Leading integrated textile manufacturer Arvind, headquartered in Gujarat, India, has announced a partnership with Tulsa, Oklahoma-based PurFi Global, a technology company specialising in rejuvenating textile waste into virgin quality products.

The two companies are currently planning the first in a series of fibre rejuvenation facilities close to one of Arvind’s manufacturing plants in India.

It will process textile wastes – white and coloured cotton, denim and synthetics – into virgin-like fibres for reuse from two lines, each with a capacity of 5,500-tons, with plans to expand over the next five years.

The investment for these two lines is envisaged at between $25-30 million and expansion plans include an additional production line that removes elastomers from fabrics utilising another of PurFi’s proprietary technologies.

Currently, 85% of the world’s apparel contains elastomers, which makes recycling problematic. PurFi’s technology is the first commercially viable technology proven to safely remove elastomers without the use of toxic chemicals and preserve the host fibre, while also having the ability to recycle the elastomers that were removed. The joint venture is slated to start construction in the fourth quarter of 2022 with full production expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2023.

As the fashion industry has embraced calls for more circular and sustainable supply chains, PurFi’s proprietary technology – supported by more than 30 patents and 400-plus registered trade secrets – has emerged as a proven and complete solution for rejuvenating textiles back into virgin-like fibres.

“Partnering with PurFi will enable Arvind to expand on a decades-long commitment to extending sustainable practices into every aspect of our business,” said Ashish Kumar, Arvind’s president and CEO. “For more than 25 years, PurFi has been developing and investing in state-of-the-art technology to rejuvenate industrial textile waste. Unlike the traditional ‘one-and-done’ recycling approach, PurFi’s technology can turn waste materials into virgin-like fibres 17 times, and it can be done at scale. Working together, we believe we can lead the textile and fashion industries into a new era of sustainable practices, transforming textile manufacturing into a truly closed loop cycle.”

“Arvind immediately understood the value and promise of our technology and will increase efficiencies in its production with rejuvenated fabric,” said PurFi CEO Joy Nunn. “In addition, our unique tracers provide customers with a clear line of sight to the origin of the fibres they source. This authentic product identifier is of great value to manufacturers like Arvind.”

PurFi’s technology requires significantly fewer resources than the production of virgin textiles. When compared with manufacturing virgin polyester, nylon or cotton, it uses up to 96% less water and 90% less energy. The process also generates 85-90% fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

PurFi technology teases apart the fabric back into the original yarn, and from the yarn back to the original fibre. This process ensures the length is maintained and any resulting short fibres are filtered out. Source materials never touch unfiltered air or human hands once entering a rejuvenation line and are then penetrated by a  patented and trade secret technology to achieve a reverse spinning technique. The fibres have the option to be treated with a purification technology prior to being baled into fibre. This technology can embed the fibres with additional characteristics, including hydrophobic, hydrophilic, odour control and fire retardancy.

Additionally, PurFi can blend fibres together to make customised fabric compositions. Importantly, textiles can be produced with 100% PurFi fibres, whereas conventionally recycled fibres must be blended with virgin fibres.

Through Purfi’s partnership with Belgium-based Concordia Textiles, a vertically integrated textile manufacturer and finisher, the first global circular fibre company has already been established.

www.arvind.com

www.purfiglobal.com