Stitching just got a little more sustainable.

Swedish textile company Coloreel has partnered with embroidery thread manufacturer Madeira to develop a 100% recycled polyester thread to be used with Coloreel’s instant thread-coloring technology. The company says it will allow embroiderers to create more sustainable designs, while still being able to offer thousands of colors that are CMYK-, RGB/HEX- and PMS-compatible.

Coloreel worked with thread manufacturer Madeira to introduce a 100% recycled polyester embroidery thread.

“The shift to recycled polyester thread is a great step in Coloreel’s mission to increase sustainability,” said Torbjörn Bäck, CEO of Coloreel Group, in a press release. “This provides our customers with a more sustainable embroidery alternative and solves the problem with lack of availability of recycled polyester thread in a large variety of colors.”

Developed in collaboration with Madeira, the polyester thread is created from 100% post-consumer PET bottles. The colored recycled thread has passed through all industry-standard quality testing and provides the same fastness properties as virgin polyester thread and is certified standard 100 by OEKO-TEX, according to Coloreel. The recycled thread will be sold in sets of 6 x 10 kilometer thread reels.

Coloreel noted that the thread cones will be made from recycled plastics and be packaged and shipped in recycled carton boxes to help further minimize impact.

Coloreel’s thread-coloring technology is available in the U.S. via decorating equipment supplier Hirsch Solutions. Coloreel works with any existing industrial embroidery machine, instantly coloring a white base thread during production. “The unique solution makes previously complicated designs accessible, including gradients, textures and other stunning effects,” according to the company. “Using only a single thread and needle means that it also significantly improves quality and efficiency, enabling immediate startup and faster delivery.”

By coloring thread directly on its machine, the technology eliminates wastewater created in the dyeing process. Also, using a single reel of thread and needle minimizes thread waste and microfiber pollution, according to Coloreel.