U.S. industrial group Eastman has formed a strategic partnership with Debrand, a specialist in pre- and post-consumption textile waste collection. Eastman will use recycled material collected by Debrand to produce its sustainable fibre Naia.

By partnering with Vancouver-based Debrand for the waste collection, Eastman will be able to deploy its molecular recycling technology to recycle 5,000 lb (2.3 tons) of pre- and post-consumer apparel waste in a pilot scheme. The resulting material will be used to produce Naia, a sustainable cellulosic fibre that is 60% made with cellulosic fibres derived from wood pulp, and 40% with recycled fabrics.

Prior to its collaboration with Eastman, Debrand secured a strategic investment from Waste Management, the leading provider of comprehensive waste management in North America,  delivering circular solutions across the U.S. and Canada.

“Partnering with Debrand allows us to drive progress on our Naia sustainability goals, particularly for mainstream circularity, by creating sustainable solutions for textiles that have reached end-of-life, and turning them into valuable resources for new Naia Renew fibres,” said Claudia de Witte, Eastman’s textiles sustainability leader.

Eastman is currently setting up a plastic and polyester recycling plant in Normandy, France, and is active in some 100 countries with 14,000 employees. In fiscal 2023, the group generated a revenue of $9.2 billion. Earlier in the year, Eastman collaborated with Patagonia to recycle 8,000 lb (3.6 tons) of textile waste.