Trialing Molecular Recycling
to Advance Textile Circularity
Partnership at the Core of Progress
In this pilot project, Debrand partnered closely with Eastman to bring together logistics, materials expertise, and shared sustainability goals. Through intentional coordination across stakeholders, the team successfully recycled 5,000 pounds of pre- and post-consumer apparel using Eastman’s molecular recycling technology, transforming textile waste into Naia™ Renew fibers. The collaboration was designed not just to test innovation, but to build a repeatable model for how cross-industry partnerships can unlock circular solutions.
The COLLABORATION JOURNEY
“We took on this project with an intentional and iterative approach that would reach meaningful milestones. This project was designed to offer scalability and accessibility for other brands that would want to participate in the future.”
Lina G. Londono, VP of Sustainability & Solutions, Debrand
From Apparel Waste to Circular Fibers
The pilot project followed a deliberate and collaborative approach to ensure success. The team began by aligning all stakeholders on the scope, budget, scalability, and learning objectives for the project. From there, baseline materials were identified for the feedstock strategy, followed by securing buy-in from the brand, logistics provider, and recycler. Coordination on specifications, packaging, and transportation ensured that every step of the recycling trial ran smoothly, ultimately resulting in the creation of Naia™ Renew fibers from 5,000 pounds of apparel waste.
Along the way, several key learnings emerged that will guide future textile recycling initiatives. Using digital identifiers on pre-consumer items enabled fast, efficient access to product data, saving time and optimizing budgets. Engaging stakeholders early kept communication open and helped the team navigate shifting timelines and priorities. Open and transparent discussions around budget, scalability, and learning objectives were critical to project execution. Overall, this pilot laid the groundwork for a repeatable framework that can be adapted and scaled for future projects in the circular fashion space.
“This collaboration underscores our commitment to infrastructure changes necessary for advancing sustainability in the fashion industry.”
Claudia de Witte, Textiles Sustainability Leader, Eastman
Setting a New Standard for Circular Fashion
Eastman and Debrand’s collaboration demonstrates what’s possible when innovation, infrastructure, and partnership come together with a shared goal: advancing textile-to-textile recycling at scale. By converting 5,000 pounds of pre- and post-consumer apparel waste into Naia™ Renew fibers through molecular recycling, this pilot proves not only the technical feasibility of circularity — but also the operational framework required to make it real.
This project serves as a foundation for future textile recycling initiatives, offering learnings and a repeatable model that other brands can build on. Together, we are setting new standards for how apparel waste can become feedstock for tomorrow’s materials.
