HKRITA unveils G2G, an innovative garment recycling system

The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) has introduced an inventive recycling system named Garment to Garment (G2G). This system, shared by climate activist and sustainability content creator Sam Bentley, showcases an eco-friendly, closed-loop garment recycling process that uses no water or chemicals, as stated on the G2G website.

In a video presentation, Sam Bentley explains the G2G process, where old garments are cleaned and transformed into a fibrous web. This web is then spun into robust twisted yarns, which, once produced, can be mechanically knitted into brand new clothes. Notably, the machine incorporates a 3-D body scanner, enabling the creation of tailor-fit garments on the spot.

While the G2G machine was established in 2018 as a mini-scale production line in a retail shop, recycling post-consumer garments into new ones, its recent introduction on social media by Sam Bentley has garnered renewed attention. The fashion industry’s annual production of 100 billion garments contributes 2 to 8 per cent of global carbon air pollution and generates 20 per cent of global wastewater. Additionally, over 100 million tonnes of textile waste end up in landfills each year. The deployment of G2G technology offers a promising solution to significantly reduce this waste.

The G2G system represents a breakthrough in sustainable textile practices by transforming old clothes into new ones through an efficient and environmentally friendly process. Its potential impact on curbing textile waste aligns with growing concerns about the environmental footprint of the fashion industry.