Circular
Soft Goods
A project aimed at innovation and communication, leveraging the complex potential of polycotton blends, and addressing the significant recycling challenges they present in the European market. We've introduced new sustainable and commercially viable products for a work uniform provider, allowing them, and their own costumers, to produce useful products out of their own waste streams.
Circular Solution for Polycotton Products
In the clothing industry, the focus on circularity is growing rapidly, aiming to transforming discarded work uniforms into innovative circular solutions, from new uniforms to alternative products. While the challenges of recycling polycotton blends is widely known, we were asked by a work uniform provider to explore the variety of processes and applications, despite the challenges presented by current market limitations.
The Challenge
Navigating Material Complexities
While 100% polyester uniforms can be recycled back into fibres, the polycotton blend presents a unique challenge due to the absence of suitable commercial recycling technologies in Europe. Our approach had to pivot towards alternative solutions, focusing on converting these materials into valuable non-woven fabrics or composite products.
The Approach
Non-woven
Textile Blends
Our strategy involved shredding and carding polycotton blends into non-woven felt, a process tailored to maximize resource value while catering to B2B collaborations and direct consumer applications. Non-woven felt, from mixed textile waste, is processed with a recyclable binder, and can be used as is, or heat pressed into products such as acoustic panels, lamps, trays and furniture. We also make sure the felt material tell a strong story by allowing the colored fibers to stand out and communicate its origin. We make sure all the products are fully circular and can be recycled into new products.
The Outcome
Turnkey Recycling Solutions
The result was a circular service that our work uniform provider could offer to their customers—a turnkey solution that allows any of their own customer, from airlines to restaurant chains, to recycle their polycotton uniforms into non woven felt and products through a closed-loop system. We designed and developed functional products such as tote bags and uniform storage bags, specifically tailored for a uniform provider's client network. This enables them to produce these products using their own discarded uniforms.
This project demonstrates the viability of transforming discarded uniforms into commercially attractive and sustainable products, overcoming the challenges of recycling polycotton blends by innovative reutilization. We've created a model that retains resource value and inspires further circular solutions in the industry.
Design Consulting, Innovation Workshops, User Experience Design, Digital Transformation, Sustainable Design, Technology Solutions, Service Design, Product Development, Business Design, Creative Industries, Circular Economy Solutions, Sustainable Innovation Consulting, Green Business Strategies, Environmental Sustainability Services, Eco-friendly Product Design, Circular Design Practices, Sustainability Workshops, Renewable Energy Solutions, Waste Reduction Strategies, Lifecycle Assessment Services, Scandinavian Innovation Agency, Strategy, Design, Technology Integration, Sustainable Design Solutions, UX/UI Design, Product Development, Innovation Workshops, Client Partnerships, Global Market Services, Creative Industries, Design and Tech Fusion, Manufacturing Sourcing Solutions, Supply Chain Consulting, Global Sourcing Services, Production Efficiency Consulting, Industrial Procurement Services, Manufacturing Process Optimization, Cost Reduction Strategies, Supplier Quality Audits, Custom Manufacturing Solutions, Overseas Manufacturing Partnerships, Circular Design Principles, Sustainable Design Solutions, Eco-friendly Material Choices, Zero Waste Design Strategies, Circular Economy Innovation, Recycling and Upcycling Design, Life Cycle Assessment Tools, Resource Recovery Techniques, Sustainable Product Lifecycle, Circular Supply Chain Management, Recycling Services, Waste Management Solutions, Sustainable Waste Disposal, Electronic Waste Recycling, Residential Recycling Pickup, Commercial Recycling Programs, Eco-Friendly Waste Processing, Recycling Center Locator, Scrap Material Collection, Environmental Waste Reduction, Circular Product Design, Eco-Friendly Product Solutions, Sustainable Manufacturing Processes, Recyclable Product Development, Renewable Material Products, Zero Waste Product Systems, Circular Supply Chain Solutions, Lifecycle Extension Services, Product-as-a-Service Models, Closed Loop Product Systems, Affordable Design Consulting Services, Hands-On Innovation Workshops for Teams, Advanced User Experience Design Techniques, Strategies for Digital Transformation in Business, Principles of Sustainable Design in Modern Architecture, Cutting-Edge Technology Solutions for Small Businesses, Comprehensive Service Design Frameworks, Innovative Product Development from Concept to Market, Business Design for Startup Growth, Creative Industries Leadership and Management.