Parkdale Mills has acquired full ownership of Ciclo, the patented additive that helps polyester and nylon biodegrade in biologically active environments, the Gastonia, N.C.-based manufacturer announced Oct. 1. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The deal consolidates the technology under Parkdale Advanced Materials, ending an ownership structure that dates to September 2018, when Parkdale Advanced Materials and Intrinsic Textiles Group formed the Intrinsic Advanced Materials joint venture to commercialize Ciclo. Parkdale now plans to push the additive beyond apparel into industrial and hygiene nonwovens, geotextiles, filtration, insulation and furnishings — market segments where synthetic fiber volumes are large and microplastic persistence is under growing regulatory scrutiny.

For sourcing teams, the commercial question is scale and cost of adoption. Ciclo is incorporated into polyester and nylon during fiber manufacturing, which means the additive enters the supply chain at the fiber stage rather than as a fabric finish. Parkdale said the technology works with virgin, recycled, biobased and textile-to-textile feedstocks, as well as natural-fiber blends. The company claims it preserves manufacturing efficiency, dyeability, durability and recyclability — properties that typically carry trade-offs when bio-based alternatives replace standard synthetics.

The performance evidence Parkdale points to is laboratory testing under ASTM and ISO methods in seawater, soil, wastewater sludge and biologically active landfill conditions. In one soil test, treated polyester fibers reached 91.1 percent biodegradation after 1,170 days, according to results published on Ciclo's website. Untreated polyester showed no biodegradation over the same period. That study used fertile soil with active microorganisms under controlled conditions; Ciclo notes on its site that breakdown rates vary in natural settings.

Sourcing executives should treat those figures as measured laboratory results under specified conditions, not field outcomes — a distinction that matters as European microplastics legislation and ecodesign requirements push brands toward verified end-of-life claims.

"We are committed to investing in technologies that create value for our customers and address meaningful challenges for our industry and the environment," said Davis Warlick, Parkdale's chief operating officer. "We believe Ciclo fibers have the potential to address microplastic fiber persistence at meaningful scale. Our focus now is to continue investing in the technology, develop new applications with our customers, open new markets and broaden adoption so it can deliver greater impact."

The technology already has commercial traction. Ciclo serves apparel, home and hospitality markets through a global network of certified fiber, yarn and fabric manufacturers, and products using the additive are on shelves at Target, Walmart, Costco, Black Diamond, Stella McCartney and Hanes, Parkdale said. That installed base gives Parkdale a certified supplier network to build on as it moves into industrial applications.

"Our opportunity now is to take Ciclo technology further," said Cheryl Smyre, vice president of Parkdale Advanced Materials. "That means expanding adoption among the brands and supply chain partners already using the technology while advancing next-generation applications for markets where synthetic fibers are essential. Microplastic pollution is agnostic to the source. To drive meaningful, lasting change, we must extend the reach of Ciclo polymers beyond traditional textile applications and accelerate innovation across industries."

The buyout follows recent expansion in home textiles. In a Sept. 10 announcement, Intrinsic Advanced Materials said Advansa was introducing Suprelle fiberfill made with Ciclo fibers for bedding, home and hospitality applications. A separate collaboration with HeiQ Materials pairs Ciclo fibers with functional finishes for cooling, moisture management, freshness and allergen reduction — a signal that Parkdale sees the additive as compatible with, rather than competitive to, existing performance chemistry.

Parkdale, founded in 1916, operates textile, advanced materials and cotton-based health and beauty businesses. Its yarn manufacturing network spans the United States, Mexico, Central America and South America, giving the company production infrastructure across the Western Hemisphere to support the technology's expansion.

Parkdale said it will apply its yarn manufacturing capacity, technical expertise and R&D capabilities to develop new applications and open markets for Ciclo, with the near-term focus on industrial and hygiene nonwovens where synthetic fiber use is concentrated.