Closed and Open Loops

Circular Fiber Systems - Cotton & Wool

Waste equals food. This project set out to enable that researching, testing, and establishing circular systems for cotton and wool across both woven and non-woven applications, and bringing those systems to market for the commissioning company.

The work covered two pathways developed in parallel. Closed loop systems recovered waste fiber from the company's own production and end-of-use stream, returning it to the same cycle maintaining fiber value and reducing virgin material demand. Open loop systems redirected material into alternative applications through new supply chain collaborations, where it continued to carry value rather than entering the waste stream.

The work spanned both interiors and RTW, across woven and non-woven applications.

The project ran in three phases: mapping and creating fiber recovery pathways and viable circular infrastructure; commissioning and managing laboratory and performance testing to validate fiber quality through the loop; and project lead the fibers into market-ready products.

From initial research through to market, the work covered the full journey, including the business case for the scaling of the pilots into production.