Parkdale, Incorporated has acquired full ownership of CiCLO® technology through its subsidiary Parkdale Advanced Materials, the Gastonia, North Carolina-based manufacturer announced October 1, 2026. The deal adds a patented biodegradable polyester and nylon ingredient to Parkdale's polymer and fiber portfolio and sets up expansion beyond apparel into industrial nonwovens, geotextiles, filtration and insulation.

CiCLO is already commercial in apparel, home and hospitality textiles through a global network of certified fiber, yarn and fabric manufacturers. Products using the technology reach retail through Target, Walmart, Costco, Hanes, McDonald's, IHG Hotels, Billabong, Black Diamond and Stella McCartney.

What does the technology actually do?

The additive is integrated into polyester and nylon during fiber manufacturing, creating pathways inside the fiber that allow naturally occurring microorganisms to mineralize the polymer in biologically active environments. Parkdale positions this as an answer to microplastic fiber pollution: synthetic textiles shed fibers during manufacturing, use, laundering and end-of-life, and conventional polyester and nylon can persist in the environment for centuries.

For sourcing teams, the compliance-relevant detail is the testing record. CiCLO has been tested using ASTM and ISO standardized methods across seawater, soil, wastewater sludge and biologically active landfill conditions. The company says the technology maintains manufacturing efficiency, dyeability, durability and recyclability — claims brands will need to verify against their own specs.

CiCLO polymers work across virgin, recycled, bio-based and textile-to-textile feedstocks, as well as natural-fiber blends and other compatible textile technologies.

Who pays for the scale-up?

Parkdale does. Founded in 1916 and operating Parkdale Mills, Parkdale Advanced Materials and U.S. Cotton, the company brings its own yarn manufacturing infrastructure, R&D capabilities and manufacturing footprint across the Western Hemisphere — a vertically integrated platform that can carry the technology from concept to commercial scale.

"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, chief operating officer of Parkdale. "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."

Where does adoption go next?

The near-term targets are synthetic-fiber markets outside traditional textiles:

• Nonwovens for industrial and hygiene products
• Geotextiles
• Filtration
• Insulation
• Furnishings

"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."

Parkdale disclosed no purchase price or revenue figures for the transaction, so the commercial scale of the deal remains unquantified.

The technology carries industry recognition including the Behind the Seams Award for Outstanding Supplier Partnership and the World Sustainability Awards. With microplastic regulation tightening across major markets, Parkdale's bet is that fiber-level biodegradability becomes a purchasing criterion rather than a marketing badge.