Monki, an H&M Group-owned brand, recently introduced the “Green Machine,” an all-new recycling machine that has the ability to separate and recycle mixed-fibre fabrics on a large scale.
The Green Machine was created through a collaboration between the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textile and Apparel (HKRITA) and the non-profit H&M Foundation. Monki claims to be the first brand to use this technology, and they have specifically used it to separate cotton and polyester blends.
Using a hydrothermal process, the recycling machine separates distinct kinds of fibres from each other in a closed cycle. Heat, water, and less than five percent of biodegradable chemicals are all that’s needed to recycle large quantities of clothing.
In regards to Monki’s use of the Green Machine, Jenny Fagerlin, the sustainability director at Monki, shared that the H&M Group brand wishes to do their part to close the loop by prolonging the life of their products and decreasing the use of virgin materials. Fagerlin considers the use of the Green Machine a major step in this direction.
While this incredible innovation is news-worthy in and of itself, Monki has become the first brand to not only use the technology but to create a fashion collection out of the fabric recycled via the Green Machine.
Monki’s inaugural Green Machine collection comprises just two pieces, a grey hoodie and sweatshirt, both of which have “respect your mother (nature)” embroidered onto them. For this first collection, the brand was only able to produce a small quantity, but they hope to use the Green Machine to launch a large scale collection by the fall of 2021.
Monki’s two-piece loungewear collection created using the all-new Green Machine technology will be available online on Monki’s website at the end of November.
All images in this article are courtesy of Monki.
