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An old Latin phrase argues that all good things come in threes. This trio of industry players hope the Confucian concept rings true for circularity’s sake.
Hyosung, Loop Industries and Pleatsmama have entered a three-way circularity-centric collaboration to create a line of limited-edition handbags made of 100 percent recycled drawn-textured yarns.
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The Quebec-based clean technology firm recycles plastic waste and polyester to make waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic and textile-to-textile polyester fiber (T2T) for new materials. Hyosung then “leveraged its expertise” as the No. 1 spandex manufacturer to spin the yarn. Sustainable label Pleatsmama was tasked with transforming the yarn into purses.
“Teaming with Loop Industries and our brand partner, Pleatsmama, marks a significant milestone in our efforts to support our customers in achieving their sustainability objectives and expanding solutions that benefit both current and future generations,” said Chihyung Kim, CEO of Hyosung. “We admire Loop for its high quality and its capacity to divert textile waste from landfills and incineration, while reducing the reliance on virgin polyester by minimizing raw material extraction.”
This is where Loop’s “Infinite Loop” technology—a fully integrated, greenfield manufacturing facility solution combining chemical depolymerization tech with polymerization technology to make Loop PET resin—comes into play.
Taking a closed-loop approach, the Canadian recycling firm’s patented tech can break down the lowest of low-value polyester waste, regardless of composition or color, into recycled polyester on par with virgin quality. Loop’s resulting T2T polyester fiber can drop into existing supply chains and manufacturing processes without a drop in quality or performance. Plus, a life cycle assessment (LCA) found that Loop’s version reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 percent while requiring up to 91 percent less non-renewable primary energy, compared to traditional polyester production.
“The collaboration with industry leaders such as Hyosung and Pleatsmama demonstrates the potential of our Infinite Loop technology to transition from linear to circular fashion,” said Giovanni Catino, vice president of sales and business development of Loop. “By converting low-value mixed polyester textile waste into virgin-quality polyester, we’re not only tackling the pressing issue of textile waste but also enabling brands to deliver premium products with a closed-loop solution that meets both quality and environmental standards.”
Franklin Associates conducted the LCA, a division of ERG, and compared—kilogram for kilogram—Loop PET against virgin PET. Carbon dioxide emission savings were compared to producing virgin PET made from fossil fuels and avoiding incineration of waste used as feedstock.