Materials

Fashion consortium reveals garment made from 100 per cent biorecycled polyester

CARBIOS technology uses enzymes to break down polyester to be reformed into new clothing.

White tshirtA consortium of global clothing and textile brands - CARBIOS, On, Patagonia, PUMA, PVH Corp. and Salomon - has unveiled the first garment made entirely from enzymatically biorecycled polyester.

The garment was created from textile waste supplied by the consortium to CARBIOS’ biorecycling plant in Clermont-Ferrand, France. The scraps included a mix of material blends, dyes, and various treatments such as durable water repellency.

CARBIOS used enzymes to break down the polyester into its original monomers, PTA (terephthalic acid) and MEG (monoethylene glycol), which were then reformed into a biorecycled polyester, spun into yarn, and woven into a new fabric. The first garment produced is a plain white t-shirt, a deliberate choice to demonstrate that production was possible despite the blend of mixed and coloured textile waste.

Emmanuel Ladent, CEO of CARBIOS, commented on the achievement: “It may look like an ordinary t-shirt, but make no mistake, the technology behind it is extraordinary! To achieve “fibre-to-fibre” recycling is a technological feat.”

Begüm Kürkçü, Director of Sustainability at On, added: “Achieving the proof-of-concept and creating the first T-shirt made out of 100 per cent biorecycled fibres is an important milestone.”

Currently, polyester production relies on petroleum as a raw material. This new process could replace the need for petroleum-based textiles by using textile waste as a raw material to produce new garments. As each garment would then be reused in turn, the technique offers a circular solution to textile production.

Anne-Laure Descours, Chief Sourcing Officer, PUMA, commented: “PUMA’s wish is to have 100 per cent of our polyester coming from textile waste. Today’s announcement is an important milestone towards achieving this and making our industry more circular.”

Chief Product Office Softgoods at Salomon, Guillaume Meyzenq, added: “ This project, in collaboration with footwear and apparel Brand partners, reflects our shared leadership and vision for a more sustainable footwear and textile industry.”

CARBIOS’ demonstration plant in Clermont-Ferrand has been running since 2021 and its first commercial plant is currently under construction in Longlaville, France

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