One of the historic obstacles in creating a more circular fashion industry has been blended materials. Prevalent polyester-cotton mixed fabrics pose a problem for recyclers, since the two fiber types cannot be processed the same.
U.S.-based textile-to-textile recycler Circ has created a hydrothermal processing method for polycotton waste that can separate these two fiber types so that blends can successfully be recycled. The cellulose pulp recovered can be turned into lyocell, giving it a new life, while synthetic materials become new polyester.
Lenzing Group is helping to scale and commercialize Circ’s technology by using its cellulose pulp as an input for its TENCEL™ fibers made with REFIBRA™ Technology, which allows textile waste to be used in addition to wood pulp in the making of the fibers. The resulting TENCEL™ | Circ® with REFIBRA™ Technology fibers incorporate 30 percent Circ pulp.
Read more on Carved in Blue.
This article is one of a series on SJ Denim from Lenzing’s Carved in Blue denim blog. From conversations with the experts behind the mills that make some of the world’s most-wanted denim to the global brands bringing novel denim made with TENCEL™ Lyocell and Modal to the market, Carved in Blue shares the stories of those whose roots run deep with denim. Visit www.carvedinblue.tencel.com.
