This podcast episode tells the story of Peter Majeranowski, a former Navy sailor who transitioned from biofuels to textile recycling with his company Circ. He leveraged a patented technology to use tobacco plants for biofuel production, then shifted towards recycling textiles, particularly polycotton clothing, to reduce landfill waste and create a sustainable fashion industry. The company employs innovative processes to dissolve polyester from cotton, creating new clothing from recycled materials. Partnerships with brands like Patagonia and Zara demonstrate the potential of this technology to transform the industry. Circ accesses post-consumer waste from various sources, including factories, and aims to scale up operations with a focus on circularity and sustainability.
