The fashion industry is facing a significant challenge with the amount of textile waste being sent to landfills every second. However, there are companies that have taken on the challenge to turn this waste into wonderful sustainable fashion. In this article, we will explore three companies - Eeden, Infinited Fiber, and Our Choice - that have developed innovative processes to recycle textile waste and create sustainable fashion with a purpose.
EEDEN: A Seed to End the One-Way Street
Eeden, a German startup, is on a mission to become circular by developing recyclable products and upcycling old textiles as part of its holistic corporate strategy. Their innovative process involves chemical upcycling, where they extract cellulose from cotton textiles to produce lyocell and viscose. This not only reduces the industry's ecological footprint but also aligns with the Circular Economy regulations set out by the European Union.
Eeden's technology is both environmentally friendly and cost-efficient compared to other upcycling processes. They use fewer chemicals and generate fewer by-products during their upcycling process. Additionally, their approach addresses the issue of textile waste being burned or landfilled by cultivating new resources for fiber production. Eeden collaborates with other sustainable players to develop a functional sorting infrastructure for upcycling old textiles in Germany.
The company's commitment to sustainability and innovation has earned them recognition, including investment from Born2Grow and being a finalist for the 2023 Sustainable Impact Award. Their vision aligns with the EU Textile Strategy, which aims to increase the use of recycled fibers in the EU market by 2030.
Infinited Fiber: Capturing Value in Waste
Infinited Fiber, founded in Finland in 2016, is at the forefront of sustainable textile production. Their patented technology transforms trashed textiles into premium-quality fibers, offering a circular alternative to conventional materials like cotton and polyester. Infinited Fiber's fibers, called Infinna, have remarkable softness, dye absorption, and antimicrobial properties.
Infinna fibers closely resemble cotton and can be seamlessly integrated into manufacturing supply chains. They are suitable for various fabrics, including t-shirts, denim, and bedsheets. Moreover, Infinited Fiber's production process significantly reduces water consumption compared to conventional cotton production, addressing a major environmental issue in the fashion industry.
The company has gained global recognition and won awards such as the World Bioproduct Day Environmental Impact Award and Finland Best Act for Responsibility Award in 2022. They have also partnered with Rejlers Finland to build a commercial-scale Infinna fiber factory, addressing the global demand for upcycled cellulose fiber.
Our Choice: Fashion with a Purpose
Our Choice Fashion, based in Luxembourg and founded in 2019, is dedicated to producing sneakers and wallets made entirely from plastic-free materials. The company's vision was inspired by the irony of cleaning plastic waste on the beach while wearing plastic-based clothing. They aim to shift from traditional, linear fashion to a circular model where waste is designed out by keeping products and materials in use.
Our Choice Fashion ensures transparency and ethical production through their ISO 14001 certified manufacturing process. Their products range from 100% plastic-free, repairable, and recyclable sneakers to wallets made from sustainable materials like salmon skin and eco-cotton.
While the fashion industry is moving away from using animal leather, Our Choice Fashion supports its use. They believe that vegan alternatives often rely on plastic binders and lack durability, leading to landfill waste. By using Italian calf leather, a by-product of the food industry, they offer a sustainable and circular option.
The company's commitment to transparency and ethical production has earned them recognition, including a partnership with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company through the CircularByDesign challenge.
A Fashion Forward and Sustainable Future
As the European Commission promotes a Circular Economy for textiles, companies like Eeden, Infinited Fiber, and Our Choice are leading the way in transforming waste into sustainable fashion. By developing innovative technologies and processes, these companies are reducing the industry's ecological footprint and creating a more sustainable future.
With their commitment to circularity, these companies demonstrate that it is possible to turn textile waste into wonderful clothing. By embracing upcycled textiles innovations, the fashion industry can move towards creating durable clothing that transcends seasonal trends and contributes to a more sustainable world.