Patagonia Closes Loop on Polyester Recycling Program
TOKYO, Japan, Aug. 19, 2005 - Patagonia has partnered with Japanese textile firm Teijin to implement a polyester product recycling program starting next month.
Under the program, Patagonia will recover from customers used Capilene undergarment products. Teijin will recycle them as polyester materials at a "fiber-to-fiber" recycling facility in Teijin Fibers' Matsuyama plant.
The new partnership closes the manufacturing loop on post-consumer recycled (PCR) textiles already in use by Patagonia. In 1993, the company incorporated into its product line fleece made from PCR plastic soda bottles. Patagonia now uses PCR materials in about 30 of its products, which the company says saves some 26 million plastic bottles from landfill.
This year, Patagonia began using a new PCR filament yarn containing 30%-50% post-consumer feedstock made from discarded soda bottles, polyester uniforms, tents, and garments. The remainder of the yarn comes from post-industrial feedstock -- yarn and polymer factory waste products.
"We're constantly trying to innovate our supply chain," says Jill Vlahos, Patagonia's director of environmental analysis. "Everything we make pollutes, but we're trying to improve every step of the way. We're excited to create our own supply rather than pulling from raw virgin resources."
Vlahos is careful to note that while the recycling program does not save money, it adds no extra costs to the manufacturing process. "We’re trying to inspire other businesses to move in an environmental direction, and the only way we can do that is to run a profitable business," says Vlahos. "The added expense of recycling and logistical costs is offset by the fact that we don’t have to purchase or create raw polyester material."
Patagonia is currently working on shifting its entire Capilene line from raw materials to recovered materials, according to Vlahos. By the fall of 2006, the company plans to manufacture Capilene products from 50% to 100% PCR polyester.
Under the program, Patagonia will recover from customers used Capilene undergarment products. Teijin will recycle them as polyester materials at a "fiber-to-fiber" recycling facility in Teijin Fibers' Matsuyama plant.
The new partnership closes the manufacturing loop on post-consumer recycled (PCR) textiles already in use by Patagonia. In 1993, the company incorporated into its product line fleece made from PCR plastic soda bottles. Patagonia now uses PCR materials in about 30 of its products, which the company says saves some 26 million plastic bottles from landfill.
This year, Patagonia began using a new PCR filament yarn containing 30%-50% post-consumer feedstock made from discarded soda bottles, polyester uniforms, tents, and garments. The remainder of the yarn comes from post-industrial feedstock -- yarn and polymer factory waste products.
"We're constantly trying to innovate our supply chain," says Jill Vlahos, Patagonia's director of environmental analysis. "Everything we make pollutes, but we're trying to improve every step of the way. We're excited to create our own supply rather than pulling from raw virgin resources."
Vlahos is careful to note that while the recycling program does not save money, it adds no extra costs to the manufacturing process. "We’re trying to inspire other businesses to move in an environmental direction, and the only way we can do that is to run a profitable business," says Vlahos. "The added expense of recycling and logistical costs is offset by the fact that we don’t have to purchase or create raw polyester material."
Patagonia is currently working on shifting its entire Capilene line from raw materials to recovered materials, according to Vlahos. By the fall of 2006, the company plans to manufacture Capilene products from 50% to 100% PCR polyester.
posted by malishka @ 8:17 AM
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