Bowling Green, Ky.-based apparel brand Fruit of the Loom reports it will extend its waste recycling
initiative with Spartanburg-based recycling company Martex Fiber Southern Corp. to ensure textiles
from its U.S. and Central American manufacturing waste streams are recycled into useable products.
Martex Fiber processes fabric waste to create raw fiber that can be used by nonwoven
producers, or for fill products. The company also spins recycled-content yarns using the reclaimed
fiber at its Jimtex Yarns Division in Lincolnton, Ga.
“While we probably could have received more for single items on our waste list, selling all
the waste to one vendor give us the ultimate control over what happens after it leaves our
factory,” said Ted Goolesby, Fruit of the Loom. “Martex Fiber has been a responsible partner of
ours for many years. We appreciate their efforts to explore new markets for textile waste, and
together, our efforts have led to many innovative materials. Some of these waste-based fibers
products have been used to insulate cars, fill mattresses or even go back into making new apparel
fabrics.”
“At Jimtex, we take waste from cut and sew operations, like Fruit of the Loom’s T-shirt and
underwear cuttings, and convert it back into a first quality cotton blend yarn,” said Jimmy
Jarrett, manager of the Fruit of the Loom waste contract, Martex Fiber. “The possibility for large
scale apparel producers to actually take their own waste and have it processed back into yarn and
then back into finished product is now a reality. It is very exciting!”
February 2, 2010
