Polycotton becomes household products

Polycotton is a blend of cotton and polyester fibres, combining the comfort and breathability of cotton with the durability and wrinkle resistance of polyester. This results in a strong, low-maintenance fabric with reduced shrinkage and faster drying, commonly used in workwear, home textiles and technical applications.

For recycled plastics to achieve the necessary strength and other properties, they often need to be reinforced with virgin plastic. The Step-1 ‘Fashion to House’ demonstration project aimed to create a link between the fashion industry and the household products industry, enabling a new recycling system in which large volumes of technologically advanced, aesthetically pleasing and durable material from the fashion industry – specifically polycotton textile waste – can be used as raw material for household products, which have high demands in terms of appearance, durability and industry standards.

The project team brought together key industrial players: H&M Group and Electrolux Group represent the supply and demand sides respectively; The Loop Factory contributed with manufacturing expertise; Wargön Innovation offered strong networks and experience in textile recycling; and RISE led the project with specialised knowledge in converting polycotton into panel materials. RISE also supported the project with sustainability analysis, regulatory insights and access to pilot-scale facilities. Together, the team took the concept from idea to commercial production. The project’s goal was to transform polycotton waste from the fashion industry into a sustainable raw material for household products. This step-1 project has been completed, and the activities continue in a Step-2 project.