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We just hope that the technology does not suffer the same fate as the medieval science: luring people in but remaining forever just around the corner. The release of its first commercially available product is hugely encouraging; now we are just eagerly waiting more.
The Nucycl process uses 98% less water, compared to virgin cotton production.
Fibres created through Nucycl can be recycled up to five times without losing quality.
Lyocell is generally viewed as sustainable because the chemical process is a closed-loop system, with the solvents being reused and no effluents or gas emitted to the atmosphere. However, it is not clear yet whether Nucycl’s tweaking of this process maintains this.
Evernu’s business model will involve licensing the Nucycl technology to pulp and fibre mills. You should confirm how the company audits licensees to ensure they are in line with agreed standards.
Because of the immaturity of recycling technologies, there simply is not a mass, global industry designed to process post-consumer textile waste. Sorting this waste can be time-consuming, costly and occasionally error-strewn. Automated methods will help speed, but are still in their infancy.
As always with early-stage innovation, the costs involved are likely to be higher, although it is encouraging to see the first commercial offering, Carlos Campo’s t-shirt, retailing at only USD 10 higher than the rest of its t-shirt range (although the brand’s t-shirts retail for USD 100, so are at the premium end of the market). This price premium may limit the use of Nucycl r-lyocell to special editions or upmarket brands.
