Isko goes fully responsible with new R-Two programme

In keeping with Isko’s Responsible Innovation approach, this concept deals with the most critical matter that apparel supply chains are currently faced with using more than what is actually needed.

Isko R-Two reduces the amount of raw material sourced by relying on a blend of reused cotton and recycled polyester, improving sourcing efficiency throughout the entire field-to-fabric production. This cutting-edge programme effectively tackles over-sourcing – the leading issue when it comes to waste hierarchy.

During the processing of raw cotton into yarn, for every 100 kilos of cotton approximately 10 per cent is lost. Isko collects it and prevents it from becoming waste, adding it back into the spinning process obtaining cotton that is fully traced, documented and audited. This verification process has been invented by Isko in partnership with its yarn supplier Sanko, offering full clarity into the traceability of reused cotton from field to fabric. It is also certified with the Content Claim Standard – or CCS – of the Textile Exchange.

On the other hand, recycled polyester comes from clear plastic bottles or, alternatively, it can come from other certified waste: in either case the source material is collected, sorted, stripped of labels and caps, and cleaned. This material is then ground into plastic pellets that can then be re-spun into new fibre filaments, which are then blended with the reused cotton to create R-Two fabrics.

A major asset of employing recycled polyester is the energy required to produce it, which is less than that required to manufacture virgin polyester. By using more recycled polyester, Isko effectively reduces its dependence on petroleum as a raw material, ultimately reducing the overall carbon footprint of Isko fabrics.

Depending on the content percentages, for the recycled polyester Isko can provide either the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certifications, both of which track the recycled raw material through the supply chain from input to final product to verify its integrity.

The R-Two programme was developed to keep on delivering a futuristic and innovative sustainable approach, one where Isko rethinks its sourcing strategies and refuses to source more raw materials than what actually needed. The objective is to improve more than ever before, the environmental performance impact of yarn to fabric production, to do better for the planet and its people.

Isko, the leading ingredient brand on a global level, is the first denim producer in the world to be recognised with the Nordic Swan and EU Ecolabel certifications. The company has a production capacity of 300 million metres of fabric per year with 2,000 high-tech automated looms.

Isko has a global presence with offices in 35 countries, and is part of Sanko Tekstil, the textiles division of the Sanko Group. The Sanko Group is one of the largest conglomerates in the world, active in a wide range of sectors from construction and energy, to packaging, financial services, health care and education. It is also a major investor in renewable energy, including hydroelectric and wind power plants.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (PC)