Global sportswear company PUMA has expanded its textile recycling innovation RE:FIBRE, creating millions of replica football jerseys with a minimum of 75% recycled textile waste and other waste materials. For the first time since the start of the 24/25 season, replica PUMA football jerseys (featuring 35 clubs), including those for the European Championship and Copa America, have been made by RE:FIBRE.
The increase is based on the 46,000 RE:FIBRE shirts produced in 2023 and aims not only to reduce textile waste but also to reduce reliance on plastic bottles in the production of recycled polyester products. To make the scale-up possible, PUMA is exploring a variety of ways to recycle polyester - such as thermomechanical and chemical recycling techniques that allow PUMA to significantly increase its textile waste recycling capacity.
"RE:FIBRE gives football fans a tangible example of how PUMA is working to create a forever better life," said Anne-Laure Descourt, Chief Procurement Officer at PUMA. "Our desire is to create 100% of our polyester products from textile waste. Rethinking the way we manufacture and moving to a more circular business model is important, and RE:FIBRE is central to this.
To mark this milestone, PUMA will hold a weekend of activities at its flagship store in New York to coincide with the launch of replicas of the Milan and Manchester City home teams and before both PUMA teams play in New York.