Polartec and Must Had will work together throughout 2024 with the aim of extending the life of Polartec's excess inventory.

Must Had provides software that allows companies to repurpose, reuse and recycle their end-of-life textile products to reduce new production and prevent waste.

The partnership was announced in January 2023 at Winter Business Days, an annual event dedicated to ski and alpine sports, held in Ponte di Legno, Italy.

One of the first projects from the two companies sees upcycling designer Ilaria Ferrari create blankets, scarves and hair bands using discarded Polartec fabrics.

At the Winter Business Days event, Ferrari donated her customised winter accessories to retailers at the event’s Indoor Expo Village. The event also included an upcycling workshop where Ferrari customised accessories by hand.

In a statement posted on LinkedIn, Polartec said of the project with Must Had: "Our collective aim is to launch circular solutions that significantly reduce the industry's environmental footprint. The goal is to extend the lifespan of excess inventory and upcycle materials to enhance sustainability."

Polartec's products are used by performance, lifestyle and workwear apparel brands from around the world, including by the US and other militaries.

Polartec claims to have previously created the first knit fabrics made using recycled plastics in 1993. Last year, the company launched its Shed Less technology, which aims to reduce fibre fragmentation.

In 2022, Polartec launched a new bio-based Power Shield fabric technology setting what it claimed to be a new standard for sustainable weather protection.

Polartec's parent company Milliken & Company has previously committed to a net zero future, including for its Polartec brand.