New Focus Textiles adopts DNA-based technology to verify recycled cotton

Woven fabric manufacturer New Focus Textiles has introduced a forensic, DNA-based system to verify recycled cotton, allowing complete traceability across its supply chain. Haelixa’s DNA marker is added to New Focus’s post-industrial and post-consumer cotton waste, and it remains intact through spinning, weaving, dyeing and finishing.

The DNA marker is applied directly to the cotton waste before shredding and stays stable during New Focus Textiles’ mechanical recycling process. The marker is non-toxic, plant-based, and permanent. It cannot be removed or duplicated and stays embedded through all production steps, including spinning, weaving, dyeing and finishing.

At any stage, the material can be tested in an accredited lab using a simple PCR test to confirm its origin and check the recycled content. This approach gives physical proof of the recycled fiber’s identity, offering stronger verification than systems that rely only on documents or supply-chain records.

“Recycled claims must be backed by solid proof,” said Patrick Strumpf, CEO of Haelixa. “By marking textile waste, manufacturers can scientifically confirm the presence of recycled content in new fibers, yarns or garments and build customer trust.”

New Focus Textiles makes GRS-certified recycled cotton fabrics from post-industrial and post-consumer material under its T2T (Textile-to-Textile) programme. With Haelixa’s DNA-based tracking, each recycled batch becomes scientifically traceable and can be linked to digital records on platforms like TextileGenesis, improving transparency for suppliers, auditors and brands.