Built on accountability
Corporate responsibility is about more than producing an environmentally conscious product. It’s also about bringing it to market in a responsible way — from design intent to application to marketing — and how we use our resources to do more good in this world.
Invented from a crisis of conscience
We initially invented CiCLO® technology to meet our own needs, and soon realized we could make the greatest impact by sharing it with the world.
As textiles industry veterans, we found ourselves in an unfortunate predicament. The majority of the products we produced were made with synthetics like polyester because of their durability and performance characteristics — products that were made to last.
We utilized polyester made from recycled bottles, but had to ask ourselves: What about the plastic pollution we’re contributing to? We knew we had to find a way to create products made to last but with an end-of-life solution built-in.
We searched extensively for a viable solution in the market. When we didn’t find one, we made one. We brought together a team of researchers and scientists to develop and test technology to enable synthetics to biodegrade in the environment at rates comparable to natural fibers like wool, without compromising durability during the useful life of a material.
And that’s how CiCLO® additive technology was born.
Responsible business model
Biodegradation of plastics, like synthetic microfibers, is beneficial when there is unavoidable leakage into the environment, the recovery of the material is not practically feasible, and/or a collection and recycling infrastructure does not yet exist.
We tightly control the sales and distribution of CiCLO® technology, offering our product only to CiCLO® Certified Manufacturers so that it is used by trusted partners for truly sustainable applications. This model also allows us to maintain quality control and traceability. We do not target applications for unnecessary single-use plastics, like straws.
Responsible marketing
When marketing CiCLO® technologies, our goal isn’t to dazzle. It’s to define. Here are the ways you can trust that our branding and claims live up to our mission:
- Compliant brand benefits verbiage: To prevent littering and the misconception that “biodegradable” means “disposable,” the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the State of California restrict what can legally be stated about biodegradable plastics. We are required by law to avoid labeling our products as biodegradable, so we instead focus on what really matters — the benefit of reducing plastic pollution.
- No bogus claims: CiCLO® has been proven to allow polyester and nylon to biodegrade at greatly accelerated rates in soil, wastewater plants, landfill and sea water, but our marketing is realistic and makes no false promises. Because of the highly variable temperatures, diversity and density of microbes, and other factors in natural conditions, specific timeframes for biodegradation — of anything that biodegrades, whether with or without CiCLO® — cannot be guaranteed. Therefore, CiCLO® products will never be marketed with unrealistic claims.
Responsibility to give back
We support non-profits that are committed to plastic pollution research and education.
The mission of The 5 Gyres Institute is to empower action against the global health crisis of plastic pollution through science, education, and advocacy.
MIPPR provides policymakers with the necessary tools to create viable solutions to unintended deleterious consequences from the development of the plastic era. They believe that each industry leader can play a role in finding new production techniques that, after use, render the products biodegradable and friendly to the environment: from manufacturers at the beginning, to the packaging level, to the consumer, and finally, to the disposal of non-biodegradable items.
Algalita connects students with scientists, experts, politicians and businesses to have real conversations about plastic consumption and pollution, helping to develop future leaders who are excited to solves the big picture.