Accelerating Circularity launches textile recycling directory
January 27th, 2023
If they aren’t recycled, discarded textiles are often incinerated or end up in a landfill like this one. Photo: Creative Commons Accelerating Circularity is an action-oriented nonprofit focused on scaling textile-to-textile recycling through a collaborative approach. The mission is to create new supply chains and business models to turn spent textiles into mainstream raw materials […]
DNA markers key to tracing recycled fibers
March 1st, 2022
A display showing various types of recycled fibers with DNA marking. Photo: Soorty. As circularity begins to take prominence in the textile world, a traceable supply chain is becoming the marker of companies serious about sustainability. Mills are seeking solutions to trace recycled fibers. Pakistan-based denim manufacturer Soorty has partnered with the Swiss technology company […]
Toward Circularity
January 1st, 2022
We often hear the word circularity used in conjunction with sustainability. It is the idea that, at the end of its lifecycle, a product can be broken down into its basic components and be reused rather than destroyed. That’s a big issue right now for the textile industry, which is increasingly under fire to reduce […]
LanzaTech and lululemon to develop fabric using recycled carbon emissions
October 1st, 2021
Polyester fiber is one of the most popular synthetic fibers that commonly uses petroleum-based feedstock. Waste-gas-based polyester formation would be a sustainable solution for the polyester industry, according to partners LanzaTech and lululemon. Photo: LanzaTech. Biotechnology company LanzaTech, Skokie, Ill., is partnering with athletic apparel company lululemon to create what the companies say will be […]
Choose your fruit, choose your shoes
October 1st, 2021
French footwear startup MoEa has launched a sustainable, recyclable vegan sneaker made from fruits and plants. Each pair of sneakers is made from one fruit and plant; purchasers may choose among apple, pineapple, cactus, corn and grape, and pick from two color options per fruit and plant. To stabilize the biomass waste, fruits and plants […]
Textile recycling market outlook
August 27th, 2021
According to the report “Textile Recycling Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2021-2026,” the global textile recycling market reached a value of around US$ 5 billion in 2020. The global textile recycling market is expected to exhibit moderate growth during the next five years. Textile recycling refers to the method of […]
An evolutionary jacket, upcycled
May 1st, 2020
The first circular functional jacket made from used textiles could lead the way to a waste-free synthetic clothing industry. Comfortable and waterproof, it’s certified by OEKO-TEX® and bluesign® in line with the stringent STANDARD 110. Photos: Sympatex. In 2017, five European companies that committed to manufacturing textiles from 100 percent recycled materials teamed up to […]
Don’t like what you see? DIY!
October 1st, 2019
In just a little over an hour, inspired novice designers can create their own one-of-a-kind shopping bag at Freitag’s Sweat-Yourself-Shop. Photos: Roland Tännler. You see the perfect bag but wish it were just a bit more tangerine. Now Freitag®, the German-Swiss maker of recycled bags, has a proposition that eco-conscious trendsetters can’t refuse: make it […]
Parà Group’s green initiatives focus on conservation, preservation and clean energy.
May 1st, 2019
By Paul Johnson Parà Group’s cutting-edge wastewater treatment plant treats approximately 530,000 gallons of water per day with a 94 percent yield. Photo: Parà Group. As a world leader in the manufacture of marine, awning and outdoor fabrics, Parà Group makes a wide range of products for iconic brands, such as Ralph Lauren Home, Fendi […]
Recycle, repurpose, reclaim
April 23rd, 2019
Companies are finding creative ways to address the growing push toward recycling and repurposing used fabrics. Excess shade sail material makes great fabric planters. Photo: Green Bag Company. It’s tempting to think that recycling was “invented” sometime in the late 1960s, but that would ignore the fact that back in the 11th century, Japan was […]