| November 18, 2009 |
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Teijin Launches First Closed-Loop Polyester-Recycling Program for Marine Clothing Industry
-- Collaboration with Henri Lloyd -- | |
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| Teijin Fibers Limited | |
Teijin Fibers Limited announced today the first-ever program in the marine clothing industry for collecting and recycling used garments, launched in collaboration with Henri Lloyd, a major global brand of marine apparel based in the United Kingdom. Recycling will be carried out with ECO CIRCLE, an environmentally friendly closed-loop system incorporating the world's first technology for the chemical recycling of polyester, which Teijin Fibers introduced in 2002.
Teijin Fibers' ECO STORM, a recyclable, waterproof and breathable material made from recycled fibers laminated with a highly durable thin polyester film, will be incorporated in sailing wear featured in Henri Lloyd's 2010 Blue Eco Range. The inaugural lineup will include the Blue Eco Jacket and Hi Fit trousers, both of which are windproof, waterproof and highly breathable. The Blue Eco products will be available in Henri Lloyd's own stores and its wholesale account network in the UK as well as the USA, Australia, across Europe and Japan.
Under the program, Henri Lloyds Blue Eco partners will accept these garments from their customers after they are worn out, from where they will be sent to Teijin Fibers' Matsuyama plant in Japan. After chemical decomposition, they will be converted into polyester raw material offering purity comparable to that derived from petroleum. The raw material will then be turned into high-quality ECO CIRCLE FIBERS, which will be used to manufacture new recyclable products.
Repeated recycling achieved with the ECO CIRCLE system significantly reduces both energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions compared to conventional petroleum-based processes that are used to produce polyester.
ECO STORM is the world's first recyclable, high-performance waterproof and breathable material made of recycled fibers. As it is made of polyester, ECO STORM can be recycled with ECO CIRCLE. With excellent hydrostatic resistance and moisture permeability, ECO STORM is ideal for sailing apparel, outdoor gear and uniforms.
Blue Eco is the start of Henri Lloyd's commitment to develop more environmentally friendly apparel and further developments are expected.
"We are very pleased that Henri Lloyd, a leader in technical marine clothing, has joined our ECO CIRCLE program to help advance environmental protection," said Norio Kamei, President and CEO of Teijin Fibers Limited. "ECO CIRCLE is an innovative system that employs unprecedented chemical recycling technology to enable repeatable recycling of used products with no qualitative deterioration. We are delighted with the launch of Blue Eco Range and look forward to working closely with Henri Lloyd to contribute to recycling-oriented sustainability."
Talking about effects of these products Paul Strzelecki, Joint Chief Executive of Henri Lloyd said: "This is a positive first step on a long journey to become a more environmentally friendly company. It is also a very exciting time, particularly with our exclusive marine wear association with Teijin who are pioneers in this field. We not only aim to significantly reduce CO2 emissions into the environment but also want to provide our customers with an opportunity to actively participate in the mission to help preserve our oceans. We look forward to further developments in this area, and hope the 'infinite loop' recycling system will set the course for the future of marine clothing manufacturing."
Going forward, Teijin Fibers will continue to expand the presence of its products and technologies around the world, including the ECO CIRCLE recycling program, which now has more than 120 participating companies.
The Henri Lloyd Blue Eco Jacket received 'Most ECO-Friendly Product Certificate' at the 2009 DAME Award, which was announced on November 17 at the METS (Marine Equipment Trade Show) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
 
About ECO CIRCLE
Developed by Teijin Fibers, ECO CIRCLE is a closed-loop recycling system for used polyester products. The system employs the world's first technology for chemical recycling, which chemically decomposes polyester for conversion into new polyester raw materials that offer purity comparable to those derived from petroleum. Teijin Fibers cooperates with over 120 registered apparel and sportswear manufacturers worldwide for the development and manufacture of products made from recyclable materials, as well as to collect and recycle these products at the end of their useful lives. Overseas members include major manufacturers such as Patagonia Inc. in the U.S. and Quiksilver Europe in France.
About the Teijin Group
Based in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan, Teijin is a global technology-driven group operating in five main fields: synthetic fibers (polyester fibers, carbon fibers and aramid fibers); films and plastics; pharmaceuticals and home health care; trading and retail; and IT and new products. Teijin Limited, the holding company for the Teijin Group, is listed on the Tokyo and Osaka stock exchanges. The group had consolidated sales of USD 9.4 billion (JPY 943.4 billion, USD 1=JPY 100) in fiscal 2008 and employs 19,453 people worldwide, with 169 companies around the world.
About Teijin Fibers Limited
Based in Osaka, Japan, Teijin Fibers Limited is the core company of the Teijin Group's polyester fibers business, conducting R&D, manufacturing and marketing of materials and textiles made from polymer and polyester fibers. For more information, please visit www.teijinfiber.com/english
About Henri Lloyd
British specialist clothing brand Henri Lloyd, was founded in Manchester, England in 1963 by Mr. Henri Strzelecki. The family run company is widely regarded as one of the market leaders in technical sailing and lifestyle apparel having pioneered the development of fabrics, garment design and products for over 45 years. Henri Lloyd's association with the world's sailing elite including the early pioneers of solo circumnavigation and exploration including Sir Francis Chichester and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, and more recently triple Olympic Gold Medallist Ben Ainslie, has allowed Henri Lloyd to stay at the forefront of intelligent innovation. Henri Lloyd has a strong international presence and distributes to 41 countries. For more information, please visit www.henrilloyd.com
For further information, please contact:
Public Relations & Investor Relations Office
Teijin Limited
Tel: +81-3-3506-4055 / Fax: +81-3-3506-4150
E-mail: pr@teijin.co.jp
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