#Recycling / Circular Economy

2024-03-28

Circular Polymers by Ascend and ReDefyne experts highlight expanded application options for post-consumer recycled nylons, PET and PP

Engine covers, automotive fabrics and decking materials are among the newest applications that now can be made with recycled materials by Circular Polymers™ by Ascend, as showcased at the annual Plastics Recycling conference this week.

The company converts end-of-life carpet into fibers or pellets – including nylon 6, nylon 6,6, PET and polypropylene – for use in new applications, including high-performance engineered materials. The company also recycles calcium carbonate from carpet.

Circular Polymers will co-exhibit with its parent company, Ascend Performance Materials, in Booth 335. Ascend experts will be on-hand to discuss ReDefyne™, a line of post-consumer and post-industrial recycled compounds designed for demanding applications, such as under the hood of autos and in electric vehicles.

Today’s recycled materials can stand up to tough demands, Maria Field, Circular Polymers by Ascend’s business director, said. “Current technology, when leveraged effectively, enables cleaner, higher performing materials with reliable, scalable supply,” Field said. “At Circular Polymers, we transform landfill-bound carpet into feedstocks for materials that go into finished goods such as cars, furniture, appliances and more.”

Circular Polymers by Ascend, a leading recycler of post-consumer carpet, provides the feedstocks for ReDefyne production. It also offers recycled fibers and pellets as feedstocks for compounds and injection molding applications. Last year the company launched Cerene™, a line of recycled polymers and materials.

Ascend Performance Materials, a fully integrated producer of durable high-performance materials, is known for its innovations in nylon 6,6. Cerene continues that legacy with offerings in nylon 6,6 while also bringing to market recycled polymers such as nylon 6, PET and PP.

Circular Polymers by Ascend has redirected 85 million pounds of carpet from landfills into new goods in its California facility since 2018. Industry recognition includes the Plastic Industry Sustainability Innovation award, Innovation Showcase award from the Association of Plastic Recyclers, Arrow Award from the California Product Stewardship Council and Processor of the Year award from the Carpet America Recovery Effort.

Ascend has published its 2030 Vision, a set of nine sustainability targets including a target to reduce waste by 40% and reduce its scope 1 emissions by 90%. The company recently announced two new efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of its products.

The Plastics Recycling Conference runs March 25-27 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. Circular Polymers by Ascend and ReDefyne experts can be found in booth 335.

Ascend Performance Materials secures court approval for restructuring and appoints new CEO

Ascend Performance Materials has reached a major milestone in its Chapter 11 process: the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas has confirmed the company’s Plan of Reorganization. Ascend expects to emerge from Chapter 11 by year’s end with a significantly improved capital structure. In parallel with the restructuring progress, Ascend announced a leadership change.

Ascend reaches GHG abatement milestone

Ascend Performance Materials has begun operating a new thermal reduction unit (TRU) that will eliminate over 98% of the greenhouse gas emissions tied to adipic acid production in Pensacola, Florida. This new equipment enhances improvements Ascend made in 2021 by adding a new control device and brings its total GHG reduction investments at the world’s largest integrated nylon site to greater than $50 million.

RE&UP contributes to Global Fashion Summit 2026 circularity discussion

RE&UP contributed to the global conversation on textile circularity at Global Fashion Summit 2026 in Copenhagen, where Fatih Konukoğlu, Chairman of RE&UP and Vice Chairman of Sanko Holding, took part in both the keynote session “The New Rules” and the panel discussion “A Reckoning and Renewal for Circular Horizons”, alongside leaders from H&M Group, Looper Textile Co. and Sourcing Journal.

Europe’s textile future at a turning point: New 2030 Circularity Blueprint aims to scale recycling and unlock investment opportunities

The EU textile system is at a critical crossroads. Today, less than 1% of discarded garments are recycled into new garments, despite EU-wide obligations for separate collection. In response, Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) is launching the 2030 Circularity Blueprint, in partnership with ReHubs. This ambitious initiative is designed to support the transformation of the EU textile ecosystem to advance textile-to-textile recycling and drive the transition to a circular economy.

Circulose and CTA announce collaboration to enable lyocell fibers using CIRCULOSE® pulp

Circulose has announced an agreement with China Textile Academy Green Fibre (CTA) to offer lyocell fibers produced using CIRCULOSE® pulp. Producing lyocell from recycled pulp at commercial scale is an important step in making textile-to-textile recycled materials available across a wider range of textile applications.

Barmag and Neumag showcase innovations across all manmade fiber processes

For the first time, Barmag is presenting itself alongside its new parent company, Rieter: At this year’s ITM in Istanbul, both companies will be represented from June 9 to 13 at the Tüyap Fair Convention and Congress Center in Hall 7, Booth 702B. As a technology leader in the field of chemical fiber equipment, Barmag will showcase its entire portfolio of systems for filament yarn, staple fiber, and nonwoven production, as well as solutions for the networked factory.

Walter Reiners Foundation Prize awarded to three ITA graduates

Sabina Dann, Lukas Balon and Annegret Storm from the Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University were awarded the Walter Reiners Foundation Prize by the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) for their master’s and bachelor’s theses. Peter Dornier, Chairman of the Walter Reiners Foundation, presented the awards during Techtextil at the VDMA stand in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.