Patagonia waste becomes Naia Renew
US materials company Eastman is partnering outdoor brand Patagonia, using its clothing waste as the feedstock for Naia Renew, a wood-based cellulosic made with 40% waste material.
The process involves breaking down Patagonia’s unusable apparel into molecular building blocks that Eastman can use to make new fibres.
Natalie Banakis, materials innovation engineer for Patagonia, said: "We know apparel waste is a major problem, and consumers increasingly want better, more sustainable solutions when their most loved clothing reaches the end of its life.”
Last summer, Patagonia unveiled a collection of tops made from Naia Renew and polyester.
Eastman employs 14,500 people around the world and serves customers in more than 100 countries. The company had 2022 revenue of approximately $10.6 billion and is headquartered in Kingsport, US.
