James Cropper succeeds in producing packaging paper from old jeans

Sustainability triumph: James Cropper succeeds in producing packaging paper from old jeans

The fashion industry can be attributed to roughly 8-10% of the global carbon footprint while fast fashion continues to gain momentum. In the last few decades, we have witnessed some of the most taxing effects of global warming, be it melting icebergs, forest fires, rising sea levels in various cities, or exotic species going extinct. These negative impacts have started materializing earlier than what we previously predicted, and they are scarier indeed. However, the cost to transition towards net-zero emissions would require us to invest trillions of dollars each year, but smaller changes can be a good starting point.

In an encouraging development, the UK-based materials and paper products manufacturer James Cropper is set to develop product packaging from recycled jeans. Kate Gilpin, packaging project leader at James Cropper, was quoted as saying, “Eight billion pairs of jeans are made around the world every year, which is a big part of the problem with textile waste.” The goal is to solve global waste problems, she says. The upcoming product is named Rydal Apparel, and it is based on FibreBlend Upcycled Technology.

The firm is putting out a line of recycled paper that is made from 20% used denim fibers and the remaining 80% consisting of used coffee cup fibers. The representative added that the cotton-based paper from Rydal Apparel could be recycled in regular waste streams, which could give the fiber a third and fourth life.

It is noteworthy that most of these garments end up in landfills in third-world countries of Africa, sabotaging their food security due to soil pollution. Only 13% of the used apparel is recycled to make insulation or mattresses, and less than 1% is used to make new products.

James Cropper aims to turn old denim into paper in a bid to make it possible for cotton textile fibers to be recycled again and again in standard paper waste streams.

“Paper is easy to recycle, and in reality, it is recycled more than any other material,” says Gilpin. She further added that cotton fibers are ideal for making paper, and they are bringing back the use of cotton rags in their company. This scheme is termed a step towards a more “circular economy.”

Rydal Apparel packaging paper was recently unveiled at different packaging shows, and it has displayed promising results. James Cropper is in initial discussions with some fashion and fragrance brands about the product.

Despite the challenges posed by Covid-19, the R&D team has succeeded in bringing the initiative to life, and the company is currently looking for new fiber sources. Having said that, James Cropper is maintaining enough stock for prototyping purposes, and soon, we can expect our old jeans to turn into good quality packaging for a variety of products.

This is indeed good news for everybody who recognizes the dangers posed by the negative impacts of global warming and soil degradation. Having alternatives that not only replace the unsustainable products but also outperform them helps build a stronger case for the transition. Our team found this innovation to be a promising development, and if you have any suggestions for our next feature, do let us know in the comments.