From turning discarded fruit into leather and plastic into gravel, these manufacturers are creating materials and processes that promote a circular economy by giving pre and post-consumer waste a second life
Fruitleather
By: Fruitleather Rotterdam
A new, eco-friendly process that converts leftover fruit and vegetables into a durable, leather-like material. The idea for this material was born when the founders visited the biggest outdoor market in the Netherlands and discovered that 7,700 lbs (3,500 kg) of food was wasted. Applications for this material include car seats, handbags, furniture, and clothing.
Zero Cotton
By: ISKO Division
A sustainable denim fabric that uses 100% renewable fibers. The fabric is composed of bio-based viscose (VI), lyocell (CLY) and modal (MD) that comes from trees, mixed with post-consumer recycled (PCR) polyester (PET) and Lycra. Jeans made from this fabric look, feel, and fit like high-quality denim but without the environmental impacts of cotton.
REC-NIR BLACK20
By: Ampacet Corp.
Most black plastic products use carbon black to pigment but when they reach the recycling facility the black pigment blocks the NIR sorting scanners, causing the plastic to go straight into the landfill. This carbon black-free black additive allows plastics to be properly recycled, rather than incinerated or sent to the landfill, thereby enabling the reuse of black packaging waste and supporting the circular economy.
RECYCROM
By: Officina +39
A full range of sustainable dyestuffs that use textile fibers, collected from used clothing and manufacturing waste to create long-lasting colors. Through a sophisticated production process that only uses natural chemicals, fabric fibers are crystallized into a very fine powder that can be used as a pigment dye. Brands can collaborate with the company to make custom dyes from their textile waste.
Arqlite Plastic Gravel
By: Arqlite
A recycling technology that processes food packaging and film plastics into gravel for local construction and landscaping markets. The new proprietary process differs from traditional recycling systems as it is low cost and also capable of recycling all kinds of plastics, even the ones that today are considered as non-recyclable and represent about 70% of the stream.
PrimaLoft? Gold Insulation Bio aka PrimaLoft? Bio?
By: PrimaLoft
A high-performance synthetic fiber solution used for insulation in outerwear, sleeping bags, and mid-layers, made from 100% post-consumer recycled and biodegradable materials. It is designed to endure multi-year usage, increasing the product’s life cycle while offering superior loft, freedom, and comfort. Instead of being discarded, the material can also be chemically recycled, giving it a continuous life.
