Making clothes out of recycled cotton may sound like a new idea, but Recover has been doing it for 75 years. Based in southeastern Spain, the textile company is a leading expert in turning old clothes and industrial waste into new garments. In this episode, Orsolya Janossy, Recover’s Senior Sustainability Manager, breaks down Recover’s process, the importance of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and why clothes made from recycled materials just makes sense.
Orsolya Janossy: It’s impossible to just recycle one t-shirt, so we have to mix it with others, right? So, we would put it into the pile and cut it into smaller pieces. These smaller pieces of the textile waste are processed inside something called a shredding machine. Here, we have created an optimized formula where the fabric pieces are shredded into long fibers at the lowest environmental cost.
Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff: So what does that fiber look like? When it’s initially shredded, what does it look like?
OJ: Like fluffy…maybe you would say, like these cotton things that you can eat in an attraction park. I would say something like that.
RLS: Like cotton candy or cotton fluff?
OJ: Yes!
RLS: Blue cotton candy. I’m imagining my T-shirt is now blue cotton candy.
OJ: Great
This episode features a conversation with Orsolya Janossy, senior sustainability manager at Recover. Exactly how Recover is able to turn trash into treasure and why more cotton should be recycled is what we’re talking about today.
Listen below or click here to listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Produced by Cascale and Hueman Group Media.
Views and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of Cascale or Hueman Group Media.
In this episode, we explore CIEL Textile’s AQUARELLE Samudra facility, a factory powered by renewable energy that minimizes water use and supports its community. CIEL Textile’s Sarbajit Ghose shares how their innovative approach shows that sustainable production is not only possible but already in practice.
Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff: Imagine that I’m walking with you and my eyes are closed and you have to describe the factory to me. What does it look like?
Sarbajit Ghose: You know, the simplest answer is that it’s not easy to describe. You have to see it to believe it. It’s a very simple building. It’s very tastefully done, but it focuses on natural elements. It’s in the middle of nature, surrounded by trees. There’s a lot of use of natural light and cross ventilation.
RLS: That’s Sarbajit (or Serbie) Ghose, the Asia Executive Director of CIEL Textiles. And he’s describing AQUARELLE Sumudra, a factory located in a small village in India. This isn’t your typical manufacturing facility and there is a serious commitment to sustainability. How this place came to be and how it operates in today’s episode.
Listen now:
Produced by Cascale and Hueman Group Media.
Views and opinions expressed during the podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of Cascale or Hueman Group Media.
Rick Ridgeway, outdoor adventurer, writer, and Cascale co-founder, is the first guest.
Rick Ridgeway, outdoor adventurer, writer, and Cascale co-founder, is the first guest
Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Oakland (CA) – October 1, 2024: Cascale, the global nonprofit alliance formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, today launched its new podcast, “Source of Good,” featuring an exclusive interview with Rick Ridgeway—outdoor adventurer, writer, and Cascale co-founder. After dropping the podcast trailer in September, the organization will release its first season of 10 episodes bi-weekly through February 2025.
“Source of Good” spotlights inspiring stories and crucial decision points across the supply chain, exploring how consumer products can be made better for both people and the environment. Each episode features an interview with a manufacturer or brand that highlights how companies use data and insights from Cascale’s Higg Index—available exclusively on Worldly—to inform decisions that drive positive change. “Source of Good” reflects the organization’s vision of catalyzing impact at scale and giving back more than it takes to the planet and its people.
“As sustainability becomes more urgent, it’s vital for Cascale to engage audiences in new, dynamic ways,” said Lee Green, Cascale senior director of marketing and communications. “The ‘Source of Good’ podcast provides an opportunity to tell the real stories behind the data—showcasing how brands and suppliers are working together to make lasting, positive changes in the supply chain. This podcast allows us to connect with a diverse group of listeners and share insights that are transforming the industry. Our goal is to show that sustainability isn’t just an ideal but a practical, scalable reality.”
“I am proud to participate in Cascale’s new podcast, ‘Source of Good,’ which reflects the values that guided us when we first brought brands and manufacturers together over a decade ago to develop the Higg Index tools,” said Rick Ridgeway, Cascale co-founder. “This podcast provides rare insight into supply chain inflection points where more sustainable choices can and must be made.”
Among others, guests include:
In 2023, Cascale piloted the three-episode “Drivers of Change” podcast. “Source of Good” is produced by Hueman Group Media, a woman- and BIPOC-led media company that inspires social change through impactful, high-caliber podcasts and digital content. The show is hosted by Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff, Cascale’s communications director and a former journalist. “Source of Good” is available on multiple platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, and more. Click here for more information and episodes.
ABOUT CASCALE
Cascale is the global nonprofit alliance empowering collaboration to drive equitable and restorative business practices in the consumer goods industry. Spanning over 300 retailers, brands, manufacturers, governments, academics, and NGO/nonprofit affiliates around the globe, we are united by a singular vision: To catalyze impact at scale and give back more than we take to the planet and its people. Formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cascale owns and develops the Higg Index and a unified strategy for industry transformation.
