Textile waste is a growing problem, but not at Attraction de Lac-Drolet, in the MRC du Granit. The company produces 400,000 sweaters per year and has recently been recycling all of its textile waste.
There are approximately 15 to 18% of this raw material which are fabric scraps.
begins Philippe Gagnon, director of operations of the company.
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Doris Quiriton is a stretcher and cutter at Attraction. He takes care of removing the scraps from his carpet. Textile waste represents between 15% and 18% of losses when cutting a t-shirt.
Photo : - / Philippe Grenier
In his hands, he holds several layers of scraps from the neckline and armhole of a t-shirt, pieces of fabric that are difficult to salvage. We revalue them 100%
boasts Philippe Gagnon.
This figure contrasts with the situation in Quebec. In 2021, Recyc-Québec estimated the textiles disposed of at nearly 300,000 tonnes in the province alone.
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Attraction’s textile waste is used as stuffing for cushions.
Photo : - / Philippe Grenier
Attraction already reused 10% of its textile scraps to make mittens, cushions and even raincoats from the remains of unused contagion gowns from the pandemic, but it was not enough.
To revalue 35 tonnes of fabric, it would have been necessary to make tens, or even hundreds of thousands of cushions, which was not possible in our markets.
explains Philippe Gagnon.
Scraps under floors and in furniture
To reuse as much of the remaining textile waste as possible, the company puts everything in bags which are sent to Sherbrooke. This is where the company Mécanec Transformation Textile (MTT) takes care of the remaining 90% of Attraction waste.
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A Mécanec textile transformation employee puts the scraps from Attraction t-shirts into a machine where they will be defibrated and then used to transform other products.
Photo : - / Philippe Grenier
To do this, the owner and president of the company, Sylvain Couture, refurbished machines used to defiber the material. An engineer by training, the latter wanted to take on the challenge of recycling textiles. The environmental problem is there and it needs to be solved
he says.
Between 2011 and 2019, there was a 78% increase in materials sent for disposal, which is huge.
The t-shirt scraps defibrated by Mécanec are then sent to Feutre National in Mauricie, which then integrates the material into the manufacture of felt for furniture and mattress padding as well as for floor covering membranes.
The colors of the scraps are also clearly visible on the gray background of the felt.
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Sylvain Couture from Mécanec textile transformation holds the felt, notably made up of scraps from Attraction t-shirts.
Photo : - / Philippe Grenier
Several possible outlets
The president of MTT is looking for other outlets for his fiber; he gives the example of bulk padding, whether for furniture, soft toys or cushions, but also as insulating products in the construction industry.
These would be 100% recovered products, much better than mineral wool with the same insulation properties
he says. On the other hand, we are a little discouraged because it takes several years to obtain the standards, so if we could have a much faster process, we could sell a large volume today.
Until then, their circular textile economy model continues to serve the population and the environment. It’s a huge change in what we send to landfill
says Philippe Gagnon of Attraction.
This allowed us to have an eight cubic yard waste container per week which was reduced to a one cubic yard container
launches the latter who sees in the near future, only a residential black trash bin in front of the company.
