Companies Establish Supply Chain for Sustainable Polyester
A collaboration between seven companies from five countries has established a revolutionary supply chain for sustainable polyester fibre. This is an effective change in textile production, moving away from fossil fuels and towards renewable and bio-based materials.
Key Takeaways
- A consortium is producing polyester fibre using renewable resources and carbon capture technology.
- This sustainable polyester will be used in a portion of The North Face's products, including sports apparel.
- The initiative aims to decrease reliance on fossil fuels in clothing production.
This project, led by Japanese company Goldwin, brings together expertise from across the globe.
Participating companies include Mitsubishi Corporation, Chiyoda Corporation (Japan), SK Geo Centric (South Korea), Indorama Ventures (Thailand), India Glycols (India), and Neste (Finland).
The initial rollout will see The North Face incorporating this innovative polyester fibre into a selection of their products, including sports uniforms, launching in July 2024. Following this successful launch, the consortium plans to expand the project to include a wider range of Goldwin products and brands.
Transparency and Collaboration for a Sustainable Future
The consortium uses a "mass balancing approach" to ensure complete transparency throughout the supply chain. This method allows them to track the movement of materials used in production, guaranteeing the eco-friendly nature of the final product.
A Shared Vision for a Greener Tomorrow
This collaboration represents a major landmark in the textile industry's journey towards sustainability.
“This consortium has great significance as it is the first case where multiple companies gather under the same of reducing carbon by making sustainable polyester that will eventually be used in clothing products in the final stage,” said an official from SK Geo Centric. “This is just the beginning. We will strive to keep creating greater synergy through cooperation with global companies.”
This innovative project sets the path for a more sustainable future in fashion by showcasing the value of teamwork in addressing environmental issues.
What is the Mass balance / Mass balancing approach here?
A process that tracks the amount and sustainability characteristics of materials and enables allocation of such to a specific portion of the product in proportion to the input of the raw materials with sustainability characteristics, when they are mixed with other materials in the process of manufacturing and distribution of products.
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Source: SK Innovation
