Isko, the global denim specialist that is part of Sanko Tekstil, the textile division of the Sanko Group, is involved in more and different ambitious research projects yet again.
The company has recently announced its participation in MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) Alliances program, a collaboration with CSAIL’s researchers, students and industry partners. Through its participation in this program, Isko will contribute its expertise in textile innovation and collaborate on the research and development of smart textiles and wearable technologies.
The company joins a network of 26 industries–from startups to big organizations–including AI and machine learning, aerospace, healthcare, life sciences and telecommunications, as well as retail, media and entertainment.
With the goal of overall advancement of the textile and denim industry through the development of smart and wearable solutions, Isko believes it can lead the change through these technologies and their many possible end uses.
Also part of its commitment is its ambition to make the world a better place by promoting different examples of sustainable innovation. Among them, for instance, is its R-Two program made with certified reused and recycled fibers and various responsibly-minded achievements, including Bluesign Partnership, Step by Oeko-Tex Textile Exchange, SAC, ZDHC and EU Ecolabel.
As part of this involvement in sustainable projects, it has also started a licensing agreement with the textile research and development company HKRITA (Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel) for the use of the Green Machine, a special technology that fully separates and recycles cotton and polyester blends at scale.
The Green Machine claims to be the first in the industry to use an innovative and ultra-efficient hydrothermal treatment method that decomposes cotton into cellulose powders and enables the separation of polyester fibers from blended fabrics. The process is a closed loop and uses only water, heat and less than 5% biodegradable green chemicals.
This method does not damage the polyester fibers and therefore maintains their quality, and the cellulose powders, which are clean and toxic-free, can be used in a variety of ways.
The investment in this new technology is the latest in Isko’s ongoing drive for advancements in sustainability. As part of the company’s R-Two program, it is also working to develop fabrics with a guaranteed minimum 50%+ GRS (Global Recycle Standard) recycled content blend. This is expected to significantly reduce the carbon and water footprint of a fabric, as well as make it easy for consumers to trace a garment’s sustainable journey step-by-step from the beginning of the supply chain through to the end product they purchase.
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