Jaeklin Designated as GR-Certified Product for 'Recycled Cotton'

Serious Environmental Issues Caused by the Textile Industry
Focus on Sustainable Textile Recycling Projects

Climate tech company Jecklin announced on the 20th that its self-developed ‘recycled cotton’ has been designated as a target item for the Excellent Recycled Product (GR) certification. The GR certification, operated by the National Institute of Technology and Standards under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, is a statutory certification system specialized for recycled products with excellent quality and environmental performance. Products that obtain the certification are recognized as ‘green products’ under the Act on the Promotion of Purchase of Green Products, receiving incentives such as mandatory purchase by public institutions and procurement score advantages.

Jecklin explained that the designation of ‘recycled cotton yarn’ as a GR certification target item is the first case for a company. Unlike the existing linear recycling model, which is difficult to recycle or remanufacture into raw materials, it received high evaluation for being a cotton-based circular recycling model that continuously recycles products after consumer use into new products. Jecklin stated, "In the global trend where regulations related to the textile industry are being strengthened due to serious environmental problems caused by the industry, it is meaningful that we decided to expand the circular recycling model, which has mainly focused on glass bottles, paper packs, and aluminum cans, into the textile raw material sector to create new environmental value."

Premium towel 'Ri[Re_]' made from GR-certified recycled yarn

Jecklin’s 100% cotton-based recycled premium towel ‘Re[Re;]Towel,’ made by processing cotton-based recycled yarn, was also selected as the ‘2023 Korea Green Product of the Year’ chosen directly by consumers last year. Founded in 2018, Jecklin focuses on the environmental issue of about 6,600 tons of bedding and clothing waste discarded annually in Jeju Island, which accounts for 99% of such waste being incinerated, and conducts eco-friendly recycling business through upcycling solutions that regenerate these into cotton-based textiles, raw materials, yarns, and fabrics.

Cha Seung-su, CEO of Jecklin, said, “The designation of this GR certification target item is an important milestone confirming that the efforts and innovations we have made to raise awareness of eco-friendly products are moving in the right direction,” and added, “We will work hard to standardize the quality certification criteria for ‘recycled cotton’ products together with the Korea Resource Circulation Industry Certification Institute, the GR certification evaluation agency, to build and expand the textile recycling ecosystem.”