to see it with your own eyes. There's like, 60,000 North Face jackets piled up in there at once.”

Last December, a��Social Responsibility and Ethics (SRE) Certificate alum working at The North Face suggested that their business partner, Tersus Solutions, might be a student interest. Leeds first-year Ryder Nicolaus (MKTG, DA'28) and��Sustainable Business Club president Natalie Bovie (MKTG,SRE '25) spoke to CESR about organizing a tour of the facility. More than an inside-view of their favorite companies' operations, students found leadership opportunities, self-reflection, and new friends.

Organizing the Tour

When CESR caught wind of Tersus Solutions, they passed the word to the Sustainable Business Club. The value of connecting with this growing local business depended on student engagement.

"I don't think anyone here had ever heard of Tersus," Natalie Bovie started. "But when we looked into them, it was clear how relevant they've grown to be within the last ten years. We get to find these hidden-gem opportunities through CESR's alumni network. I'm lucky; since being here we've found niche, but interesting, sustainability related opportunities like this consistently."

Natalie met Ryder through another Leeds club. Recognizing his enthusiasm, she saw him as an SBC must-have and encouraged him to attend.

"Hearing the way Natalie talked about her work at SBC, about what they stand for and who they bring in, was so cool, " said Nicolaus. “When you walk in and they have food, they have everything planned out—it’s like ‘Uh, what’s going on?’ he laughed. "Everyone has a different major, so everyone is fitting in differently and bringing their own perspective. The energy feels exciting and new, I think partially because of their re-brand a few years back."

A few weeks and many emails later, students in colorful jackets huddled by Leeds for their carpools to Englewood. Chats about classroom struggles, thrift shops, and ski jumps quickly dissolved any carpool awkwardness—the SBC team gathered over twenty attendees for the tour, including some new faces.

The New Science of Gear Renewal

mixes high-tech cleaning with robust operations management. When companies with strong return policies or worn-wear programs receive imperfect items back, they ship them to Denver. Tersus takes over to clean, repair, and redistribute items back into consumers' hands.

“The amount of innovation that's been created in the last ten years makes you wonder where it’ll be in another ten.”

"Some products might just be missing a tag, while others might have a hole. Sometimes a whole truck will smell like garlic, so all of the clothes have to go to Tersus to be cleaned," Nicolaus remembers. "Most come in with labels saying exactly what's wrong with the item. They start by throwing everything into their CO₂ washers, which don't use any water and save a ton of energy. The whole business uses about as much water as a family of four."

While traditional washing methods use water and detergents, Tersus uses a patented, liquid CO₂ bath. It's a "closed-loop" washing system that preserves the fabric's original, high-tech qualities. Every client has various standards that re-sold gear must meet, so Tersus keeps meticulous track of every product detail. Using this quality assurance, brands gain clarity about where their returns are coming from and how they're handled. This end-to-end approach allows premium brands to offer ethical return programs without building that capability in-house.

Unveiling Hidden Mechanics of Sustainable Retail

The trip to Tersus revealed an entire hidden industry, and shifted the group's perceptions of retail operations and "sustainability" labels. While it fostered new friendships and shared interests, the tour challenged students' identities as consumers.

"My interest in sustainability started through thrifting," started Nicolaus. "I started a clothing brand in high school, and I think I want to work in fashion marketing. Before the tour, I couldn't understand why one company would go through all this work of fixing other companies' returns. But, you have to see it with your own eyes. There's like, 60,000 North Face jackets piled up in there at once. It makes you realize how big of a business this is."

“We talked a lot about our own role as purchasers and how that 'sustainability' label really works”

Bovie was also struck by the monumental scale of Tersus. "Driving back, we talked about our own role as purchasers and how that 'sustainability' label really works. If it weren't for top brands pushing for ethical ways to save their products, this new technology at Tersus wouldn't exist. Yet their business model relies on consumers who, well, consume��a lot."��

Most of these returns haven't been worn once. Bovie and Nicolaus report that the vast majority, almost 90%, are brought back to Tersus in near-perfect condition. Because Tersus charges companies for every service an item undergoes, items need to be able to resell at a price point high enough to make the process worthwhile. Hence, today's "circular economy" is only available to premium brands.

"Don't get me wrong, it's a huge step in the right direction," Bovie backed up. "But it's clear how much opportunity there is to make sustainability more accessible. The amount of innovation that's been created in the last ten years makes you wonder where it’ll be in another ten."

“The whole building uses about as much water as a family of four.”

Nicolaus agreed, arguing that "more and more companies are focusing on sustainability, and doing sustainability reports at the end of each year. Ralph Lauren just did one," he remembers, "and it was interesting to see how they partnered with other brands and companies, similar to Tersus, to create their own circular economy." Over time Nicolaus sees this trend to be an “increasing standard” for brand positioning, and hopes that companies like Tersus continue to innovate.

As demand for sustainable practice grows, business and technology will continue to evolve. Through experiences like the Tersus tour, Natalie Bovie and Ryder Nicolaus are gaining valuable insights into their future careers, while meeting like-minded students and young professionals.

Want to be a part of it all? Join the , learn about the Social Responsibility and Ethics certificate, and subscribe to to learn about the next opportunities.

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