Industrial thread specialist, Coats Group, has launched a new recycled polyester thread featuring an additive which is designed to reduce microplastic pollution in landfills and oceans.
The UK-based company says the new offering, Eco-B, incorporates an additive from Ciclo technology which makes synthetic fibres degrade like natural fibres to reduce microplastic accumulation.
Ciclo, an upstream solution provided by Sillicon Valley startup Intrinsic Advanced Materials and leading US yarn and fibre manufacturer Parkdale Advance Materials, is used to create biodegradable ‘spots’ in the polymer matrix, where naturally-occurring microbes in certain environments can break down the plastics just as they do with natural fibres.
“Eco B is a recycled thread that has all the durability of virgin materials, but doesn’t stay around to pollute our oceans and increase landfill,” says Sonya Manolova, Coats’ Product Director, apparel and footwear.
“This solution brings us one step closer to reducing the problem of plastic pollution by allowing synthetic plastic fibres to behave more like natural fibres.”
Coats have developed three variations of the new technology: Epic Eco-B, Gramax Eco-B and Sylko Eco-B. These offerings form part of Coats’ drive to produce innovative sustainable products and support efforts for a circular economy.
Other products in the collection include EcoVerde, a comprehensive range of 100 per cent recycled polyester threads, zips and trims; EcoRegen, a 100 percent lyocell thread designed to more closely match the material of the garments; and EcoCycle which is claimed to be one of the first water dissolvable threads of its kind.
Furthermore, Coats claims Eco-B has “no compromises on durability with fatigue tests proving that traits such as tenacity, elongation, and abrasion resistance are at the same levels as virgin materials and ensure enhanced performance”.
