Arvind Limited, and PurFi Global LLC, announced a joint venture to reduce the amount of textile waste going to landfills. Significant transformations across the fashion industry have led to a dramatic rise in "fast fashion." The textile industry generates more than 64 billion pounds of post-industrial textile waste and 284 billion pounds of post-consumer waste annually. Yet only 12% of textiles globally are recycled, and about 1% are upcycled.

As the fashion industry has embraced calls for more circular and sustainable supply chains, PurFi's proprietary technology - supported by more than 30 patents and 400-plus registered trade secrets - has emerged as a proven and complete solution for rejuvenating textiles back into virgin-like fibers. PurFi and Arvind will locate the first in a series of planned fiber rejuvenation facilities near one of Arvind's manufacturing facilities in India. This facility will process textile wastes - white cotton, colored cotton, denim and synthetics - into virgin-like fibers for reuse from two lines, where each line will have a 5,500- ton capacity per year with plans to expand over the next five years.

The investment for these two lines is envisaged at INR 2000-2500 million. Expansion plans include an additional production line that removes elastomers from fabrics utilizing another of PurFi's proprietary technologies. Currently, 85% of the world's apparel contains elastomers, which make it very difficult to recycle or rejuvenate.

PurFi's technology is the first commercially viable technology proven to safely remove elastomers without the use of toxic chemicals and preserve the host fiber while having the ability to recycle the elastomers that were removed. The joint venture is slated to start construction in the fourth quarter of 2022 with full production expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2023. The circular economy is being embraced by those who are conscious of their carbon footprint, especially younger generations who want to associate with brands that share their values.

The textile industry seeks to combat the environmental concerns created by "fast fashion" and the take-make-waste model with a goal of creating a system where clothing and textiles are reused and not thrown into landfills. To fulfill their commitments to 100% recycled or sustainably sourced materials within the next decade, many in the textile and fashion industries, including global stalwart brands, are looking for alternative materials and efficient processes. PurFi's technology requires significantly fewer resources than the production of virgin textiles.

When compared with manufacturing virgin polyester, nylon or cotton, PurFi fiber manufacturing uses up to 96% less water and 90% less energy. The process also generates 85% to 90% fewer greenhouse gas emissions.