Parkdale, a textile and consumer products manufacturer, has acquired full ownership of CiCLO technology through its subsidiary, Parkdale Advanced Materials. CiCLO is a biodegradable textile ingredient designed to reduce microplastic fiber persistence in the environment. The company said the acquisition expands its polymer and fiber portfolio and its capacity to develop next-generation solutions across textile and related markets.
Parkdale Advanced Materials develops and commercializes textile technologies aimed at responsible manufacturing and environmental challenges. CiCLO technology fits that focus, according to the company.
The acquisition builds on CiCLO technology’s presence in apparel, home and hospitality textiles. Parkdale plans to expand its adoption into adjacent markets, including nonwovens for industrial and hygiene products, geotextiles, filtration, insulation, furnishings and other materials that rely on synthetic fibers.
Parkdale has more than a century of textile operations and a manufacturing presence across the Western Hemisphere. The company said its yarn manufacturing infrastructure, technical expertise and research and development capabilities give Parkdale Advanced Materials a platform to take new technologies and products from concept development to commercial scale.
“We are committed to investing in technologies that create value for our customers and address meaningful challenges for our industry and the environment,” said Davis Warlick, chief operating officer of Parkdale. “We believe CiCLO fibers have the potential to address microplastic fiber persistence at meaningful scale. Our focus now is to continue investing in the technology, develop new applications with our customers, open new markets and broaden adoption so it can deliver greater impact.”
Microplastic fiber pollution is a growing environmental concern across the textile industry. Synthetic textiles can shed microplastic fibers during manufacturing, use and care, and at end of life when products fall outside collection and recovery systems. Because conventional polyester and nylon are engineered for durability, these fibers can persist in the environment for centuries.
CiCLO technology addresses this challenge at the fiber level. The patented technology is integrated into polyester and nylon during fiber manufacturing, creating pathways within the fiber that enable naturally occurring microorganisms to mineralize the polymer in biologically active environments.
The technology has been tested using internationally recognized ASTM and ISO standardized methods across seawater, soil, wastewater sludge and biologically active landfill conditions. It is designed to maintain manufacturing efficiency, dyeability, durability and recyclability.
CiCLO polymers can be integrated into a range of synthetic fiber applications, including virgin, recycled, bio-based and textile-to-textile feedstocks, natural-fiber blends and other compatible textile technologies.
“Our opportunity now is to take CiCLO technology further,” said Cheryl Smyre, vice president of Parkdale Advanced Materials. “That means expanding adoption among the brands and supply chain partners already using the technology while advancing next-generation applications for markets where synthetic fibers are essential. Microplastic pollution is agnostic to the source. To drive meaningful, lasting change, we must extend the reach of CiCLO polymers beyond traditional textile applications and accelerate innovation across industries.”
