Microfibres in the oceans is a hot topic in the textile world now. Annual estimates of plastic microfiber pollution entering the oceans is equivalent in weight to over 50 billion plastic bottles.

To help tackle the issue, Carrington Textiles started to look at innovative products available that would break down these microplastic fibers. Following extensive research, the company adopted the CiCLO technology, a sustainable textiles ingredient in the form of an additive that is combined with polyester at the very beginning of the fiber making process. When CiCLO polyester ends up in the environment either through washing or end of life of the garment, it behaves like natural fibers, in turn reducing microplastic pollution and textile accumulation.

Carrington became the first textile manufacturer to use this technology for the production of workwear fabrics by launching their 2022 Innovation award-winning sustainable fabrics Hawksbill and Orca. Both named after marine animals to represent the importance of microplastic free oceans.  

Hawksbill’s composition includes 65% CiCLO polyester and 35% organic cotton. While Orca incorporates 26% recycled CiCLO polyester, 29% virgin CiCLO polyester and 35% BCI cotton. As the CiCLO technology can be applied to both nylon and polyester, Carrington Textiles can add this component to virtually any of its workwear fabrics beyond Orca and Hawksbill, so the synthetic component of the products is able to biodegrade in a similar way the natural fiber in it will.

Entries are now being accepted for the 2023 Innovation Awards, as well as NAUMD’s other recognition programs. The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2023. Visit https://naumd.com/awards/about/ to enter, or contact rick.levine@naumd.com  with questions.