Embracing circularity builds the path to sustainability

An outdoor apparel brand Napapijri has procured gold-level certification for its circular jacket line by Cradle to Cradle.

The Cradle to Cradle Product Innovation Institute has praised the lifecycle of these products to be exemplary, with the product comprising a mono-material composition that is 100 percent recyclable and can be returned to Napapijri as per its take-back program.

The brand’s president Timo Schmidt-Eisenhart states that they are aware of the pressing issues they are constantly asked to address and have chosen to play their part by developing the future of fashion with circular series. They have introduced a range of products that blend design, sustainability, and innovation to inspire a shift in the industry towards the preservation of the planet and its people through the voice of circularity.

Cradle to Cradle is viewed as the most advanced standards to direct responsible material usage and circularity. Their rigid scrutiny process ensures that those who become certified have developed a product or products which comprises not only sustainable material but also its end of life management.

Concerning Napapijri’s circular jackets, the fabric used is Econyl regenerated nylon. The yarns are high performance developed from recycled fishing nets and other waste materials. The trims and filling comprise nylon 6 which boasts a mono-material construction ensuring an easier disassembly for recycling. This very innovation allows Napapijri’s customers to return these jackets at their end-of-life for upcycling, encouraging a closed-loop system.

Christina Raab, vice president strategy and development for the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute states that Napapijri has used the Cradle to Cradle certification to fast track the implementation of a fully circular clothing system. She further states that other companies too could utilize this framework of Cradle to Cradle as an innovation lever for future-proofing the fashion industry.

Christina Raab also adds how achieving a gold level certification from Cradle to Cradle is a demonstration of how material choices and deep collaboration with the supply chain partners can drive systems-level circularity from a product or products to a business model.

In due time Napapijri is said to launch its circular series of recyclable, high-performance jackets. This will include the Circular Anorak, Circular Rainforest, and Circular Puffer.