Jako-Katalog_CTW_EN_2026 - Flipbook - 11
THE KEY
Together with seven partners from research and industry, we
are working on a recycling solution for textiles as part of the
“TheKey” project. This pioneering project for the recyclability
of the textile industry is funded by the Federal Ministry of
Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR). The aim is to
completely recycle polyester/cotton blended fabrics through
various key innovations in order to enable the sustainable
use of these materials.
As part of the project, we launched an international
collection campaign in 2025, in which over 1000 sports
clubs participated and sent in their old jerseys. The
textiles were sorted and temporarily stored at our facility
before being recycled and processed into new sports textiles
in the next step. True to the motto: “Reuse, recycle, repeat.”
ORGANIC COTTON
At JAKO, more than 80% of cotton products are made from organic cotton.
Organic cotton is grown without the use of chemical pesticides, synthetic
fertilizers, or genetically modified seeds. The cultivation of organic cotton
produces approximately 45% less CO2 emissions than the cultivation of
conventional cotton.
Source: Textile Exchange (2014) - The Life Cycle Assessment of organic cotton fibre - a global average
RECYCLED POLYESTER
In the case of recycled polyester (rPET), existing material is processed and
turned into new granulate. Compared to the production of polyester from
primary raw materials (virgin PET), this process requires around 45-70% less
energy.
This range is based on several independent life cycle assessment studies
and expert sources that compare the energy consumption of recycled PET
or recycled polyester with new material. The actual savings vary depending
on the recycling process, energy source, location, and underlying system
boundaries.
The values quoted refer to the production stage of granulate manufacturing (“cradle-to-gate”) and do not include transport,
further processing, or end-of-life phases.
Source: Textile Exchange (2023) – Materials Market Report 2023
Discover more about
sustainability at JAKO!
