Eco Spindles (Pvt) Limited, a large plastics recycler, has announced plans to expand its capacity to manufacture yarn using recycled plastic, and innovative new additions to its suite of cutting-edge, eco-friendly products used by some of the world’s leading fashion brands.

The company owns one of only two plants in the world capable of creating polyester yarn directly from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic flakes. After the completion of the second phase of its yarn plant expansion program in April, the company expects its capacity to manufacture recycled polyester yarn to increase by 120%, from 100 tonnes of Draw Textured Yarn a month to 220 tonnes a month, a company spokesman said.

For its third phase of expansion, Eco Spindles is exploring potential opportunities to expand its footprint within or beyond Sri Lanka.

Given that its products, made using recycled PET plastics, are primarily exported, it also addresses the improper disposal of plastics, one of the world’s biggest environmental issues.

These developments were announced at Eco Spindles’ annual yarn conference held virtually on Monday. During the conference, Eco Spindles also felicitated its top 10 buyers of2021. The conference featured keynote addresses from BPPL Holdings PLC Managing Director and CEO Dr. Anush Amarasinghe, Eco Spindles Yarns, CEO Nalaka Senavirathna and Eco Spindles Yarns, Head of Sales, Jerome De Mel.

“As people who are passionate about the environment, we are painfully aware of the impact plastic materials have on nature since more than 583 billion PET plastic bottles are produced each year with 85% of it going to landfills. We also believe that to resolve this crisis, the solution is social entrepreneurship which seeks to create and supporta circular economic model,” Dr. Amarasinghe said.

“It is from this understanding that Eco Spindles emerged, and we are fortunate that our customers and partners have supported us in this vital mission. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with them in the future,” he said.

Nalaka Senavirathna said, “Globally, only 20% of clothing waste is recycled or reused, while the remaining 80% is incinerated or in landfills. Given that Sri Lanka is a prolific exporter of apparel, the ability to recycle textile waste back to yarn will provide the domestic industry and its global brands and retail partners a significant boost in enhancing their sustainability efforts.”

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