Key Takeaways

• Debrand opens its first U.S. facility in Columbus, Ohio.
• The facility promotes Debrand's capacity for advanced textile sorting, creating North America's most comprehensive textile sustainability hub.
• Through this expansion, Debrand supports brands in adopting sustainable practices and complying with upcoming regulations.

Debrand, a leader in next-life logistics for apparel and footwear, has announced the launch of its first U.S. facility in Columbus, Ohio.

This location strengthens Debrand's ability to meet the rising demand for advanced textile sorting services. The 32,000-square-foot facility is designed to be a hub for textile sustainability and circularity in North America, supporting brands in integrating sustainable practices and complying with future regulations.

“The fashion industry is well beyond its tipping point with textile waste. The sheer volume of garments produced each year is becoming insurmountable, and there simply aren’t enough regional solutions to address this issue at the scale required in North America,” said Amelia Eleiter, CEO and Co-founder at Debrand. “By expanding our footprint, we’re making the investments necessary to move the industry towards a more responsible future. Not only will this help us address our current challenges with pre- and post-consumer waste, but we’re also future proofing so that once regulations pass and our clients are faced with new operational realities, we’re ready to support them in lockstep to create the most impactful systems of sustainability and circularity possible.”

Growing Demand for Sustainable Solutions

The proposed Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) bills in major U.S. markets stress the urgent need for infrastructure investments in the textile waste circular economy. Debrand's new facility reflects their successful Canadian operation, featuring a blend of automated textile sorting technology and equipment. This integration allows for scalable textile sorting, increasing capacity to handle the growing demand for Debrand's next-life logistics services.

“We are thrilled that Debrand is opening a new facility in our hometown,” said Meghan McLane, Director, Product Sustainability at Victoria’s Secret. “As our partner, Debrand has been instrumental in advancing our end-of-life garment program. This facility is another step in building the infrastructure needed in North America to enable brands to move towards more circular models.”

Strategic Alignment and Continued Growth

Debrand's U.S. facility aligns with WM, North America's largest environmental solutions provider, following WM's strategic investment in November 2022 (the first in textile recycling). The new facility leverages Columbus's top talent, markets, and resources, fueling Debrand's continued growth within the fashion and apparel sector.

Debrand remains committed to providing consulting services and expert guidance on circular textile strategies, containing technical knowledge, reuse and recycling expertise, and next-life logistics. In the past 18 months, they have diverted over 4.5 million pounds of textile waste from landfills.

“Debrand’s expansion is a promising evolution for advancing the fashion industry’s textile circularity within the North American market, and the technologies­­­-including Digital Product Passports (DPPs) like EON’s own Digital IDs-that have been a crucial element in regulatory compliance in the EU,” said Natasha Franck, CEO and Founder at EON. “Their expertise and insights were instrumental in shaping our own research for scaling circular systems. With such a deep understanding of textile waste management, along with their longstanding commitment to sustainability, Debrand is providing critical contributions that will help North America develop practical and scalable solutions to unlock its circular fashion economy.”

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Source: Debrand