"Seeing bedding that could still be used being discarded made me wonder, 'Why can't textiles be recycled like plastic?' That was the moment I decided to take on textile recycling."

Jaclyn, operated by CEO Cha Seung-soo (53), is a company that collects textile waste such as bedding, towels, and work uniforms discarded by hotels, resorts, and other accommodations or businesses, transforming them into recycled fibers, fabrics, and products. Jaclyn collaborated with the textile company Ilshin Spinning to create the first closed-loop textile recycling model in Korea. On the 8th, CEO Cha was interviewed about Jaclyn's strategy for contributing to the environment through textile recycling.

● From Collection to Recycling: Waste Textiles into Towels and Bedding

CEO Cha worked in the information technology (IT) industry from 1999 to 2016 before deciding to venture into the bedding laundry and management service business. He moved to Jeju City, a major tourist destination with many accommodations such as pensions and hotels, and established Jaclyn in 2017. The name Jaclyn is a combination of 'Jeju' and 'clean', meaning 'to provide textile recycling services embodying the cleanliness of Jeju'.

Initially, Jaclyn started as a business-to-business (B2B) laundry service targeting small and medium-sized accommodations like pensions and pool villas. From 2017 to the present, Jaclyn has accumulated 74 accommodation clients, with 281 having used its services. During the laundry service process, CEO Cha discovered that bedding, towels, and work uniforms were being discarded while still usable. He decided to use this textile waste to create yarn and fabric. This led to the birth of the recycled raw material, yarn, and fabric brand 'RE;FeaT' in 2022.

First, textile waste such as discarded bedding, towels, and work uniforms was collected from partner accommodations. The collected waste was put into shredders to be torn into cotton, which was then used to produce white recycled yarn and fabric. The advantage of white yarn is its versatility in applying patterns or colors. From 2022 to the present, approximately 18.6 tons of textile waste have been reborn as RE;FeaT fabric. CEO Cha explained, "In the past, only about 60% of textile waste could be converted into raw materials, but now we can recycle 100% of the waste, excluding accessories like buttons or zippers."

Last year, the recycled fiber product brand '2bd' was established using RE;FeaT fabric. The brand name '2bd' signifies 'the second birthday of discarded products'. Products made with RE;FeaT fabric, such as 2bd towels, T-shirts, and bedding, are supplied to companies.

Jaclyn has established a closed-loop model for textile waste, including △collection of textile waste △conversion to raw materials △production of recycled yarn, fabric, and products △recollection and reshredding. The textile waste collected from Jeju accommodations, which are Jaclyn's clients, serves as a stable source of raw materials.

● "Dreaming of a World Where Recycled Fibers Become Everyday"

Jaclyn has formed ESG (environmental, social, governance) partnerships with companies such as Maison Glad Jeju, Lotte Hotel & Resort, and Jeju Shinhwa World. Through these ESG partnerships, textile waste is collected, and recycled fiber products are produced and supplied. Since 2022, a total of 6.7 tons of recycled yarn has been produced from recycled textile waste.

CEO Cha stated that SE Consultant's assistance was crucial to Jaclyn's success. He explained, "In the early stages of the business, we lacked understanding of the waste and recycling market as a whole, but with systematic support from SE Consultants, we were able to clearly assess the market structure." SE Consultant is a program that matches mentors from former SK Group executives with social venture CEOs to provide management advice for solving current issues and business growth.

He said, "Thanks to the expert advice and consulting linked by SE Consultants, we were able to create results by establishing and expanding a circular economy-based business model." Inquiries related to personnel, finance, and other fields, which are very important in corporate management but difficult to discuss easily with employees, were resolved by consulting SE Consultants.

CEO Cha expressed his vision of a world where many textile recycling companies exist and people widely use recycled fibers. He said, "We are gathering related startups to legislate on clothing waste and textile recycling," and "We will strive to create an era where people routinely purchase and wear clothing made from recycled fibers, regardless of whether they are new or old, in 10 years."

Happy Narae's Head of Division, Cho Min-young, stated, "As more social ventures like Jaclyn emerge, our society can take a step forward," and "We will continue to support social ventures in creating sustainable change through the SE Consultant program."

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