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Cycora by Ambercycle

Last updated: Apr 14, 2023

Summary

Cycora is a closed-loop circular yarn created by regenerating textile waste using Ambercyle systems, which eliminates the use of virgin polyester and prevents valuable materials from ending up in a landfill or being incinerated. Cycora is designed with real end-of-life solutions meaning 100% of the yarn can be fully recycled without loss of quality.

The Ambercycle system uses a biological recycling process that separates fibres within garments at a molecular level and reprocesses the materials in the same way as virgin materials allowing for limitless recycling.

Problem

Polyester is the most widely used fibre and makes up 51.5% of the global textile production. Around 60 Million tonnes of virgin polyester (made from finite resource; crude oil) is produced each year and 43.8 million tonnes ends up in landfills or incinerated at end-of-life*. Standard methods of garment to garment recycling have limitations such as contamination and loss of quality, and can only be recycled a finite amount of times.

*Source: Textile Exchange. (2019). Preferred Fibre & Materials Market Report 2019

Solution

Cycora eliminates the extractive use of virgin polyester and prevents end-of-life garments from ending up incinerated or in a landfill by using a biological recycling method: Ambercyle. Recycling using this method allows fibres to be separated at a molecular level and reprocessed the same way as virgin materials, ensuring no loss of quality no matter how many times a garment is recycled, enabling full circularity. Ambercycle have teamed up with the label-and-tag manufacturer Avery Dennison to create a unique scannable QR care label detailing garment care and material composition along with how it's produced and correct end-of-life disposal. Digitally tagging the garment enhances connection with customers and allows for full traceability, transparency and authenticity, helping advance the circular economy.