RE:JERSEY – PUMA Trials Garment-to-Garment Recycling in Circularity Project, Using Old Football Kits to Produce New Ones

Rhea-AI Summary

PUMA is launching the RE:JERSEY project to recycle old football jerseys into new ones, aiming to enhance sustainability in production. This innovative process includes chemically breaking down jerseys to manufacture new yarn, reducing environmental impact and promoting circular production. The new jerseys will debut in pre-match warm-ups for teams like Manchester City and AC Milan starting April 23. Currently, PUMA's kits are made from 100% recycled polyester, with the RE:JERSEY kits featuring 75% repurposed jerseys and 25% SEAQUAL® Marine Plastic.

Positive

• PUMA's RE:JERSEY project promotes sustainability by recycling old jerseys into new ones, reducing waste.
• New jerseys will be worn by top clubs, enhancing brand visibility and commitment to eco-friendly practices.

Negative

• No specific financial metrics or projections related to the RE:JERSEY project were provided.
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HERZOGENAURACH, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sports company PUMA will pilot an innovative production process to use existing football jerseys to produce new ones. This initiative is aimed at reducing waste and paving the way towards more circular production models in the future.

Sports company PUMA will pilot an innovative production process to use existing football jerseys to produce new ones as part of its RE:JERSEY circularity project. (Photo: Business Wire)

The process used in RE:JERSEY means that old garments that feature logos, embroideries and club badges, which previously hindered recycling efforts to turn old garments into new ones, can now be used. The RE:JERSEY project takes football kits as the major ingredient to create yarn for new jerseys.

In the recycling process used for the RE:JERSEY project, the garments are chemically broken down into their main components (depolymerization). Colors are then filtered out and the material is chemically put back together to create a yarn (repolymerization) that has the same performance characteristics as virgin polyester.

While PUMA’s football kits on the market today are already made from 100% recycled polyester, RE:JERSEY kits are made with 75% repurposed football jerseys. The remaining 25% comes from SEAQUAL ^® MARINE PLASTIC¹.

“With the RE:JERSEY project, we wanted to develop ways to reduce our environmental impact, respect resources and reuse materials,” said Howard Williams, Director Apparel Technology at PUMA. “The insights we gained with RE:JERSEY will help us develop more circular products in the future."

The products made in the RE:JERSEY project will be worn on-pitch during pre-match warm-ups by PUMA Clubs Manchester City, AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Olympique de Marseille. The teams will wear the jerseys ahead of their respective league fixtures in late April and May, starting with Manchester City against Watford on April 23.

The RE:JERSEY pilot experiment is part of PUMA’s Circular Lab and its Forever Better sustainability platform. As part of Circular Lab, PUMA announced the RE:SUEDE program last year, which tests, whether the company can make a biodegradable version of its iconic SUEDE sneaker.

PUMA
PUMA is one of the world’s leading Sports Brands, designing, developing, selling and marketing footwear, apparel and accessories. For more than 70 years, PUMA has relentlessly pushed sport and culture forward by creating fast products for the world’s fastest athletes. PUMA offers performance and sport-inspired lifestyle products in categories such as Football, Running and Training, Basketball, Golf, and Motorsports. It collaborates with renowned designers and brands to bring sport influences into street culture and fashion. The PUMA Group owns the brands PUMA, Cobra Golf and stichd. The company distributes its products in more than 120 countries, employs more than 16,000 people worldwide, and is headquartered in Herzogenaurach/Germany. https://about.puma.com/

¹SEAQUAL ^® MARINE PLASTIC
SEAQUAL^® MARINE PLASTIC is a sustainable and fully traceable raw material from SEAQUAL INITIATIVE that is made from marine litter, or in some cases from end-of-life fishing nets or other plastics used in aquaculture (such as those used in mussel and oyster farming). For more information, visit https://www.seaqual.org

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220323005444/en/

Media Contact:

Kerstin Neuber - Corporate Communications - PUMA SE - +49 9132 81 2984 – kerstin.neuber@puma.com

Source: PUMA

FAQ

What is the RE:JERSEY project by PUMA?

The RE:JERSEY project aims to recycle old football jerseys into new ones, using innovative processes to reduce waste.

When will the new RE:JERSEY kits be worn by teams?

The RE:JERSEY kits will be worn during pre-match warm-ups starting April 23, with Manchester City facing Watford.

What materials are used in PUMA's RE:JERSEY kits?

The RE:JERSEY kits are made from 75% repurposed football jerseys and 25% SEAQUAL® Marine Plastic.

How does the recycling process work in the RE:JERSEY project?

The old jerseys are chemically broken down and then recreated into new yarn with similar characteristics to virgin polyester.

Is PUMA's current production sustainable?

Yes, PUMA's football kits are already made from 100% recycled polyester, and the RE:JERSEY project enhances this sustainability further.