Recommended Free Tools
PUMA joined CARBIOS and four other brands in unveiling a white sports T-shirt made with polyester recovered from textile waste. Announced on 29 October 2024, it was a demonstration garment intended to show progress toward a closed fibre-to-fibre recycling loop—not a retail launch or proof that industrial-scale production was already operating.
What was unveiled
The consortium behind the garment comprised CARBIOS, On, Patagonia, PUMA, PVH Corp. and Salomon. Its plain white sports T-shirt was made using polyester from textile waste supplied by members, including fabric rolls and production cutting scraps. The consortium described the garment as a milestone toward demonstrating fibre-to-fibre recycling at industrial scale. The announcement did not establish that the specific shirt was available for purchase.
The 2024 announcement called the garment the first of its kind, but that description should be understood as the consortium’s claim about its demonstration. It does not mean that a commercial production system was already running at scale.
How textile waste became new polyester fabric
CARBIOS’s enzymatic process broke polyester down into its constituent building blocks, terephthalic acid (PTA) and monoethylene glycol (MEG). Those monomers were then repolymerized, spun into yarn and woven into new fabric by external partners.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →#1 Best Overall
- 5.5-ounce
- Removable tag for comfort and relabeling
- softness and durability.
- 50/50 cotton/poly Made with up to 5% recycled polyester from plastic bottles Safety Green and Safety Orange are compliant with ANSI/ISEA 107 high visibility standards for background color Due to the nature of 50/50 cotton/pol
- special care must be taken throughout the printing process.
- Collect waste: Consortium members supplied fabric rolls and production scraps, including colored or mixed textile waste. The announcement said some materials included cotton or elastane blends, dyes and treatments such as durable water repellent.
- Depolymerize polyester: CARBIOS used enzymes to break down the polyester component into PTA and MEG.
- Make new fabric: The recovered building blocks were repolymerized, spun into yarn and woven into fabric for the T-shirt.
The announcement said the resulting biorecycled polyester was comparable in quality to oil-based virgin polyester. The process description is about recovering polyester from textile waste; it should not be confused with recycling PET bottles into polyester.
What the announcement does—and does not—show
The consortium’s 2024 release said only 1% of fibres were being recycled into new fibres and that most recycled polyester then came from PET bottles. Those are figures and characterizations from the announcement, not independently verified current estimates. They help explain the project’s focus: recovering polyester from discarded textiles could address a different feedstock than bottle-based recycled polyester.
Rank #2
- Sustainable, Low Impact Recycled Fiber Short Sleeve T-shirt
- Made from Super Soft Jersey using a blend of Better Cotton, Recover Cotton, and Recycled Polyester
- Shoulder-to-Shoulder Coverseam Tape for Durability
- Double Needle Stitching along Hems for Clean Finish
- Our cotton product supports more sustainable cotton farming through the Better Cotton Initiative
The same release said a CARBIOS demonstration plant in Clermont-Ferrand had operated since 2021 and that the company’s first commercial plant, in Longlaville, was under construction at the time. Those are historical, dated status claims; they do not establish the plants’ status today. The T-shirt itself demonstrates a process pathway, not that commercial capacity, collection systems or economics were already in place at industrial scale.
The announcement made a general claim about a lower carbon footprint but did not provide a quantified, garment-specific life-cycle assessment in the material available. It therefore does not support a specific emissions-saving figure or an independently validated environmental advantage for this T-shirt.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #3
- PC55 5.5-ounce 50/50 cotton/poly
- Made with up to 5% recycled polyester from plastic bottles
- 1x1 rib knit collar
- Coverseamed neck
- Double-needle sleeves and hem
How this relates to PUMA’s other recycling work
PUMA’s participation in the CARBIOS consortium is separate from its RE:FIBRE program and its later work with RE&UP. In a 2025 update, PUMA reported that 13.9% of the polyester used in its apparel in 2024 was made using RE:FIBRE, and set a goal for 30% of polyester fabric in its apparel to be fibre-to-fibre recycled by 2030. The 30% figure is a target, not an achieved result; neither figure describes the CARBIOS T-shirt.
PUMA Chief Sourcing Officer Anne-Laure Descours said, “PUMA’s wish is to have 100% of our polyester coming from textile waste. Today’s announcement is an important milestone towards achieving this and making our industry more circular.” CARBIOS CEO Emmanuel Ladent said, “It may look like an ordinary t-shirt, but make no mistake, the technology behind it is extraordinary!”
Rank #4
- GREAT ALTERNATIVE TO PAPER TOWELS- Provides more absorbency and durability than many disposable paper towels, helping reduce consumption and improve efficiency in commercial and industrial environments.
- BULK 10 LB SUPPLY - Packed with 10 pounds of recycled white T-shirt rags to keep shops, garages, warehouses, and maintenance departments stocked for everyday cleanup tasks. Reduces downtime caused by running out of cleaning rags.
- HIGHLY ABSORBENT COTTON BLEND- Made from soft knit cotton-blend T-shirt material that quickly absorbs oil, grease, paint, water, solvents, and other liquids. Ideal for wiping surfaces, cleaning equipment, and managing spills.
- LOW-LINT CLEAN FINISH - Designed to leave less lint behind than many traditional shop towels, making these rags suitable for detailing, polishing, staining, painting prep, equipment maintenance, and surface cleaning.
- VERSATILE FOR COUNTLESS JOBS - Perfect for automotive repair, industrial maintenance, manufacturing facilities, painting contractors, janitorial work, machine shops, garages, and general-purpose cleaning applications.
Can you buy the shirt?
The sources do not establish retail availability for the exact demonstration T-shirt. A polyester T-shirt sold by PUMA or another consortium brand should not be assumed to use CARBIOS’s enzymatic technology unless the product information specifically says so.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- OMNI-WICK: The ultimate moisture management technology for the outdoors. Omni-Wick quickly moves moisture from the skin into the fabric where it spreads across the surface to quickly evaporate—keeping you cool and comfortable
- TECHNICAL TEE: This performance T-shirt is made for outdoor activity with soft, cotton-blend, sweat wicking fabric
- COTTON AND RECYCLED POLYESTER: Crafted from a cotton and recycled polyester blend that provides a comfort stretch feel for an unrestricted range of motion — ready for any outing
- VERSATILE LAYER: An excellent wicking layer, this is a got-to shirt that provides year-round options
- BUILT TO LAST: Columbia’s attention to detail is what sets our apparel apart from others. We use only the highest quality materials, expert craftsmanship, and durable stitching. This is a super comfortable shirt you'll enjoy for seasons to come
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
