Denim manufacturer ISKO has signed a licensing agreement with the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) for its separation and recycling solution. HKRITA’s innovative Green Machine – a one-of-a-kind technology that fully separates and recycles cotton and polyester blends at scale.
“Our investment in this new technology is another milestone towards our full circularity vision,” said ISKO CEO, Fatih Konukoğlu. “ISKO has a total commitment to sustainability and through our responsible innovation approach, we are constantly looking for new ways of working towards the future of a fully circular fashion industry.”
The Green Machine uses an innovative and ultra-efficient hydrothermal treatment method that decomposes cotton into cellulose powders and enables the separation of polyester fibers from blended fabrics. The process is a closed-loop and uses only water, heat, and less than 5% biodegradable green chemicals. Crucially, this method maintains the quality of polyester fibers; the cellulose powders, which are clean and toxic-free, can be used in a variety of ways.
