Swiss Haelixa & Damteks Partner to Mark & Trace Recycled Acrylic Fibre
Swiss traceability company Haelixa and Damteks Textiles have collaborated to mark and trace recycled acrylic fibre. Customers can buy recycled yarn from Damteks, and when they do, the unique Haelixa DNA is already attached.
The Haelixa solution is DNA markers, which are dissolved in liquid and applied to fibres as a fine spray. After spraying, spots are checked to see if DNA is present and to identify the product. The test is based on PCR technology that is 100 per cent reliable and has forensic validity, according to a joint press release by Damteks Textiles and Haelixa.
Damteks saw an increase in demand for blended yarn in the last year. The request is most often a composition of 30 per cent recycled fibre with 70 per cent standard fibre. Brands are looking for options to be more sustainable, and Damteks proactively sought out an answer. The company is offering the yarn with Haelixa DNA to validate the recycled acrylic in the mix.
The Haelixa team visited the Damteks recycling facility in Istanbul to kick off the partnership that will continue throughout 2023. The traceability programme designed for them has the DNA sprayed on the recycled fibres before spinning. The project also saw the use of a tailored Haelixa liquid sprayer designed by the team based in Switzerland. When manufacturers do not have built-in moisturising systems, Haelixa provides them with a custom unit to shower the DNA liquid onto the fibres. The sprayer is engineered to match the mechanical processing of the customer.
Damteks is a family-owned business that is known for choosing options for its production processes that are good for the environment. Along with the certifications it has obtained, including—GRS, RCS, GOTS, and OCS—Damteks decided to have its products ‘Marked and Traced by Haelixa’ to add additional credibility and reliability, added the release.
“As a manufacturer, we feel the pressure to offer sustainability options to our customers,” commented Ismail Cem Atalay, board member of Damteks, adding, “Our project with Haelixa allows us to ensure that we are offering the best product while taking into consideration the future of the planet.”
“The textile industry is adapting to the requests of consumers and regulators for more transparency and credibility when it comes to eco-friendly materials,” said Dr. Michela Puddu, CEO and co-founder of Haelixa. “Haelixa solutions allow Damteks to offer brands traceable products that showcase their recycled origins.”
Damteks plans to showcase Marked and Traced by Haelixa yarn in different dyes as its offering to brands.
Source: Fibre2Fashion
