Textile Insight

textileinsight.com Spring 2024 ~ Textile Insight • 27 WASTE NOT W hile circularity is a global initiative, ground- work is being laid domestically. In March 2024, Campbell Hall, NY-based Accelerating rcularity announced its next phase of action, Building Circular Systems, in an effort to expand circular textile-to-textile systems to reduce both greenhouse gas impact and the volume of textiles being sent to landfills. is phase will include more collaborations with additional partners and a broadened geographic scope. Brands, retailers and industry players are realizing "that the system needs to change to go from a linear to a circular one and it will take all of us," said VP of Programs for Accelerating Circularity, Shelly Gottschamer, emphasizing the need to build circular supply chains to turn textiles into mainstream raw materials. Earlier this year, Eastman announced a partnership with Patagonia to address textile waste. e outdoor firm teamed up with the Kingsport, TN-based firm to recycle 8,000 pounds of pre-and post-consumer apparel waste, which Eastman processed through molecular recycling technology. is process involves breaking down Patagonia's garments into molecular building blocks that Eastman can use to make new fibers. Evernu, a Seattle firm, just launched a 360 Hoodie designed by Christopher Bevans that is 100% recyclable and constructed using 3D seamless technology. It is created with Nycycl, which is derived from cotton textile waste. For a larger picture of what is happening domestically, we have asked textile executives three important questions. EXPLORING THE STATE OF TEXTILE RECYCLING AND REDUCING WASTE IN THE U.S. BY SUZANNE BLECHER

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