In a significant move towards eco-conscious practices, sports giant Puma is elevating its commitment to sustainability by expanding its innovative textile recycling solution, RE:FIBRE. This strategic shift not only diminishes the sportswear industry’s reliance on plastic bottles for polyester but also sets a new standard in eco-friendly manufacturing.
Commencing in 2024, Puma plans to integrate its groundbreaking RE:FIBRE technology into all football Club and Federation replica jerseys, replacing conventional recycled polyester. Building on the success of a 2022 pilot, Puma has already introduced recycled training jerseys for sponsored football clubs and employed the technology in crafting Women’s World Cup replica kits for Switzerland and Morocco.
Unlike traditional methods solely relying on recycled plastic bottles, Puma’s RE:FIBRE utilizes recycled materials sourced from old garments and factory waste. This strategic shift underscores Puma’s steadfast commitment to its long-term objective of significantly reducing textile waste.
The RE:FIBRE process is versatile, accommodating various polyester sources, from factory offcuts to pre-owned clothing. The four-step process involves meticulous material collection and sorting, shredding and mixing, chemical recycling to melt down polyester and remove previous dyes, and the final step of spinning and sewing newly produced polymers into shape. This results in a RE:FIBRE fabric that can be recycled iteratively.
Anne-Laure Descours, Puma’s Chief Sourcing Officer, envisions a future where «100% of product polyester comes from textile waste,» recognizing the environmental hazards associated with textile waste in landfills. Puma actively pursues a circular business model to reshape its production methods.
To make its sustainability initiatives accessible and engaging, Puma has created an informative video using computer-generated imagery. This video guides viewers through the RE:FIBRE process, even delving into the molecular chemistry involved. This approach aligns with Puma’s commitment to ensuring that sustainability becomes an approachable and engaging concept for everyone, from enthusiasts to eco-conscious consumers.
