Candiani Denim and Lenzing Partner for Geotextile Recycling Pilot Program

Jennifer Bringle
·3 min read
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Italian denim mill Candiani Denim has teamed with eco-friendly fiber maker Lenzing to turn geotextiles used on glaciers into garments.

Similar to the fabric used as ground cover in landscaping, geotextiles protect the snow and ice from melting on glaciers threatened by climate change. But many of these fabrics are made with fossil-based fibers, which can deposit microplastics into water supplies.

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To address this problem, Austria-based Lenzing developed a geotextile made with cellulosic fibers, which naturally biodegrade and also can be recycled. The company launched its geotextile product in 2023, testing the fabric on the Stubai Glacier in Austria. The geotextile project—which was earned first place in the Swiss Bio Top Awards for wood and material innovations—has been extended to all Austrian glaciers used by tourists.

“We are delighted with the positive results and see the project as a sustainable solution for glacier protection—not only in Austria, but also beyond the country’s borders,” said Berndt Köll, emerging business development, Lenzing.

Lenzing’s collaboration with Candiani Denim takes the geotextile program a step further, recycling fibers from the fabric to create a “Glacier Jacket.” Geotextiles generally last around two years before they should be disposed of, so Lenzing developed a way to recycle those discarded fibers and worked with Candiani to create a garment.

“We received glacier waste yarn, utilized it as a weft, and combined it with a warp to weave a white denim fabric,” said Simon Giuliani, marketing director, Candiani Denim. “This fabric was then sent to the manufacturer, who transformed it into a garment. This garment may, in turn, be recycled multiple times to give life to new products in a never-ending cycle.”

This is the second collaboration with a denim maker this year for Lenzing. The company also partnered with China’s oldest denim mill, Advance Denim, to use Lenzing’s matte Tencel lyocell fibers to create sustainable denim with an authentic vintage look.

While Lenzing reported pretty significant financial losses in its 2023 earnings report released last week, collaborations such as this one have contributed for environmental wins, according to the company’s 2023 sustainability report, also released last week. Lenzing slashed its proportion of non-recycled waste by nearly 50 percentage points, and added new partners in its quest to improve circularity in its supply chains.

The Glacier Jacket will make its debut at Salone de Mobile in Milan next month at the Candiani micro-factory. In addition to Candiani Denim, Lenzing also worked with mechanical recycling specialist Marchi & Fildi Spa, along with avant-garde fashion studio Blue of a Kind.

“This pioneering innovation project brings together trusted like-minded companies and partners across the supply chain, demonstrating the companies’ shared vision and commitment to the circular economy,” said Florian Heubrandner, executive vice president of commercial textiles, Lenzing. “The collaboration is a testament to the power of partnership, driving innovation and sustainability, reducing environmental impact and encouraging collaborative action against climate change for global impact across in the textile industry.”