Reducing microfiber pollution with CiCLO® Technology | Trimco Group labels and trims
Fashion is ever-evolving. Every day, new ways to recycle garments are introduced, and innovative materials are researched. Sustainability has taken center stage as both a challenge and an opportunity to advance the industry, but microfiber pollution has been and continues to be a concern today. Studies suggest that the ocean floor is burdened with more than 14 million tons of microfibers, with an additional 200,000 to 500,000 tons of microplastic fibers being added each year.
Solutions like in-drum objects and washing machine filters that capture fibers and aim to reduce microfiber pollution are partial solutions, but fibers inevitably leak into the environment and are too small to recapture.
CiCLO® Technology – change at source
At the heart of this transformation is CiCLO® Technology. As the material experts at Trimco Group came across its unique advantages, the technology is a revolutionary development that allows synthetic textiles to behave like natural fibers when they become pollutants in the environment. The secret lies in embedding biodegradable spots throughout the plastic matrix of the fiber, transforming it into a nutrient source for naturally occurring microbes.
This innovative approach means that textiles enhanced with the CiCLO® additive can be mineralized by environmental microbes at rates comparable to natural fibers such as wool. It's a great solution to reducing microplastic pollutants from synthetic textiles, which tipically take hundreds of years to biodegrade.
Winner of 2024 World Sustainability Award
CiCLO® technology has been honored with the prestigious 2024 World Sustainability Award! This global recognition celebrates organizations making a substantial, positive impact on sustainability. Additionally, CiCLO has also been recognized by Digiday's Greater Good Awards for Sustainability and the 2024 ConsiderBeyond Conscious Brand Awards. These awards highlight CiCLO’s continuous advancements in sustainable textile innovation, from developing biodegradable fibers to setting new industry standards in environmental responsibility.
A natural solution for a synthetic problem now for Trims
Learning about the technology, Trimco Group has decided to add this innovation to its trims offering. It demonstrates a feasible path towards reducing the environmental impact of our clothing labels without compromising on quality or aesthetics.
Lone Mogensen, Brand Coordinator and Materials Specialist mentions that
“with polyester as still one of the preferred choices for brands, we’re excited that now we can offer a solution or at least an alternative for brands. In this way, the items we produce reduce their impact and we can, hopefully, inspire brands to adopt these solutions for their entire garments, if they don’t already do that.”
The genius of CiCLO® technology lies in its simplicity and emulation of nature. By enabling synthetic textiles to mimic the biodegradation process of natural fibers in the right environmental conditions, it offers a practical solution to one of the fashion industry's most pressing problems: microplastics pollution.
Safety and effectiveness: A top priority
Safety and effectiveness are paramount when introducing new technologies into the textile industry. When researching the latest innovations that could be adopted for the company’s trims, we came across CiCLO® Technology. CiCLO® Technology stands up to rigorous scrutiny, having been proven safe and effective by independent third-party assessments. One of the cornerstones of its credibility is the OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT certification.
We are honored to collaborate with Trimco Group and support their commitment to leading sustainable innovation with the integration of our CiCLO® technology in trim and label materials, said Cheryl Smyre, Vice President of Sales & Operations, Parkdale Advanced Materials
Moreover, CiCLO® technology's biodegradation capabilities have been validated through internationally recognized respirometry test methods established by ASTM International. These tests measure plastics' true mineralization in various environments, providing transparent evidence of the biodegradation efficacy.
It's important to note that while CiCLO® offers a promising approach to mitigating the environmental impact of synthetic textiles, it is part of a broader spectrum of solutions required to address the sustainability challenges facing the fashion industry. The effectiveness of CiCLO in real-world conditions varies, depending on environmental conditions and the concentration of microbes present.
In conclusion, the integration of CiCLO® technology into Trimco Group's labels is a great addition to the variety of trims and labels. CiCLO® represents a step forward in the quest for more sustainable materials within the fashion industry. However, it is one piece of the puzzle. The continued exploration of innovative materials and practices, alongside consumer awareness and regulatory support, will be crucial in steering the industry towards a more sustainable future.
CiCLO® is a registered trademark of Intrinsic Advanced Materials, LLC.
Sources:
CiCLO® Textiles website (https://ciclotextiles.com/)
European Environment Agency (https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/microplastics-from-textiles-towards-a)
Microfiber Pollution: A Systematic Literature Review to Overcome the Complexities in Knit Design to Create Solutions for Knit Fabrics by Elisabeth Allen, Claudia E Henninger, Arthur Garforth, and Edidiong Asuquo (Environmental Science & Technology 2024 58 (9), 4031-4045 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05955) https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/acs.est.3c05955