RECYCLING BLEND TEXTILES AT SCALE
Only one year into our partnership with HKRITA, a breakthrough was made when the researchers discovered a hydrothermal process that could fully separate and recycle cotton and polyester blends into new fibres and cellulose powder, without any quality loss. It's a gentle process that doesn't damage the fibres contrary to many other processes.To reach a circular fashion industry – recycling methods for blend textiles are key. Even though the majority of the clothes we wear are made of blend materials, there is no method available that can fully recycle these garments into new ones. Yet.
In 2017, our researchers in Japan reached a milestone when they discovered a hydrothermal method that has the potential to change the game completely.
- Uses only heat, water, pressure and a biodegradable green chemical.
- Is resource and cost efficient.
- Generates no secondary pollution since it’s a closed loop where water, heat and chemicals are used again and again.
The output is long and good quality polyester fibres which can be used to make new garments. The cotton is extracted as cellulose powder, which can be used in multiple ways. We are now working on optimizing this stream.
A GIANT LEAP FORWARD FOR THE FASHION INDUSTRY
In September 2018, the Green Machine opened in Tai Po, Hong Kong. It’s a pre-industrial sized facility, to which we’ve invited invite fashion brands, suppliers and other stakeholders worldwide to see, test and hopefully implement this technology within their own operations.
Erik Bang, Innovation Lead H&M Foundation
In 2020, another milestone was reached when a contract was signed with a supplier in Asia to build a real-sized recycling system within their factory. The system is being built now and will be put in use in 2021. The goal is that the hydrothermal recycling facility will be ready to recycle a couple of tonnes of blend textiles per day at the end of 2021.
Then, for the first time, a technology that can fully separate polyester and cotton blends at scale will be available in the fashion industry. It’s a true milestone for the transformation of the industry and a giant leap from today’s recycled polyester coming from plastic bottles as opposed to textiles.
Project: Part of Recycling Revolution
Country: China (Hong Kong SAR)
Project period: 2016-2019
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