GANNI expands material development using byproducts

Danish fashion brand GANNI is advancing its efforts in sustainable material innovation by developing alternative materials made from industrial byproducts and discarded textiles, including olive oil waste, leather scraps, and used denim garments.

According to the company’s latest Responsibility Report, these materials are being developed through collaborations with innovation partners based in Turkey, France, Sweden, and the United States.

One of the materials, Oleatex, is produced in Turkey using waste generated during olive oil production. The leftover residue is converted into a bio-based polyurethane coating, which is then applied to textile backings such as cotton and recycled polyester to create a more sustainable material alternative.

Another innovation, Pelinova, has been developed in France. The material uses leather scraps collected from fashion and furniture manufacturers and combines them with TENCEL Lyocell fibres. This process creates a recycled leather alternative while reducing the need for virgin animal hides.

In Sweden, Circulose is helping transform worn-out cotton jeans and textile production offcuts into new raw materials. Through a chemical recycling process, cellulose is recovered from discarded garments and reused to produce new textile fibres.

Meanwhile, Cycora, developed by Los Angeles-based Ambercycle, converts textile waste into new polyester yarn. The technology breaks down discarded clothing at the molecular level and regenerates polyester without relying on virgin fossil-based materials or recycled plastic bottles.