#Yarn & Fiber

2023-06-07

Polyester, "fibre to fibre" recycling: it can be done!

This is an ambitious research & development project, built step by step, which demonstrates the feasibility of polyester "fibre to fibre" recycling. It started with Sportstex, a company specialized in the production of sportswear, and RadiciGroup, a Group with many years of experience in circular economy, wishing to collaborate for the recovery of polyester textile waste such as uniforms for football, volleyball and other sports.

From upstream to downstream, circularity in textiles is feasible. With no compromise on the quality and technical performance of the products.

The involvement of Pure Loop, a company specialized in recovery machinery, was immediate, with the aim of identifying the best available technology to obtain a new textile fibre. To reach this goal, the R&D teams of the three companies carried out various tests to achieve a recycled textile product with high technical features. An initial result was obtained using a mixed recovery technique, "dosing" variable percentages of granules from recycled bottles (a more than consolidated practice at RadiciGroup) together with polyester granules from recycled fabrics. This experience allowed to gradually fine-tune the processes and to achieve, at the end, a yarn 100% derived from the recovery of textile waste.

Once scaled-up, this virtuous circularity system will make it possible to easily produce recycled polyester garments that, at the end of their life, can be recovered again. Shimano was the first company to embrace this sustainability project branding the first jersey coming from this supply chain collaboration. A cycling jersey made with this process will be on display for the first time at ITMA, the most important international trade fair for textile and clothing technology, scheduled in Milan from 8 to 14 June 2023, in the booth of one of project partner companies (Booth Pure Loop H9/D304).

The research project has highlighted a new recycling way, which allows to obtain quality polyester fibres starting, for example, from pre-owned clothes, for a textile "Closed Loop".

Moreover, Erdotex, a company specialized in the sorting of used garments, will support the project. Thanks to specific "sorting" procedures, Erdotex will make it possible to feed this innovative recycling process, with the ambition of developing a real industrial process.

«Achieving increasingly sustainable textiles is at the heart of the strategy of Radici InNova, the RadiciGroup company focused on innovation for circularity – underlines Gianni Todaro, R&D Specialist Apparel and Technical, RadiciGroup Advanced Textile Solutions – For some time now, we have been designing innovative solutions with high technical performance that respect the environment, working in synergy with our customers and suppliers and sharing our knowledge in the recovery of textile waste».

RadiciGroup: 21st Sustainability Report published

RadiciGroup has published its 21st Sustainability Report, covering the year 2024, confirming more than two decades of transparency and measurement in the economic, environmental, and social dimensions. From its first Social Report in 2004 to the current reporting aligned with the GRI Universal Standards, the Group is now preparing for its next challenge: the adoption of the criteria that will be set out by the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

Twenty years of Sustainability Report for RadiciGroup

The RadiciGroup Sustainability Report reaches an important milestone this year: twenty years have in fact passed since the Group published its first Social Report in 2004, qualifying it as one of the pioneering companies in the realisation of voluntary non-financial reporting. The document measures the Group’s achievements and the actions it has taken to reduce its environmental impact, respect social values, and implement good business management practices.

Ministry of Industry Delegation visits NatureWorks’ second global manufacturing site at Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex

NatureWorks Asia Pacific Limited welcomed a high-level delegation led by Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Industry, to its manufacturing site at the Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex (NBC). The visit follows the successful inauguration of the site on April 29, 2026, and highlights the role of public-private collaboration in advancing Thailand’s sustainable industrial development and bioeconomy ambitions.

Sorona® and WGSN announce top bio-based material trends of 2027

Sorona®, the partially bio-based polymer from Covation Biomaterials (CovationBio™), and global trend forecasting authority WGSN today release the material trends shaping the textile industry through 2027 and beyond following a comprehensive examination of bio-based functional fiber applications and global data.

Indorama Ventures advances circularity tthrough PETValue Philippines' “Zero Waste to Landfill Partnership” with Republic Cement

Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, a global sustainable chemical company, is advancing the circular economy through a new Zero Waste to Landfill initiative at its recycling site PETValue Philippines, further demonstrating how collaboration across industries can maximize resource efficiency and reduce waste.

Networking Day 2026: Industry stakeholders unite around textile recycling

In 2026, the Industry Research Group (IRG) Polymer Recycling once again brought together some of the key stakeholders in textile recycling for its annual Networking Day. This year, the event took place at EREMA’s premises in Ansfelden, Austria. It brought together key players from across the textile recycling value chain for a day of structured exchange and in-depth discussions.

The new RDJ 7/3 defines the design footprint of modern athletic shoes

Stylish, functional, and efficient to produce – spacer fabrics are the all-arounders among textile materials. These versatile fabrics are particularly in demand in the sports and casual footwear sector, as they combine comfort, breathability, and design freedom. At the same time, this industry is trend-driven, dynamic, and price-sensitive like few others. Innovations are therefore a decisive factor for success. With the RDJ 7/3, KARL MAYER offers a solution specifically tailored to these requirements. The particular strength of the new double raschel machine: its exceptional flexibility, thanks to its three jacquard bars.