MUMBAI – Indian manmade cellulose fibre (MMCF) business, Birla Cellulose, says it has manufactured viscose fibre using pre-consumer cotton fabric waste. The new line of viscose uses a minimum 20 per cent pre-consumer industrial fabric waste and is accredited to the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS). The produce is already being marketed to interested brands and retailers and the business claims fabrics from the fibre offer excellent attributes similar to virgin fibre. Birla said it will work on further developing products made with more than 50 per cent industrial fabric waste as well as post-consumer clothing as inputs in 2020.
“Launching of recycled viscose fibre is part of our commitment for circularity and sustainable practices. We are also working on developing fibres using post-consumer clothing as inputs, in collaboration with technology providers and brands,” said Dilip Gaur, business director, pulp and fibre business, Aditya Birla Group.
Said Nicole Rycroft, founder and executive director, Canopy: “We are thrilled that Birla Cellulose is launching a commercial-scale product made of recycled material and their drive towards developing solutions for 50 per cent plus recycled content by 2020. This is fantastic news for the world’s forests and climate – and welcomed news for our 200 fashion brand partners that are looking for fabrics that meet Canopy’s vision of safeguarding Ancient and Endangered Forests.”
Going forward, Birla Cellulose said it will intensify and strengthen its specialty portfolio towards value-added green textile solutions for the future.