ISKO, a denim producer, has agreed to licence its separation and recycling solution to the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA).
The Green Machine, as it is known, operates using a hydrothermal technique to separate polyester and degrade cotton into cellulose powder for reuse.
HKRITA’s Green Machine can extract polyester fibres from fabric blends without causing any harm to the material, and the cellulose powder produced by the recycling process is clean and toxic-free. The technique is believed to support ISKO’s environmental goals, which include incorporating a minimum of 50% Global Recycle Standard (GRS) recycled content into their textiles. Monki, an H&M-owned brand, has previously adopted the technology to demonstrate its efficacy.