Leading Fashion Company Joins Fiber-To-Fiber Consortium Founded By Carbios, On, Patagonia, PUMA And Salomon

CLERMONT-FERRAND, France — February 18, 2023 — Carbios has signed an agreement with PVH Corp. to join its fiber-to-fiber consortium founded with On, Patagonia, PUMA, and Salomon*. Committed to accelerating the transition of the textile industry toward a circular economy. Carbios, On, Patagonia, PUMA, PVH Corp., and Salomon collaborate to test and enhance Carbios’ breakthrough biological recycling technology on their own products. The ultimate aim is to prove fiber-to-fiber closed circularity using Carbios’ biorecycling process at an industrial scale in support of the Consortium members’ ambitious sustainability commitments.

During the two-year collaboration, Carbios and its partners collaborate to deliver the biological recycling of polyester items at industrial-scale, including thorough sorting and dismantling technologies for complex textile waste. The existing members voted unanimously for PVH Corp. to join the Consortium stating : “The aim of our consortium is to support the development of actionable solutions that address the fashion industry’s contribution to climate change and PVH Corp. can bring a broader perspective to the project, which is always welcome.”

Carbios has developed a unique and sustainable technology using highly selective enzymes that can recycle blended feedstocks, therefore reducing extensive sorting required by current thermomechanical recycling methods. For mixed fiber textile materials, Carbios’ patented enzyme acts solely on the PET polyester found within. This innovative process creates recycled PET (r-PET), equivalent in quality to virgin PET, that can be used to produce new textile fibers: a major breakthrough for the textile industry.

Treatment of textile waste and recycling

Globally, only 13 percent of textile waste is currently recycled and mainly in lower quality applications such as padding, insulation or rags**. The remaining 87 percent is destined for landfill or incineration. In order to work on improving textile recycling technologies, Consortium members will supply feedstock in the form of apparel, underwear, footwear and sportswear. In 2023, a new line for textile PET waste will be operational at Carbios’ demonstration facility via notably the “LIFE Cycle of PET” project co-funded by the European Union. This comes in anticipation of future regulations, such as the separate collection of textile waste to be made mandatory in Europe from January 1, 2025.

Fiber-to-fiber : circularity of textiles

To produce fibers and fabrics, today’s textile industry largely relies on non-renewable resources, and in part on recycled PET bottles for recycled polyester fiber. This resource, however, will become scarce as PET bottles will be destined exclusively to produce new bottles within the Food & Beverage Industry. In a circular economy, the materials used to produce textiles are sourced from recycled or renewable feedstocks produced through regenerative practices. As well as supplying feedstock for the demonstrator, Consortium members aim to create new products from Carbios’ r-PET fibers produced using its biorecycling process.

“Partnering with Carbios and its consortium members demonstrates our ongoing commitment to including more circular materials in our collections,” said Esther Verburg, executive vice president, Sustainable Business and Innovation, Tommy Hilfiger Global and PVH Europe. “We are excited to support the development of Carbios’ enzymatic recycling technology, leveraging new solutions that can help us to drive fashion forward for good.”

“The Carbios belief is that we can achieve more as a collective. That’s why we rally forces with our Consortiums to advance our unique technology, and ultimately switch to a more sustainable industry, benefiting citizens and the environment,” commented Emmanuel LADENT, CEO of Carbios. “We are delighted to welcome PVH Corp. to join our Consortium with other prestigious brands to advance our shared vision of true circularity for the textile industry.”

Posted: February 21, 2023

Source: CARBIOS 

Champion Thread Opens New USA Dyehouse To Boost Service And Sustainability

GASTONIA, N.C. — February 17, 2023 — Champion Thread Co. (CTC) — a manufacturer and marketer of industrial sewing threads, engineered yarns, and other textile and sewn products accessories — has opened a new thread and yarn dyeing facility in Clover, S.C. Located in close proximity to its Gastonia, N.C.-based headquarters, the domestic manufacturing investment bolsters CTC’s customer service capabilities, product and operational sustainability, vertical capacity, and local workforce.

According to CTC President Matt Poovey: “At a time when global supply chain disruptions and uncertainties abound, we are strengthening our capacity as the go-to, on-time supplier that our textile and sewn products customers need to meet fast-changing market needs. In addition to boosting our service, this investment supports our ongoing focus on building lean, flexible manufacturing operations and environmentally sustainable products and operations. Our teams’ impressive commitment to seeing us through the pandemic made this investment in the American textile workforce a simple decision for us.”

The new facility is one of only a few such dyehouses built in the United States in a generation. The new facility enables CTC to quickly, efficiently, and locally dye its yarns and threads to speed deliveries, expand scheduling flexibility, reduce costs and ensure color accuracy.

The new dyehouse comprises many highly efficient and sustainable technologies. Key among these is low liquor ratio dyeing equipment that significantly reduces water usage and energy-efficient, on-demand boilers that substantially reduce dyehouse emissions. The CTC facility also has a state-of-the-industry dye lab, process automation, monitoring and control systems. The operation also increases local finish winding, twisting, and packaging capacity for threads and yarns.

To optimize all these innovative technology and processes, CTC is actively retraining existing team members and recruiting for new positions created as the new facility ramps-up production.

Posted February 21, 2023

Source: CTC

 

 

 

 

New European Initiative To Support SMEs In Transforming Textile Waste Into Value

BRUSSELS — February 21, 2023 — Today, 43 partners of the RegioGreenTex project met in Brussels to kick start a three year project that should change the way we manage textile recycling.

Regions for Green Textiles – known as RegioGreenTex – is a quadruple-helix partnership initiative aiming at mapping and reducing the difficulties, which currently exist in the implementation of a circular economy model within the textile ecosystem across the EU.

RegioGreenTex will support tangible solutions at SME level, where textile waste becomes a value. The project will contribute to maintain and develop jobs in the EU textile sector, reshoring the production in Europe and making the EU textile value chain more competitive and resilient. It will contribute to the EU Green Deal objectives of reducing carbon footprint, energy and water consumption.

Led by EURATEX, the project brings together 43 partners from 11 European regions, with 24 SMEs pioneering innovative solutions to recycle textile waste. Together the SMEs cover various value chain segments of circular textiles (sorting, recycling from material to fibre, removal of contaminants, processing of recycled fibres to new textile materials) and provide concrete solutions to EU value chain bottlenecks but also seizes upon market opportunities. The project will also promote the development of 5 regional ReHubs in some of the most important textile regions in the EU.

RegioGreenTex is supported by the European Commission through the Interregional Innovation Investments Instrument – I3, and will be coordinated by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA).

As part of the European Regional and Development Fund (ERDF), the I3 instrument aims at supporting interregional innovation projects in their commercialisation and scale-up phases giving them the tools to bring their project to investment level. This instrument focuses on strengthening economic cohesion in the EU by helping businesses work with innovation actors in other regions.

Dirk Vantyghem, Director General of EURATEX, welcomes the project: “RegioGreenTex will support our companies in making this transition towards a new sustainable business model. We’re happy to have 24 SMEs involved, who will directly benefit from the action. The project should also mobilise regional authorities to engage in textile waste recycling, which can give a new dynamic to the textile industry at large.”

Posted: February 21, 2023

Source: EURATEX

Hohenstein: DIN SPEC 4872 To Assess Impact Of Textile Microfibers

BOENNIGHEIM, Germany — February 20, 2023 — Testing service provider Hohenstein has worked with partners to create a new standardized test method for detecting and classifying the environmental effects of textiles during washing. DIN SPEC 4872 combines analysis of fiber release, biodegradability and ecotoxicity.

The test method according to DIN SPEC 4872 shows how many fibers are released during textile laundering, how well these fibers degrade in wastewater and how harmful the fiber residues are to the environment.

Studies have shown that washing textiles releases microfibers into the wash water, which cannot be sufficiently retained by wastewater treatment plants. Synthetic fibers pose the greatest risk to the environment because of their longevity and inability to biodegrade. However, Hohenstein project manager Juliane Alberts does not give the all-clear for biodegradable fibers and natural fibers: “Biodegradability alone does not mean that pure natural fibers, for example, are completely harmless to the environment. They, too, remain in ecosystems until they completely degrade and can also have a negative impact. In addition, additives, auxiliaries or finishes used in textile production can further slow the degradation process and leach into the environment.”

The new standard enables textile producers and suppliers to test, evaluate and compare products for fiber release during washing and environmental impact. Juliane Alberts sees this systematic evaluation as an opportunity for the textile industry to take the initiative on environmental impact: “Our reliable data can be used as a basis for more targeted product development. This is a way to actively and consciously control further environmental pollution.”

Posted: February 21, 2023

Source: Hohenstein

Sympatex Appoints Kim Scholze As Chief Sales And Marketing Officer

MUNICH/UNTERFÖHRING, Germany — February 21, 2023 — Kim Scholze was appointed to the board of management of Sympatex effective, January 1, 2023. As chief sales and marketing officer (CSMO), Scholze will be responsible for global Sympatex sales and marketing strategy. It is an absolute novelty that Sympatex divides the management in such a way and integrates a woman in the board.

Current CEO Dr. Rüdiger Fox, remains in management, with particular emphasis in new Technologies and the restructuring of the Supply Chain towards consistent Circularity.

The proportion of women in management board positions has been only 8.2 percent in 2022. Important positions in business (management, supervisory board) are still predominantly occupied by men.

“I took office about six years ago with the ambition of making consistent sustainability a non-negotiable board topic in our industry,” said Dr. Fox. “In recent months, fundamental progress has been made here: A consistent ban on fluorochemicals is now unstoppable worldwide. And the EU has set all the course to force our industry into a circular business model. The latter only works collaboratively across competitive boundaries. Kim Scholze has already credibly proven in the past that she is the best person to orchestrate such a process and to adequately embody our role in it. For this, I am happy to step aside.”, adds Fox.

Scholze has been with the company since March 15, 2021, as chief sustainable community manager and head of Storytelling. With Scholze in the board, the company’s orientation is clear: It is not about making the biggest possible profits. It is about attitude, collaboration, and a shared industry drive towards sustainability.

“I am a proud part of the sport and outdoor industry for over 30 years,” Scholze said. “I have been giving my conviction for sustainability, attitude and change a face — the creation and feeding of communication platforms are my expertise. Today, I am fully in with Sympatex, for different cases of platform-thinking. I identify personally with Sympatex and the company’s consistent and transparent strategy and, with immediate effect, I am managing director alongside Dr. Rüdiger Fox. My main function and responsibility are sales and marketing.”

“To drive change effectively, we need a different perspective and the openness for collaboration,” Scholze added. “In this sense, my biggest challenge is to find common ground for our ideas. If you are in a powerful position, like I am now, as CSMO, I recommend to always stick to the question: Are we working towards something that is relevant? If it doesn’t make sense to us as individuals and humans, it probably won’t be relevant to our customers and employees.”

Sympatex designs its products since many years towards “Closing-the-Loop”, communicates it, spreads information and knowledge and the strong desire of cooperation rather than investing in pure marketing campaigns. To achieve positive change towards alternative sustainable technologies and materials, collaboration with players across the industry is needed.

Sympatex’ Focus is working towards something that is relevant in the context of the global textile industry. With a team of like-minded people, Sympatex is pioneer in the development of a circular and regenerative business model. Along the way, the company has already achieved a lot and helped pushing boundaries. And yet, the board still sees a lot of untapped potential and the enormous value in designing attractive and regenerative solutions.

Posted: February 21, 2023

Source: Sympatex Technologies GmbH

emtec Electronic To Present Objective Haptic Measuring Solution At Performance Days Functional Fabric Fair

LEIPZIG, Germany — February 20, 2023 — Human tactile sensation is a complex phenomenon that is influenced by many subjective factors, including hand sensitivity, personal preference, mood, and culture. For the textile industry, this subjectivity often makes it difficult to reliably reproduce the haptic qualities of a fabric, especially when sourcing and production take place in different locations. Traditionally, hand panel testing is used to evaluate and rank the fabrics based on the overall haptic impression, also known as handle or hand-feel, of the material. The drawbacks of this approach are the time needed to organize such panels, the extensive testing needed, and the subjective results, which are not always reproducible across various locations.

At 4:00 p.m. on Day One of the Performance Days fair, Sales Area Manager Eric Haagen from the testing device manufacturer emtec Electronic will present a practical solution for achieving objective, reliable, and easily reproducible haptic results: the TSA Tactile Sensation Analyzer. Using hypersensitive sound analysis, the TSA device simulates the function of the human hand by registering the sound waves produced upon contact with a sample fabric. This allows the TSA to measure the individual parameters responsible for haptic perception – namely, the softness, smoothness, stiffness, as well as deformation and recovery characteristics. Proprietary algorithms, designed to correlate with specific market preferences, enable the device to combine the parameters into an overall hand-feel value. In some cases, the results are able to achieve a nearly 100 percent correlation to the results of extensive hand panel tests, but in a fraction of the time.

Onsite, emtec representatives Eric Haagen and Stefan Rübesam will demonstrate the capabilities of the TSA in a tabletop exhibit. Visitors to the fair are encouraged to stop by to find out more.

Posted: February 21, 2023

Source: emtec Electronic GmbH

The Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) Reports On A Surge In Farmers Committed To Organic Cotton

AMSTERDAM — February 20, 2023 — The Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA), the multi-stakeholder organization dedicated to organic cotton, today announced the publication of its annual Farm Programme Impact Report which heralds a new wave of farmers committing to organic cotton in India. OCA’s Farm Programme reports it has tripled farmer numbers compared to the previous year, with over 74,000 farmers participating during the 2021-2022 season.

Strengthening the farmer business case

OCA associates this surge to the sharp rise in the number of in-conversion farmers working towards fully certified organic cotton status, from 4,000 to 22,500 compared to the previous season. High demand for organic certified cotton, lower input costs combined with strong support systems in place are encouraging more and more cotton farmers to start on the path towards organic, a three-year journey known as “in-conversion.”

The wave of cotton farmers committing to organic proves the effectiveness of a robust farmer business case, training, and capacity building. During the 2021-22 season farmers who sold their cotton through OCA’s Farm Programme achieved a higher net income from their cotton than their local conventional peers, a 6 percent difference. On top of a high market price for organic cotton, over 4 million Euros was paid out to participating OCA farmers for their seed cotton procured.

It is the sixth year in a row when OCA, committed to securing organic and in-conversion farmer livelihoods, has successfully bridged the gap between conventional and organic farmers’ earnings. Strengthening the farmers’ business case in the organic cotton sector is paramount to building capacity and ensuring that it does pay to go organic, making it easier for more conventional farmers to take the first steps towards it.

Ruud Schute, Programme Director at OCA said: “We truly take the learnings and the feedback from our Farm Programme farmers to heart as we tackle some of this sector’s systemic challenges. The expansion of our program to include support for in-conversions farmers, developing the potential of Pakistan, and making sure farmers have the tools, training and support required, all  highlight our mission to drive impact and improvements. Accelerating benefits for the farming community, safeguarding their environment, and transforming the entire supply chain.”

“I do not want to go back to the conventional method of farming. Most of my investment was used for fertilizers and pesticides and in turn this negatively affected the soil health of my agricultural land. I have decided to extend organic farming now to all crops since it improves soil health gradually. Maintaining a rich living soil is my priority,” said Dipak, an OCA farmer from Kutki village in Wardha district of Maharashtra who harvested 6,700 kilograms of organic cotton from his farm during the 2021-22 season.

Danique Lodewijks, senior project specialist, Materials & Innovation, Bestseller, commented: “For BESTSELLER, the sourcing of our raw materials is of great importance, to create transparency and know the farmers who grow our cotton. Therefore, it is crucial we partner with OCA, an organization dedicated to organic cotton in a trustworthy, data-driven way with feet on the ground locally through their implementation partners. This direct-to-farm approach also secures the business case for the farmers, both financially and practically, with long-term commitments and uptake agreements.”

Amit Shah, CEO and founding partner, Spectrum Cottfibers LLP, added: “The journey with OCA has been both enlightening and fulfilling for the farmers and the program partners. Its the only industry driven platform that has managed to get all the players in the supply change on a single format of the ‘Farm Commitment Agreement’ that in a neutral manner looks at all costs involved and provides adequate assurances to all concerned. Additionally, Project Partners and Farmers associated with OCA have truly benefited from the new OCA curriculum and toolkit even as it continues to be rolled out across the country. My congratulations to the team at OCA, the retailers, civil society members and supply chain partners that have made this a success along with the entire farming community.”

Continuing the momentum

Alongside the established Farm Programme, now in its sixth year, the Impact Report highlights the importance of investment of OCA’s Contributors and the sector at large. The organisation has ensured the momentum continues by bringing new brands, suppliers, and farming partners onboard, developing and distributing the first Training Curriculum for the Organic Cotton sector and pursuing funding to build capacity and training projects. Expanding the Farm Programme into Pakistan with a pilot during the past season provided OCA with important guidance to kick-start its operations in the country which launched during the 2022-23 season.

Posted: February 20, 2023

Source: The Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA)

Indorama Ventures Wins Gold Medal By EcoVadis For Sustainability In Supply Chain Management

BANGKOK, Thailand — February 20, 2023 — Indorama Ventures Public Co. Ltd. (IVL), a global sustainable chemical company, has been awarded the ‘Gold Medal’ by EcoVadis, recognizing IVL’s commitment to sustainability in supply chain management.

IVL participates in the annual EcoVadis assessment to evaluate the company’s sustainable practices and ensure it can meet key customers’ requirements across the different business segments and operations. In 2023, the company achieved the Gold Medal with a score of 77; higher than 2022’s score of 75. IVL ranked in the 99th percentile in basic chemical, fertilizers, and nitrogen compound plastics and synthetic rubbers in primary industries of all assessed companies worldwide, with above industry-average performances in all four assessment areas, including environment, labor & human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement.

Yash Lohia, chairman of the ESG Council at Indorama Ventures, said: “Sustainability has been embedded in every aspect of Indorama Ventures for over a decade to align with our vision of being a world-class sustainable chemical company making great products for society. We are delighted to receive some of the highest levels of recognition from EcoVadis over the past six years. This achievement demonstrates our operational efficiency and value chain management through continuous improvement to meet customer needs and global challenges.”

EcoVadis is a provider of business sustainability ratings. The assessment indices include more than 200 purchasing categories and 175 countries around the world.

Posted: February 20, 2023

Source: Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL),

Lenzing And NFW Partner To Provide Sustainable Leather Alternatives For Fashion

LENZING, Austria — February 20, 2023 — Lenzing has teamed up with Natural Fiber Welding Inc. (NFW) to offer TENCEL™ branded fibers as another backer option for NFW’s patented plant-based technology, MIRUM®. The MIRUM® x TENCEL™ collaboration will be showcased for the first time in Milan, Italy during the international leather fair, LINEAPELLE, which will take place February 21-23, 2023, in Milan, Italy.

MIRUM is a categorically unique material class, perfect for luxury accessories, fashion, footwear, automotive, and home goods. TENCEL Lyocell and Modal fibers are derived from sustainable wood sources and produced using environmentally responsible processes. The fibers are identifiable, verifiable and traceable through Lenzing’s Fiber Identification technology which enables a physical identification of fiber origin at different stages of production. This enables full traceability of the fiber materials used during the production process, be it on a piece of fabric or finished product, like garments or footwear. Completely free from plastic, MIRUM is made from natural rubber, plant and mineral pigments, plant-based oils and waxes, and an all-natural fabric backing. Each MIRUM recipe is unique, but the commitment to using only natural ingredients is unchanging. Instead of relying on PU binders, a characteristic of most leather alternatives, MIRUM uses natural rubber and plant oils for binding.

NFW’s unique approach incorporates a diversity of natural ingredients like biobased charcoal, clay, cork powder, rice hulls, coconut fibers, recycled denim or seaweed to develop color or add visual interest. At the end of its life cycle, products made with MIRUM can be recycled into new MIRUM or ground up and returned to the earth, while TENCEL fibers are compostable and biodegradable, enabling complete circularity of finished products. The collaboration creates a uniquely sustainable alternative for leather applications as both TENCEL fibers and MIRUM are versatile enough to be used in multiple applications.

“At NFW, we believe that plant matter is the only material that can scale to replace plastic. Since its inception, MIRUM has been engineered to benefit our planet. By adding fabrics made of TENCEL to MIRUM, we can enhance material transparency and traceability, while guaranteeing comfort and great hand feel on the skin. We are thrilled to join hands with the TENCEL brand and we will continue creating greener alternatives for the fashion industry,” said Oihana Elizalde, vice president and general manager of MIRUM at NFW. One of the best examples of the collaboration is the Allbirds Plant Pacer, which released last fall. The shoe’s upper is made with MIRUM lined with TENCEL.

MIRUM is an ideal option for designers and brands looking to reduce their environmental footprint and expand their creative palettes. TENCEL fibers are soft and pleasant on the skin, with outstanding moisture management. Adding backer material made of TENCEL fibers to MIRUM not only creates a truly sustainable option but also one that enhances the comfort level of products made from leather alternatives.

“This partnership is a perfect example of how the combination of our sustainable TENCEL fibers and innovative materials like MIRUM can go beyond traditional textiles. With innovation at heart, there are infinite possibilities for application of the new material. TENCEL fibers used as backer not only increase the level of transparency and traceability of MIRUM, but also enhance comfort — and with a very low carbon footprint. We are confident that the versatile material will be loved by supply chain partners and brands across footwear, fashion apparel, accessories, furniture, and even automotive industries,” said Birgit Schnetzlinger, head of Business Development Functional Wear and Footwear, Global Textiles Business at Lenzing AG.

Both Lenzing and NFW will be showcasing their products at LINEAPELLE 2023.

Posted: February 20, 2023

Source: The Lenzing Group

Alberta Announces $58 Million For Circular Economy — INCA Renewtech Is Awarded $10 Million For Hemp Based Composite

EDMONTON, Alberta — February 16, 2023 — The Government of Alberta is advancing the province’s global leadership in the circular economy by committing $58 million through Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) to projects across the province worth $528 million. All funding is sourced from the province’s Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) fund.

Producing high-quality fertilizer for farmers, recycling asphalt from roof shingles, sequestering carbon in concrete, and novel plastics recycling are some examples of the technology solutions receiving funding through ERA’s Circular Economy Challenge.

If successful, these projects will result in cumulative greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions of up to 4 million tonnes by 2050 — equal to offsetting the GHG footprint of 1 million homes. Circular Economy Challenge Funding is expected to create 1835 person-year jobs* in Alberta and have a $350 million GDP impact in the province by 2025.

The investment aligns with provincial initiatives including the proposed Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) approach, the agricultural plastics recycling initiative, and the Natural Gas Vision and Strategy’s goal to establish Alberta as a centre of excellence for plastics diversion and recycling.

“Advancing technology solutions that support a circular economy makes good environmental and economic sense,” said Sonya Savage, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas. “Circular Economy Challenge projects supported by the TIER fund will help keep valuable materials in the economy and out of landfills, which drives investment, bolsters economic activity, cuts emissions, and creates jobs. It’s a win across the board.”

“A more sustainable, diversified provincial economy requires using our resources more wisely, we need to think about waste as a resource rather than a cost. This investment in converting waste into other uses is going to make a real difference,” added 
Justin Riemer, CEO, Emissions Reduction Alberta.

Circular Economy Challenge projects support waste reduction, material and feedstock substitution, value recovery, and reduction of the lifecycle environmental footprint of materials and products. These technology solutions can reduce the impacts of material production, processing, and disposal.

The innovations invested in here will support industry competitiveness, new venture creation, and economic diversification.

Projects include:

Northstar Clean Technologies Inc.

Design, build, and commence operations of a new asphalt roof shingles recycling facility ERA funding: $7.1 million | Project cost: $20.6 million

INCA Renewtech

Construct and operate a first-of-kind commercial facility to create a sustainable, advanced bio- composite material made from hemp stalk
ERA funding: $10 million | Project cost: $174.5 million

Sparks Eggs

Dehydrate inedible eggs from an existing grading and packing facility into a powder to be used for pet food and animal feed
ERA funding: $500,000 | Project cost: $1 million

Rimrock Renewables LP.

Treat the biproduct of the anaerobic digestion process to produce fertilizer, peat, cattle bedding, and clean water on-site
ERA funding: $8.4 million | Project cost: $19 million

Hydrovac Waste Solutions Ltd.

Divert slurry from the landfill and recover valuable products from the hydro-vacuum process ERA funding: $1.7 million | Project cost: $8 million

Carbon Upcycling Technologies

Demonstrate a commercial-scale carbon sequestration and utilization technology for the cement and concrete sector
ERA funding: $4.4 million |Project cost: $11 million

Phyto Organix Foods Inc.

Construction of a large-scale, commercial, net zero yellow pea fractionation facility ERA funding: $10 million | Project cost: $231 million

Suncor Energy Inc.

Recover Vanadium, a valuable critical metal/element, from the fly ash by-product from coke- fired boilers and use it in the growing energy storage market
ERA funding: $7 million | Project cost: $36 million

Circular Rubber Technologies Inc.

Reclaim rubber from end-of-life, high-grade tires from industrial activities and sell the end product back to manufacturers for use in new tires
ERA funding: $3.2 million | Project cost: $16 million

RBW Waste Management Ltd.

Install and commission a recycling system for high-density polyethylene containers used to transport liquid and solid wastes and process them into new products
ERA funding: $700,000 | Project cost: $1.4 million

“This funding will enable INCA Renewtech to significantly accelerate construction of our state- of-the-art hemp processing and composites manufacturing factory,” said David Saltman, chairman & CEO, INCA Renewtech. “We will purchase waste straw from farmers currently growing hemp for plant-based protein and transform this renewable resource into advanced bio-composites for the automotive, marine, wind energy, and consumer plastics industries.”

“Government of Alberta funding through Emissions Reduction Alberta is critical to fulfilling our objective of meeting consumer demand for healthy, functional proteins and food co-products that are produced in a sustainable way,” said Chris Theal, president & CEO, Phyto Organix Foods Inc. “This project creates the opportunity to add value to Alberta’s pulse resources, diversify our economy, and directly help mitigate global food security risks, while doing so with a differentiated carbon and water sustainability footprint.”

“The Suncor team and our partners are excited to advance this project which has the potential to produce commercial quantities of a critical metal used in the production of grid level energy storage solutions,” noted Todd Pugsley, director, Technology Development – Bitumen Value Chain, Suncor. “The Alberta Vanadium Project is consistent with Suncor’s leading position in developing new lines of revenue that also support greater adoption of low carbon sources of energy.”

“This support of Circular Rubber Technologies’ project is pivotal in advancing Canada’s circular economy,” said Maartje Van Der Sande, CEO of Circular Rubber Technologies (CRT). “CRT is constructing the world’s first commercial scale rubber devulcanization facility for industrial tires, its first state of the art facility in Alberta, set to begin production in Fall 2023. ERA accelerates bringing CRT’s product — the world’s cleanest, highest quality rubber reclaim – to a $45 billion global market.”

“Circularity in our economy will be integral to Alberta’s decarbonization efforts,” said 
Ryan Bourns, Business Development Partnerships Manager, Carbon Upcycling. “Circular Economy Challenge funding signals the government’s commitment to supporting innovative companies like Carbon Upcycling, as we collaborate with industry partners and look to achieve commercial-scale impact in the cement industry.”

“Circular Economy Challenge funding will facilitate our company to meet zero-waste and sustainability goals for our food processing facility in Calgary,” said Scott Brookshaw, Executive Vice President, Sparks Eggs, Division of Golden Valley Foods Ltd. “We will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and transform our current waste product into a new ingredient for the pet food industry, creating a circular economy and permanent sustainable waste management solution.”

“Rimrock Renewables is honored to be recognized by the Government of Alberta through ERA as an innovator in the development of alternative energy solutions to support the Canadian energy transformation,” said 
Scott McLean, Director, Rimrock Renewables; Executive Vice President Operations Tidewater Renewables Ltd. “Funding from partners like the ERA is key to accelerating our shovel-ready project and making an immediate impact to Canada’s emission reduction goals.”

“With funding from the Government of Alberta through ERA, we can reliably scale up a cleantech process that recycles hydrovac waste into valuable products for cement production,” added Ash Thibault, vice president, Hydrovac Waste Solutions. “This will keep materials out of landfills, while helping Alberta’s cement and hydrovac industries get closer to meeting their sustainability and net-zero emission goals.”

“The Government of Alberta and ERA’s contribution to our innovative and proprietary clean technology process is hugely supportive in the commercialization of our first scale up asphalt shingle reprocessing facility in Alberta,” noted said Aidan Mills, president and CEO, Northstar Clean Technologies Inc. “This landmark facility will be the first in North America and launches our scalable business model to deploy our circular economy, clean technology solution across Canada and the US.”

“Plastic recycling has been a longstanding aspiration of RBW Waste Management Ltd.,” said Rick Williams, president, RBW Waste Management Ltd. “Circular Economy Challenge funding allows this to become a reality. Plastic waste received at our facility will be converted to new recycled plastic products, reducing waste and reliance on virgin materials to make industrial products, while promoting a circular economy model for high- density polyethylene plastics.”

All ERA funding recipients are required to produce a final outcomes report that is shared publicly for the broader benefit of Alberta. Funding recipients will be required to report on project outcomes, achievements, and lessons learned including GHG reductions, job creation, and other environmental, economic, and social benefits.

*A person-year is equal to one-year of employment for one individual.

Posted: February 20, 2023

Source: Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA)

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