manager_1 In collaboration with the H&M Foundation, the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel Limited has developed technology to recycle blended textiles in an effort to reduce the textile waste in Cambodia.
The technology dubbed The Green Machine was also initiated by VF Corporation and other international organizations. It is hoped that it will be deployed in Cambodia by 2022 with the aim of contributing to a better country’s future.
The company announced that the machine is the first to be able to sort and recycle polyester and cotton blend textiles at large scales without quality loss. The process is hydrothermal and uses 15% of a biodegradable chemical for the separation.
Edwin Keh, CEO of HKRITA, stated that “our aim is to create technologies and solutions that have a positive effect on our planet.” He also quoted from the announcement. “The constantly growing demand for this solution is going to drive change and create value for the entire fashion- and textile industry.”
Implementation of the machine is part a solution to creating circular practices in the industry. Key partners from the production were brought together to evaluate the industrial scale development.
It hopes to improve the lives of those impacted by the increase in textile waste.
