Innovative recycling technologies help shape a new look for the fashion industry
[World Trend of Scientific and Technological Innovation](307)
◎Our reporter Liu Xia
Nearly 100 billion pieces of clothing are produced globally every year, but a significant proportion of textiles are discarded and landfilled. The issue of waste in the fashion industry has attracted widespread attention.
Given that textile recycling is extremely complex and related technologies are still in their infancy, many clothing brands are facing pressure to recycle on a large scale. Many start-up companies have caught wind of this trend and are competing for the blue ocean market of clothing recycling.
Create a recyclable wardrobe
US-based company Circ has created a chemical solution that breaks down the most common type of polyester cotton, a blend of polyester and cotton. It uses a hydrothermal process to first liquefy the polyester fiber, separating it from the cotton, so that both can be turned into new fibers.
In May last year, Zara announced its cooperation with Circ to launch the first clothing series made of new fibers obtained from Circ recycling technology. The “capsule” collection of women’s clothing, now available in 11 markets around the world, takes a key step towards building a circular ecosystem for the fashion industry.
Circ CEO Peter Mijaanowiski said that through this cooperation, Circ and Zara hope to gradually create a new future where the clothes in consumers’ wardrobes are made of recycled materials and can be recycled repeatedly. use.
Build a recycling industry chain
Keep old clothes clean and separated from other waste. The fashion industry currently lacks the infrastructure to collect and sort large quantities of used clothes. The circular technology and logistics platform “Hyperloop” emerged, bringing together couriers, warehouses and tracking systems to simplify recycling processes and reduce costs.
Hypercycle hopes to change public attitudes towards clothing recycling using incentives such as free delivery labels in stores. By providing convenience and incentives to consumers, recycling is the first thing they think of when they are done with an item.
Since its launch in 2022, Hyperloop has expanded rapidly, recycling more than 1 million pieces of clothing. It now provides used clothing recycling and processing services to many companies including Uniqlo, Reformation, Parachute, etc.
On November 16 last year, "Hypercycle" received US$7 million in Series A pre-stage financing. This strategic financing will expand Hyperloop’s infrastructure, connecting previously fragmented transportation, consolidation, sorting, grading and recycling services to provide more services to brands and retailers around the world.
3D looms expected to reduce large inventories
unspun is a digital clothing company that customizes clothes on demand for each consumer. The company says it has invented the world's first 3D loom, which can create a custom-sized pair of jeans directly from yarn in less than 10 minutes. It was named one of the 100 best inventions of the year by Time magazine in the United States in 2022.
unspun aims to reduce global carbon emissions through automation, localization and tailoring. The company is currently building its first microfactory in Oakland, California, to prove it can help reduce clothing brands' large inventory requirements and waste in transportation.
Keep clothing materials intact
French start-up Cetia’s specialty is preparing clothes for recycling.
As the world's first innovative platform to automate this operation, Cetia has developed a simple machine that precisely rips off the soles of old shoes. As worn sneakers pass through a tunnel in the machine, they are cleverly grabbed by a giant articulated arm, and the soles are ripped off with force and extreme precision.
Another, more sophisticated machine uses artificial intelligence to identify hard objects like buttons and zippers, then cuts them with a laser without damaging the items. This is of particular interest to the luxury goods industry, which needs to keep its valuable materials intact.
Saentis Textiles has invented a patented machine that recycles cotton from clothing with minimal damage to the fibers, creating new high-quality textiles. Brands such as IKEA, Patagonia and Tommy Hilfiger are using this technology to create new recycled cotton.
Making clothes from carbon dioxide
American start-up Rubi Labs describes itself as a "symbiotic manufacturing" company that uses biochemical processes to convert waste carbon dioxide from factories into cellulose for use in making lyocell yarn, thereby reducing the need for other waste or deforestation.
Last July, Rubi Labs announced a pilot project with retail giant Walmart to test its innovative capabilities.
Rubi Labs isn't the only startup trying to make textiles from greenhouse gases. Newlight Technology and Mango Materials in California are also exploring similar methods, while companies such as Renewcell and Natural Fiber Welding are exploring making recycled clothing from traditional wood pulp raw materials. (Science and Technology Daily)