Page 61 - Plastics News April 2025
P. 61
PRODUCT NEWS
A Greener Choice DGrade’s facility processes three tons, or
150,000 water bottles, per hour. With a high de-
In a conversation with Emma, the managing direc- mand for plastic waste, they partner with waste
tor of DGrade, we discussed how the company management companies to source recyclable
is impacting sustainability in the textile industry. PET. Additionally, through their award-winning
DGrade has a focus on uniforms—whether for outreach program Simply Bottles, DGrade col-
sports teams or hotel staff, DGrade can provide lects bottles from schools and provides recy-
sustainable clothing options. Greenspun fabrics cling education to students.
use less water and energy, produce less carbon
emissions, and don’t use any oil compared to Supporting Innovation and Sustainability Initia-
traditional polyester. As Emma said, “The staff tives
are wearing uniforms one way or another. So
why not make them sustainably?” Emma discussed how, when DGrade began, re-
cycled fabrics in general were not very fine or
By sourcing clothing from DGrade, companies high quality. The company initially used downcy-
can make sure their products have an end-of-life. cled material to make products such as carpets.
DGrade partners with a subsidiary of the Ger- “[Kris] spent years trying to refine that,” Emma
many company SOEX to collect, separate, and said. Now, DGrade wants the Greenspun name
shred end-of-life clothing. That way, Greenspun to be recognizable and synonymous with quality
clothing can be downcycled into new textile and sustainability.
items, such as stuffings and curtains.
When asked about the drivers of growth for
DGrade, Emma mentioned the rising awareness
of sustainability. The United Nations’ Sustainable
Development Goals have drawn attention to
sustainable initiatives on a global scale. In 2023,
the UN held COP28, their 28th Climate Change
Conference, in the UAE, the home of DGrade.
COP28 gave DGrade an exciting opportunity to
make all the employees’ uniforms for the con-
ference. This allowed the company to display
their product on a large scale, gaining new cus-
tomers and spreading recycling awareness. As
many businesses strive for a greener footprint,
sourcing Greenspun uniforms is an intuitive way
to make a difference.
Source – Plastics Engineering
April 2025 PLASTICS NEWS 61
