Outdoor Retail Giant REI Signs Three-Year Procurement Agreement With Ambercycle

Yesterday, Ambercycle, based in Los Angeles, USA, announced a three-year procurement agreement with outdoor products retailer REI to expand the scale of textile-to-textile recycled polyester. According to information from Ambercycle, the fashion industry generates 92 million tons of textile waste each year, with polyester accounting for 57% of textile fibers. Many of REI's products contain polyester fibers, making this agreement a catalyst for accelerating the development of the T2T recycled polyester market.

"REI's influence has already surpassed its own brand; it can unite thousands of outdoor brands and millions of members under a single vision. This makes REI a unique and powerful partner capable of scaling up carbon reduction materials. By integrating with Cycora, REI sets a new benchmark for the entire outdoor industry, demonstrating that high-performance gear and circular systems can advance together."

REI is not only the largest specialty outdoor retailer in the United States, with over 180 stores in 41 states and approximately 25 million members. Since 2020, REI has increased the proportion of recycled polyester in its Co-op products fivefold, aiming for this proportion to exceed 50% by the end of 2024.

The agreement between both parties plans to introduce Cycora into the REI co-branded products in different stages, starting with the priority high-performance categories, such as the Magma sleeping bag; then adopting it across a broader range of products based on the scale of raw material supply.