In this episode of “How I Built This with Guy Raz,” host Guy Raz interviews Peter Majeranowski, the founder of Cirque, a company focused on circular fashion and textile recycling. Peter shares his journey from the Navy to founding a biofuel company and eventually transitioning into the textile recycling industry. He discusses the environmental impact of the fashion industry and how Cirque is working with big names in apparel to reduce textile waste.
The fashion industry is responsible for dumping 92 million tons of textile waste every year, but all of this waste is recyclable. Additionally, the industry accounts for a significant percentage of carbon emissions and pollution. This highlights the urgent need for sustainable solutions in the fashion industry.
Peter Majeranowski’s career began in the Navy, where he witnessed the conflict in the Middle East firsthand. Inspired by his experiences, he developed a passion for alternative fuels and democratizing energy. This led him to start a biofuel company that utilized tobacco plants. However, he later pivoted to the textile recycling industry, recognizing the potential for creating a circular fashion system.
Cirque, founded by Peter Majeranowski, has patented technology to recycle poly cotton and reduce waste. The company has also formed partnerships with big names in apparel to tackle the issue of textile waste. The Renewal Workshop, another key player in the industry, collaborates with waste collectors, factories, and brands to redirect waste towards recycling facilities.
Despite the vast amount of textile waste generated, only less than 1% of clothing is currently recycled globally. Cirque’s technology allows for the separation of polyester building blocks from cotton, enabling infinite repolymerization and unpolimerization. This means that there is enough clothing in the world to meet our future clothing needs. Textile recycling has the potential to revolutionize the fashion industry and reduce its environmental impact.
Investors are increasingly pushing for a shift towards circular fashion, with a goal of recycling 40% of clothing and sourcing 25% from next-generation materials. The industry is also facing impending regulations to address its environmental impact. To transform the industry, disruptive approaches and innovative solutions are needed.
Peter Majeranowski’s journey from the Navy to founding Cirque showcases the potential for circular fashion and textile recycling. With the fashion industry’s significant environmental impact and the urgent need for sustainable solutions, companies like Cirque and The Renewal Workshop are leading the way in reducing textile waste and creating a more sustainable future for fashion. Through innovative technologies and partnerships, the industry can transform and address the 360 problem it currently faces.