FAQ
WHAT IS THE ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE PERFORMANCE OF CIRCULOSE®?
The most comprehensive publicly available third party evaluation of the impact of Circulose® both on its own and in comparison to conventional viscose fiber is available in the report made by SCS Global Services found on this link. In the report, Circulose® is part of Scenario 5 – recycled cotton pulp.
It’s really important that sustainability efforts are based on science and relevant data. The SCS Global Services study linked above is five years old now, and it only uses the estimated lab scale data we had back then.
We intend to publish a full third party verified life cycle assessment using real production data from our new full scale plant in Sundsvall as soon as we reach stable continuous and representative production there. Please bear with us.
WHAT IS CIRCULOSE®?
Circulose® is a branded ‘dissolving pulp’ that we make 100% from discarded cotton textiles.
Dissolving pulp is conventionally made from wood. It is used to make viscose, lyocell, modal, acetate and other types of man-made cellulosic fibers (also called rayon or regenerated cellulose). The only difference with Circulose® is that the pulp is made from 100% textile waste instead of trees.
Circulose® dissolving pulp is really nothing more than biodegradable cellulose. Cellulose is the most abundant organic molecule in nature. It’s what the cell walls of most plants and trees are built from. Cotton is the purest form of cellulose found in nature.
DOES CIRCULOSE® NEED TO BE BLENDED WITH VIRGIN FIBERS?
No. Fibers made from Circulose® are equivalent to virgin fibers in applicability and quality. They can be used on their own or in a blend with other fibers, depending on preference.
This is really the key to our innovation since traditional textile recycling technologies have been limited in the quality that’s achievable. With traditional recycling the yarn is often too weak and feels and looks too different from virgin fibers.
WHAT IS THE QUALITY OF FABRICS MADE FROM CIRCULOSE®?
Fabrics and fibers made from Circulose® are indistinguishable from virgin man-made cellulosic fibers and fabrics. With Circulose® inside their products, brands and designers never have to compromise on quality or design.
But don’t take our word for it. Levi’s® used Circulose® for their iconic 501 denim, stating “they’re your classic pair of 501s.”
DO YOU SELL FIBER, YARNS, FABRICS OR GARMENTS?
No. We sell Circulose® as pulp by the tonne. Our customers and partners make fibers, yarns, fabrics and garments from Circulose® in the regular fashion value chain.
That said, we often help brands and designers connect with value chain partners that sell products made with Circulose®.
IS CIRCULOSE® A FABRIC?
No. Circulose® is a dissolving pulp sold in the form of dried, white sheets that sort of look like thick, white paper. These sheets are made of 100% recycled textiles and turned into fabric in later stages of the fashion value chain. Just like regular dissolving pulp made from wood.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RENEWCELL AND CIRCULOSE?
Simply put: Renewcell makes Circulose®.
Renewcell is a Swedish textile recycling company building and running recycling plants, developing technology and hiring great people that want to make fashion circular. Visit our corporate website at http://www.renewcell.com
Circulose® is a branded material for fashion made from 100% textile waste by Renewcell.