Cocona Labs, the creators of temperature-regulating 37.5R Technology, announced that following nearly four years of testing, all 37.5 fibers and yarns would now have an Enhanced Biodegradation (+EB) technology to help synthetic textiles decompose faster in landfills. Unlike traditional synthetic materials, which can take decades to biodegrade, the +EB addition allows 37.5 synthetic fibers and yarns to biodegrade in a fraction of the time while maintaining their resilience and performance.

Textiles have long been recognized as a significant source of landfill waste. Synthetic fibers account for more than half of all worldwide fiber output, and in lab testing, they exhibit virtually no natural deterioration. Every year, an estimated 17 million tonnes of textile waste are dumped in landfills, much of which will remain unchanged for the rest of our lives (and far beyond). To solve this issue, Cocona Labs decided to include the +EB ingredient in all of the company's 37.5 products at no additional cost.

Unlike traditional synthetic fibers, which can take hundreds (if not thousands) of years to biodegrade, 37.5 Technology's +EB ingredient hastens the natural decomposition of synthetic fibers when they are discarded in a landfill. According to laboratory testing, 37.5 +EB fibers will biodegrade 50 to 80 percent in about 80 to 100 years, allowing synthetic textile waste to be reclaimed more quickly.

Jeff Bowman, CEO of Cocona Labs, said that including +EB technology in all 37.5 goods is a critical step toward adopting more sustainable methods to the textile business. They’re excited to make this technology available at no additional cost, given the growing number of synthetic materials sitting in landfills and the challenges associated with it. They are convinced that manufacturers and suppliers can do better.

Cocona Labs realizes that these are difficult concerns to address, but it remains committed to its mission of transforming discarded textiles from a problem to a solution. By July 2022, +EB technology will be used in all 37.5 yarns, fabrics, and fillings.