InsideOutdoor | SUMMER 2022 32 Ingredients Accelerating Circularity’s mission is to design and implement commercial systems in which textile waste is repurposed as raw material through reuse and recycling, thereby ensuring that it is not incinerated or sent to landfills. For the last year, Accelerating Circularity Europe has been working with its European Steering Committee, Spent Textile and Brand & Retailer Working Groups to research, map and identify expertise and infrastructure to accelerate the move to circular systems. This work is now complete. The next step is to move into the trial phases to demonstrate what is possible at scale. The first trials will focus on post-consumer and post-industrial polyester textiles feedstocks. These will be the sources for both mechanically and chemically recycled fibers. “According to the EU Commission Strategy, by 2030, textile products placed on the EU market will be longlived and recyclable, to a great extent made of recycled fibers,” said Karla Magruder, Accelerating Circularity founder and president. “The circular textiles ecosystem will be thriving, driven by sufficient capacities for innovative fiber-to-fiber recycling, while the incineration and landfilling of textiles will be reduced to the minimum. Accelerating Circularity Europe trials are completely aligned with this strategy.” The work has been based on collaborative efforts of more than 80 members of the working groups representing all levels of the value chain from the EU-27 plus members from Norway, Switzerland, UK, Morocco and Turkey, said Magruder. “Our goal with the textile-to-textile polyester trials is to demonstrate circular systems at scale so our participants will be able to really demonstrate the feasibility.” “To effectively close the loop of textile waste, at least national, or even better international, collection systems and infrastructures for end-of-life textiles have to be established. From an economic and efficiency perspective but also from a consumer acceptance point of view, brand specific return systems only will not be sufficient,” said Martin Mayershofer, head of research and development at Sympatex’s Focus Closing the Loop. “Accelerating Circularity Europe systems trials for polyester will bring various players of a future circular textile value chain together to test and validate polyester fiber-to-fiber recycling at scale, here in Europe, and thus perfectly fulfill these requirements.” “Accelerating Circularity Europe has brought together the top minds in the European design and textile markets to develop real, achievable solutions that will sustainably change the apparel industry for the better,” said Regina Goller, director fabric and trim management apparel for Jack Wolfskin. “True circularity will give synthetic fabrics that are essential for performance, comfort and protection multiple lives with minimal impact on the environment.” The system trials for polyester include these partners, among others: Amazon, Antex, Avery Dennison, Brav, Covation Biomaterials, Craghoppers, Elis Textil Service, Enviu, Erema Group, European Outdoor Group, Eurotex, GIZ/Partnership for Sustainable Textiles, Gr3n, Jack Wolfskin, Oberalp, Recyclatex Group, Reverse Resources, Sympatex, TEXAID, VAUDE, WWF and Zalando. In addition to the polyester trials, Accelerating Circularity Europe is planning a range of cellulosic trials of mechanically and chemically recycled cotton for circular knits and woven items with its partners. Lenzing Group announced a partnership with Red Points, a provider of online IP infringement detection and removal, to help monitor and remove unauthorized use of its trademarks and counterfeits online with round-the-clock brand monitoring services. The partnership, said the company, addresses consumers’ increasing expectations on transparency, highlights Lenzing’s commitment to trademark protection and protects the interest of Lenzing customers and partners that are making real efforts to enhance the transparency of their value chains. Red Points technology works by using artificial intelligence to automatically detect intellectual property infringements of trademarks with high accuracy and efficiency. “Our ultimate aim is for end-consumers to receive greater value for money in terms of sustainability,” said Harold Weghorst, vice president of global marketing and branding at Lenzing AG. “Our verification, certification and licensing efforts provide partners and consumers along the value chain confidence in the authenticity of Lenzing fibers in the finished products.” In 2018, Lenzing launched the Lenzing E-Branding Service, which allows Lenzing’s customers, retailers and brand partners to effectively use trademarks in their marketing materials. A warehouse of wasted polyester garments Lenzing Partners with Red Points to Fight Counterfeits Accelerating Circularity Launches Polyester Textile-to-Textile Trials
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