Polyester producer Teijin Fibers, announced today that its Eco Circle closed-loop recycling system for polyester received an ICIS Innovation Award 2010 in the ‘Innovation with Best Environmental Benefit’ category.

The award recognizes Eco Circle as an innovative chemical-based recycling technology and Teijin’s efforts to protect the environment through polyester recycling. Eco Circle is said to help conserve oil resources and reduce waste by repeatedly recycling polyester material. It is also said to lead to significantly reduced energy consumption and CO2 emissions, as compared to conventional processes in which polyester is produced from petroleum and eventually disposed through incineration.

Eco Circle was developed by Teijin Fibers in 1999 and then enhanced in 2002. Teijin’s proprietary technology enables polyester to be chemically decomposed at the molecular level and then converted into new polyester raw material. Teijin says the purity and quality of the recycled material are both comparable to polyester derived directly from petroleum.

The Eco Circle system includes developing and manufacturing recyclable polyester products, and then collecting the products at the end of their useful lives to recycle them once again. The system now encompasses a global network of more than 130 companies, including apparel, sportswear and uniform manufacturers, all of whom share a common commitment to environmental responsibility through recycling.

“It is an honour and a pleasure to receive this ICIS Innovation Award from the global chemical industry in recognition of our innovative chemical recycling technology and efforts to advance environmental protection,” said Norio Kamei, president of Teijin Fibers.

“Together with our Eco Circle partners, we will continue to pursue our common goal of promoting sustainability through recycling. Going forward, Teijin Fibers also will continue to enhance Eco Circle, aiming to create innovative recycling models for the entire polyester chain in the longer term.”

The ICIS Innovation Awards, now in their seventh year, are organized by ICIS, the chemical publishing arm of Reed Business Information in the United Kingdom. The awards recognize companies that make significant contributions to the fields of technology and business.

Each year, entries are judged by a panel of experts looking for innovative projects that solve problems or provide useful solutions for companies, their customers and society, as well as the environment.

www.icis.com/awards