Mitsubishi Corporation and Goldwin, the North Face brand in Japan, are leading a powerful consortium which is establishing a supply chain for more sustainable PET polyester fibre.

Polyester produced from renewable and bio-based materials, as well as the key monomer paraxylene produced via carbon capture and utilisation (CCU), are being developed by members of the consortium, which in addition to Mitsubishi and Goldwin, comprises the Japanese companies Chiyoda Corporation and Toyobo, Thai-headquartered Indorama Ventures, SK geo centric of South Korea, India Glycols and Neste in Finland.

Goldwin, which specialises in high-performance sportswear and outdoor apparel, will first incorporate the new fibres in sports uniforms before further planned launches.

Neste is supplying renewable naptha from biobased waste and residue oil and fats and Chiyoda the CCU paraxylene produced from CO2, while SK geo centric will also supply renewable paraxylene.

Indorama Ventures will then produce PTA utilising these monomers and India Glycols will supply vioethylene glycol and Toyobo will prduce the renewable bio-CCU PET polyester.

A mass balancing approach will be adopted to ensure credible traceability of material streams throughout the supply chain.

www.neste.com