Materials producer Yibin Grace has opened a pilot facility for recycled textile dissolving pulp in China, according to a press release Tuesday.
The new facility will use post-industrial and post-consumer textile waste from Yibin Grace’s supply chain partners to produce a low-carbon dissolving pulp which can be used in man-made cellulosic fibers, per the release.
Yibin Grace initially expects to produce 1,500 tonnes of pulp at the facility per year, but it wants to expand its production to 60,000 tonnes by 2027. The facility is aligned with China’s national goals of reducing textile waste 30% by 2030, per the release.
The China-based company has been working with environmental nonprofit Canopy since 2018. Canopy advocates for the protection of the world’s forests, species and climate, and works with more than 1,000 brands, per the release.
Canopy gave Yibin Grace positive marks in its 2024 Hot Button Report, which assesses MMCF manufacturers based on their commitment to protecting ancient and endangered forests.
“Expanding circular production positions the sector to withstand supply volatility associated with increased forest fires and to capture markets looking for low-impact materials,” Nicole Rycroft, founder and executive director of Canopy, said in the release.
Yibin Grace additionally produces other man-made cellulosic fiber products, such as viscose staple fiber and filament yarn, as well as lyocell.
Yibin Grace previously worked with Circulose, formerly known as Renewcell, on viscose staple fiber and filament lines under the brand name ReGracell. In the release, Canopy said the Yibin Grace facility was building on the work of “Next Gen Innovators” such as Circulose.
