An off-white denim created by retailer C&A, Pakistan textile mill Rajby Textiles and circular economy consultants Eco Intelligent Growth (EIG) has become the world’s first to receive a platinum Cradle to Cradle certification.
Beluga denim is made from 100 per cent Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)-certified organic cotton fiber, is fully recyclable and is produced using a specially-designed closed-loop water system. It is 100 per cent carbon neutral in the final manufacturing stage.
To achieve the highest level Cradle to Cradle certification, Rajby and C&A worked together to research and identify the most suitable materials and chemicals for the ecru fabric. The denim had to be made entirely of safe and rapidly renewable ingredients, both fibers and chemicals, which meant that no oil-based dyes, auxiliaries or other chemicals could be used. Rajby and C&A also worked closely together to ensure that Beluga would be actively cycled into new product after its usable lifetime, instead of becoming waste. The fabric was tested to ensure it met the highest-level requirements for all five Cradle to Cradle categories: material health, material reutilisation, renewable energy and carbon management, water stewardship and social fairness. C&A is expected to launch the first garments made with Beluga denim in about four months.
