Debrand gets CleanBC grant to combat plastic apparel waste

Debrand is a reverse logistics solutions provider headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, serving apparel and retail brands across North America. The company has received over $325,000 in funding from the CleanBC Plastics Action Fund, which is jointly managed by the Government of British Columbia and Alacrity Canada and falls under the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.

Bales of clothing in Debrand's Vancouver warehouse. Image source: CNW Group/Debrand

This grant will be used to support Debrand's new R&D project, which focuses on the diversion of currently identified non-reusable plastic-based garments and textiles — not only preventing them from entering landfills but also integrating them into the region's growing ecosystem of circular material solutions.

Amelia Eleiter, Co-founder and CEO of Debrand, stated: "Plastic-derived textiles account for a significant portion of today’s fashion system, making up about 60% of the global apparel volume. The industry has a responsibility to reduce its impact by extending the lifespan of extracted materials. This funding enables us to gain deeper insights into the plastic waste streams within the apparel sector of British Columbia and to apply advanced sorting technologies to explore more possibilities, thereby designing smarter circular systems that allow these materials to retain value rather than go to waste."

Debrand stated in an official announcement that the project will utilize its automated sorting equipment and proprietary software to analyze plastic-based clothing and textiles currently in circulation. They said: "By accurately sorting these garments and identifying their material composition, the project aims to better define the operational and economic conditions required to plan appropriate reuse and recycling pathways for these items."

They believe the goal is to address a "significant gap" in the North American fashion industry: the lack of scalable infrastructure to handle discarded textiles. "Despite increasing consumer and regulatory pressure, most clothing today is still designed for single use. At the current pace, a truckload of textiles is discarded every second globally—this statistic highlights the urgent need for systemic solutions."

An official from Alacrity Canada added, "Textiles are one of the major sources of waste, and plastic-based materials like polyester are more difficult to recycle than ordinary plastics. Coupled with the rising trend of 'fast fashion,' we are facing a challenging problem. Fortunately, Debrand is addressing this issue head-on. They have implemented sustainable recycling practices and innovative initiatives to divert textiles from landfills, which is changing the way we think."