Later this month at ISPO 2020, functional materials manufacturer Sympatex will showcase what it says is the world’s first upcycled jacket made in-line with the principles of a circular economy.

The revolution Hybrid jacket comprises 30 per cent recycled textile material and 70 per cent recycled PET plastic and is the brainchild of partnering firms in the wear2wear initiative.

Since 2016 Sympatex has worked with Schoeller Textil, Glaeser Nachfolger, Märkische Faser and DutchSpirit to create the functional garment. With varied specialisms, it’s thought the collaborating companies could keep the jacket in circulation indefinitely.

Sympatex CEO Ruediger Fox spoke with Ecotextile News at Performance Days in November where the manufacturer showcased the then unnamed jacket. He noted how the five firms chose to design a circular workwear jacket in order to keep it simple as the product goes through five factories during its production.

German business Glaeser Nachfolger represents the fibre recycler in the equation, whilst Märkische Faser’s operations centre on upcycling fibre. Schoeller and Sympatex provide the fabrics and PTFE and PFC-free membrane, as well as outer materials and linings respectively, whilst sustainable fashion brand DutchSpirit retails the garment.

“Polyester is the ideal material to go circular. We thought we’d start with a contract in workwear stuff because then the collection of a specific type of garment makes it easier,” Fox told us.

Commenting on its new name, Fox says: “The latest product to originate from the wear2wear partnership is revolutionising the functional textile market and stands for sustainable, responsible apparel.”

Sympatex last year joined the Plastic Leak Project, an initiative involving consulting firms Quantis and EA, to identify the volumes of microplastic seepage across the lifecycle of a functional jacket.

Though the results of this assessment are not yet available, but will be made so at ISPO during a press event, the company says the findings highlight the importance of a closed loop cycle and insists this is “the only way for our industry to solve this grave environmental problem”.

Courtesy: Eco Textile News