Parkdale Advanced Materials Expands Sustainable Fiber Solutions with CiCLO Technology Acquisition
Parkdale Advanced Materials has acquired CiCLO Technology, a biodegradable textile ingredient designed to reduce the persistence of synthetic microplastic fibers in the environment. The acquisition strengthens Parkdale’s focus on developing and commercializing innovative textile technologies that support responsible manufacturing and address environmental challenges.
CiCLO technology has already established a presence across apparel, home and hospitality textiles. Following the acquisition, Parkdale Advanced Materials plans to expand the technology into adjacent markets, including nonwovens for industrial and hygiene applications, geotextiles, filtration, insulation, furnishings and other products that depend on synthetic fibers.
With more than 100 years of textile manufacturing experience and an extensive operational footprint across the Western Hemisphere, Parkdale brings significant manufacturing scale and technical expertise to the technology. Its yarn manufacturing infrastructure, research and development capabilities, and industry knowledge are expected to support the advancement of CiCLO from technology development through commercial-scale production.
“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.”
Addressing Microplastic Fiber Pollution
Microplastic fiber pollution has become an increasing environmental concern for the textile industry. Synthetic textiles can release microplastic fibers during manufacturing, consumer use and laundering, as well as at the end of their useful life when products are not collected or recovered. Conventional polyester and nylon fibers are engineered for durability and can remain in the environment for extended periods.
CiCLO technology is designed to address the issue at the fiber level. The patented technology is incorporated into polyester and nylon during fiber manufacturing, creating pathways within the polymer that allow naturally occurring microorganisms to break down and mineralize the material in biologically active environments.
The technology has undergone testing using internationally recognized ASTM and ISO standardized methods in environments including seawater, soil, wastewater sludge and biologically active landfill conditions. According to the company, the technology is designed to retain important fiber characteristics such as manufacturing efficiency, dyeability, durability and recyclability.
Expanding Applications Beyond Textiles
CiCLO polymers can be incorporated into a broad range of synthetic fiber applications, including virgin, recycled, bio-based and textile-to-textile feedstocks. The technology can also be used in natural-fiber blends and other compatible textile technologies, providing manufacturers with opportunities to integrate the solution into existing material systems.
“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.”
Smyre added that microplastic pollution is not limited to a particular source of synthetic fiber, making broader adoption of solutions such as CiCLO important across industries. Parkdale Advanced Materials aims to extend the technology beyond traditional textile applications and accelerate the development of new solutions for industries that depend on synthetic materials.
The acquisition positions Parkdale Advanced Materials to combine CiCLO’s polymer technology with its manufacturing infrastructure, technical capabilities and R&D expertise, with the goal of expanding the commercial use of biodegradable synthetic fibers across a wider range of markets.