Clothing provider Kathmandu has unveiled its new line of products which utilise captured emissions. The Seeker activewear range, which is available to purchase now, contains materials made from not only recycled waste (such as end-of-life car tyres) but also polyester yarn derived from carbon capture processes. Kathmandu has partnered with LanzaTech who have been operating at a commercial scale to harness carbon capture ‘biorecycling’ since 2018.
Kathmandu state: “Clothing made from carbon emissions sounds too good to be true, right? Wrong. We’re championing innovation by bringing you an outdoor active collection that features exactly this. Select pieces from our Seeker range are made using LanzaTech carbon recycling technology, a pioneering approach that transforms carbon emissions into valuable resources. By incorporating carbon capture technology into our products, we’re making strides towards reducing our environmental footprint”[i].
So how does it work? Well, LanzaTech has developed a process which captures carbon-rich gases from industrial sources, such as steel mills and refineries, and transforms them into ethanol and other valuable chemicals. This process keeps greenhouse gas emissions out of the atmosphere and removes the need to use virgin materials such as fossil fuels[ii].
The company employs its proprietary gas fermentation process which uses specially engineered microbes to convert carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen into ethanol. This can then be used in a range of products, such as the Seeker range of activewear which uses polyester yarn derived from the ethanol produced by LanzaTech’s process. The process offers an innovative step on the road towards a circular economy. In total, LanzaTech offers circa 500,000 Metric Tons of annual CO2 abatement capacity, and 300,000 Metric Tons annual ethanol production capacity.
This isn’t the first time LanzaTech has partnered with a clothing brand, the company previously worked with H&M to create garments for H&M’s MOVE collection back in 2023. You can read more about this here. At the time, Simon Brown, General Manager at H&M Move said:
“In collaboration with LanzaTech, we are thrilled to offer our customers a capsule collection made with CarbonSmart™ polyester, a ground-breaking material using repurposed carbon emissions. This partnership enables H&M Move to explore innovative materials and play our part in helping to create more sustainable sportswear in the future”[iii].
[i] LanzaTech clothing | Kathmandu
[iii] H&M MOVE PARTNERS WITH LANZATECH TO LAUNCH CAPSULE COLLECTION USING CAPTURED CARBON EMISSIONS
Lauren has extensive experience as an analyst and market researcher in the digital technology and travel sectors. She has a background in researching and forecasting emerging technologies, with a particular passion for the Videogames and eSports industries. She joined the Critical Information Group as Head of Reports and Market Research at GRC World Forums, and leads the content and data research team at the Zero Carbon Academy. “What drew me to the academy is the opportunity to add content and commentary around sustainability across a wealth of industries and sectors.”
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