Alsico will source the workwear from the company’s ARX garment collection facility.
The group’s ARX Initiative looks to expand the life and improve the recycling of its garments.
Vincent Siau, managing director at Alsico group, said: “Our partnership with Sixone is a testament to our ongoing commitment to innovation and sustainability.
“By working together, we can create a fully circular solution that not only enhances the lifecycle of our high-performance fabrics but also supports our broader goal of reducing waste, walking away from virgin fossil based raw materials and promoting a more sustainable future for the workwear industry.”
Technology company Sixone specialises in turning polyester-blended textiles into polyester pellets – traditionally a difficult material stream to recycle.
The company analyses the molecular composition of textiles to determine the ideal recycling conditions for surgically and efficiently extracting pure polyester.
The approach looks beyond fibre and colour and allows Sixone to process chemically complex polyester-blends.
Chris Wai, co-founder and CEO of Sixone, said: “Creating a circular future requires collaboration with partners that challenge the status quo.
“Our partnership with Alsico is a catalyst for change in the workwear industry, transforming post-consumer textile waste into new, sustainable products.”
The two companies are set to become Europe’s first large-scale manufacturer to implement this kind of recycling initiative.
Pilot project for recycling of workwear
The partnership has already completed a successful recycling pilot which demonstrated the recyclability of the EOL garments.
The recycled polyester chips from Sixone’s targeted recycling process were also used to produce fabric with Alsico’s partner manufacturers. The output is currently being analysed for quality and durability, including heavy industry washing and wear-testing.
Once testing is complete, Alsico plans to produce recycled and recyclable garments with Sixone’s polyester pellets.
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