#Recycling / Circular Economy

2021-09-22

Coloreel introduces 100% recycled thread

Coloreel is pleased to announce that they have become even more sustainable with the introduction of recycled polyester thread to be used with the groundbreaking technology for embroidery that enables high-quality coloring of textile thread on demand. In collaboration with world leading thread manufacturer Madeira, customers of Coloreel now have the possibility to reduce their impact even further.

In line with Coloreel’s mission to provide more sustainable and creative embroidery methods Coloreel will shift over to offer 100% recycled polyester thread to be used with the instant thread coloring technology for embroideries. This will provide customers the ability to create more sustainable embroideries with thousands of colors, CMYK, RGB/HEX and PMS compatible.

The polyester is created from 100% recycled post-consumer PET bottles and developed in collaboration with world leading thread manufacturer Madeira. The colored recycled thread has passed through all industry standard quality testing and provides same fastness properties as virgin polyester thread and is certified standard 100 by OEKO-TEX®. The recycled thread will be sold in sets of 6 x 10kilometer thread reels. With the ambition to further minimize impact, the thread cone is made from recycled plastics and will be packaged and shipped in recycled carton boxes.

Torbjörn Bäck, CEO Coloreel Group comments:

“On Coloreel’s mission to increase sustainability is this shift towards using 100% recycled polyester thread used in our instant thread coloring technology a great step. This provides our customers with a more sustainable embroidery alternative and solves the problem with lack of availability of recycled polyester thread in a large variety of colors.”

Coloreel Group AB files for bankruptcy

Coloreel Group AB, a pioneering Swedish technology company known for its instant thread dyeing technology, today announced that it has filed for bankruptcy. The decision comes after the company's inability to develop its business volume quickly enough and, related to this, secure the necessary financing.

Europe needs tipping point to scale textile-to-textile recycling, BCG and ReHubs say

A new report from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and ReHubs, titled “Advancing Textile Circularity – Europe’s textile waste challenge: Scaling Textile-to-Textile requires enabling mechanisms”, highlights the urgent need for systemic action to tackle Europe’s growing textile waste and scale a circular textile economy.

AI Circular Economy Conference 2026 fuels innovation at the intersection of AI and Circular Economy

The AI Circular Economy Conference 2026, organised by nova-Institute, brought together 116 participants from 15 countries in Cologne and online to explore the transformation of the chemical and materials industry supported and accelerated by artificial intelligence. During the two-day event, leading experts from industry, research, start-ups and the investment community discussed how AI can maximise the potential of renewable carbon creating efficient circular value chains. The conference featured 24 presentations and multiple panel discussions, highlighting the growing convergence of digital technologies and circular material systems. It demonstrated how artificial intelligence is progressing from the experimental stage to real industrial implementation within the circular economy.

Circ deepens access to recycled fibers with Xinxiang Bailu Chemical Fiber Co., Ltd. partnership agreement

Circ®, a global leader in textile‑to‑textile recycling, today announced a new partnership agreement with Xinxiang Bailu Chemical Fiber Co., a Canopy Dark Green Shirt producer and one of the world’s leading producers of viscose filament. The agreement marks a significant step in Circ’s continued expansion in China and strengthens its position within the country’s rapidly evolving circular textile ecosystem; further supporting Circ’s ability to supply recycled fibers near existing fashion supply chains.

YKK launches “YZiP® Light” aluminum alloy zipper for cotton pants

YKK Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Koichi Matsushima; hereafter, YKK) has launched YZiP® Light, a lightweight aluminum alloy zipper for cotton pants, with sales beginning in late March. The introduction of YZiP® Light expands YKK’s zipper portfolio—led by the flagship YZiP® copper alloy zipper—providing customers with greater flexibility to meet diverse garment needs.

Shima Seiki showcases WHOLEGARMENT® and 3D knitting solutions for technical textiles at Techtextil 2026

Leading textile technology solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, along with its Italian subsidiary SHIMA SEIKI ITALIA S.p.A., will be participating in the Techtextil 2026 exhibition in Frankfurt, Germany next month. On display will be WHOLEGARMENT® and other advanced three-dimensional knitting applications across a wide range of industries besides fashion apparel that are not typically associated with knitting, such as technical textiles using industrial materials and advanced three-dimensional knitting.