Earlier this year, textile recycling innovator Infinited Fiber Company (IFC) published a mid-way report of the New Cotton Project it started back in 2020.
The EU-funded initiative was, to all intents and purposes, centred on IFC’s proprietary technology but rallied a network of supply chain partners – from collectors and sorters through to brand affiliates – with the view to demonstrating that its recycled ‘Infinna’ fibre can feasibly be produced in increasing quantities to meet the demands of fashion firms.
And whilst progress has been made – with project partners Adidas and H&M set to release garments made using IFC’s technology – establishing the foundations of a supply chain fit to accommodate circular practices has unearthed what appears to be weak points. Namely, the mid-way report highlighted deficiencies in the industry’s textile sorting infrastructure, citing the “lack of a unified way to sort”.
