Stella McCartney, a renowned British luxury fashion house, unveiled a groundbreaking parka jacket [1] made from biologically recycled polyester at the sustainable innovation exhibit at the COP28 Conference. The exhibition was titled “Stella McCartney’s Sustainable Market: Innovating Tomorrow’s Solutions”. This innovative garment, created in collaboration with Protein Evolution, utilized a revolutionary technology that transforms plastic waste into new polyester using AI-designed enzymes.
The parka jacket was inspired by parachute aesthetics from McCartney’s previous collections. It was designed in soft natural tones, combining sustainability with a sporty attitude. This marks the first biologically recycled garment capable of industry-scale deployment.
Protein Evolution’s Biopure technology uses AI-designed enzymes to produce infinitely recyclable fabric. These enzymes break down polyester waste, such as rigid packaging and industrial textiles, into raw materials that are indistinguishable from virgin polyester. Unlike conventional methods, this technology bypasses the use of fossil fuels, positioning it as a scalable solution for reducing plastic waste across multiple industries. The innovative polyester fabric is produced with a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to traditional polyester.
Funded by Collaborative Fund’s climate-focused Collab SOS initiative, the partnership aimed to pilot real-world applications of textile circularity. The parka represents a milestone in a collaboration that began in late 2022 when Protein Evolution and Stella McCartney started transforming unused polyester fabrics from McCartney’s past collections into virgin-quality polyester.
Over the following year, Protein Evolution demonstrated its potential to seamlessly integrate into existing manufacturing supply chains with its bio-recycling technology. The collaboration aims to extend Biopure technology beyond polyester, targeting complex fabric blends like nylon-polyester to address the textile waste crisis. The biologically recycled parka signals a scalable pathway to a fully circular fashion industry, reducing waste while maintaining quality and performance.
Stella McCartney, celebrated for her commitment to sustainable fashion, stated, “Anybody who knows me knows that I hate waste, which is why I am so thrilled about our collaboration with Protein Evolution. Through my SOS Fund, we were among the first to invest in their pioneering biological recycling technology; one that has the potential and power to transform the world’s plastic waste into infinitely recyclable polyester.”
Connor Lynn, Protein Evolution’s co-founder, emphasized the significance of this achievement, saying, “This marks a pivotal moment in the move towards textile-to-textile circularity in the fashion industry. Not only is this coat validation for the utility and quality of bio-recycled polyester, but it also offers companies an alternative to the landfill or incinerator for their fabrics.”
Protein Evolution’s technology provides a cost-effective, high-quality way to combat plastic waste and create a truly circular product across all industries. The biologically recycled parka at COP28 stands as a powerful symbol of the possibilities when technology, creativity, and sustainability converge to combat textile waste and reduce the fashion industry’s carbon emissions.
Source:
[1] COP28: Stella McCartney’s Sustainable Market and Charting a Path Forward
https://www.stellamccartney.com/ae/en/COP28-UN-climate-conference-stellas-sustainable-market.html?srsltid=AfmBOoq1MZU10MBMcwh_GEkEyDDNHvN3x5fv_ex1c759JEZv_lhP7U15
