On a circular economy journey with Suur-Seudun Osuuskauppa (SSO)
In the summer of 2023, we began working with Suur-Seudun Osuuskauppa (SSO) to brainstorm solutions for utilizing old workwear as a resource. The goal was to develop products from Prisma work shirts through fiber opening. At its Paimio production facility, Rester Oy had processed workwear that had been removed from circulation after washing into fiber.
How the fiber was turned into a felt bag
The fiber was carded and mixed with 30% "meltable" fiber; then, using heat and pressure on Vilikkala’s textile lamination line, the batting was turned into felt. At the same time, a thin lining fabric was attached to the felt. Kolmituote Oy sewed the felt into beautiful bags for Christmas gifts.
A local solution for resource utilization
The bag product is a perfect example of the cooperation between companies that circular economy requires. Utilizing textile waste as a resource is a massive opportunity to reduce environmental impact in accordance with circular economy principles. The carbon footprint of recycled polyester alone is more than 70% lower than that of virgin polyester. Over 70 million kilograms of textile waste are generated in Finland every year. This fiber blend also contained cotton, and its environmental impacts are even more diverse.
Above all, together with SSO, we have addressed the problem of textile waste and found a great solution where the entire collaborative network for resource utilization operated in Southwest Finland in cooperation with local companies.
We believe that this project is just the beginning for utilizing textile waste as a resource in Finland. The story of the bag is a great example of a shared ambition and what can be achieved. At Vilikkala, we continue our research in collaboration with Rester on how we can best utilize textile waste, especially mixed fibers, in the manufacture and productization of felt. Gradually, we will find even more sustainable and wonderful forms for various products.
Suur-Seudun Osuuskauppa (SSO)
SSO is a local cooperative that operates in Western Uusimaa and the Salo region across 8 municipalities. We have over 70,000 customer-owners, whom we serve at over 80 locations in grocery and department store retail, traffic stores, travel and hospitality, and car sales.
Rester Oy
Rester is a Nordic company that provides textile recycling solutions and enables the recovery of textiles into new textile fibers and high-quality raw materials. Rester is also a leading pioneer in building value chains for textile utilization. We act as a bridge between different sectors in developing the textile circular economy. Our customers are companies that use textiles and produce post-consumer textiles, as well as companies that can use Rester recycled fiber in their production or products.
Vilikkala Tradehouse Oy
The world is full of beautiful bags and storage baskets. Ours were created to ease your everyday storage needs aesthetically. Our goal is to use local recycled materials and find the best circular path for each product with inventive materials and our pioneering partnerships.
We offer textile services for companies that need customized textile processing from our stock materials, or from their own fabrics or leathers. On our textile line, we process bicomponent felt using heat and pressure, and cut roll products according to customer needs.
Vilikkala was founded in 2014 in Salo, in a village named Vilikkala. The company is part of Rester Oy's network that utilizes post-consumer textiles. The company is owned by Jari Toivonen and Hannu Tuomola.
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