CARBIOS and partners unveil first garment made from textile waste

French biotech company CARBIOS and its "fiber-to-fiber" consortium partners On, Patagonia, PUMA, Salomon, and PVH Corp. have unveiled the world's first garment that is 100% biorecycled from textile waste, utilizing CARBIOS' enzymatic biorecycling technology.

This technological feat enables the transformation of textile waste, such as cutting scraps and old garments, into new polyester fibers without reliance on virgin materials. The developed process breaks down polyester into its fundamental building blocks, which are then reassembled to produce high-quality polyester on par with virgin polyester.

The pilot project, involving all consortium members supplying textile waste to CARBIOS' pilot facility in Clermont-Ferrand, France, demonstrates a move towards a circular economy in the textile industry. Traditionally, most recycled polyester is made from PET bottles, and only approximately 1% of fibers are recycled back into new fibers.

CARBIOS' technology uses enzymes to depolymerize polyester, offering environmental benefits by reducing carbon footprint and avoiding landfill or incineration. The company's first industrial-scale biorecycling plant is currently under construction in Longlaville, France, and CARBIOS has received letters of intent globally to license its technology.