From Waste to Wear: URC Vietnam’s Sustainable Fashion Revolution with Coffee Grounds and Plastic Bottles

URC Vietnam, staying true to its promise of "Live Sustainability. Live URC," is spearheading a transformative journey towards a greener, low-carbon future. Through a strategic partnership with Faslink, a leader in sustainable textiles, the team has launched a revolutionary upcycling initiative that proves fashion can drive positive environmental change. With over 16 years of expertise, Faslink has been at the forefront of creating eco-friendly fabrics using cutting-edge technology. These materials, developed under the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) standards, prioritize sustainability while enhancing user comfort, health, and well-being. Faslink’s innovations include coffee fabric and recycled fibers designed to reduce environmental impact without compromising quality. 

URC Vietnam has embraced Faslink’s innovative materials to make a significant impact on our carbon footprint. The collaboration has resulted in uniforms crafted from two key technologies: Recycled Fabrics (Reborn) and Coffee Fabrics (S.Café®). The Recycled Fabrics technology introduces the method of repurposing pre-consumer materials (excess fabric from fashion production) and post-consumer waste (used plastic bottles), allowing Faslink’s Regenerated Polyester material to offer unique functional features. The Coffee Fabrics technology on the other hand, combines recycled plastic bottles and coffee grounds to produce high-performance fabric fibers with exceptional properties such as sweat absorption, odor control, and UV protection.  

 As innovation meets functionality in this revolutionary project, URC Vietnam’s sustainable uniforms provide practical benefits for employees that cover odor control, UV protection, quick drying, and sweat wicking. S.Café® fibers contain nano-sized holes that effectively trap odor molecules, keeping uniforms fresher for longer. This same technology allows the fabric to block harmful UV rays and offers superior sun protection while also allowing fast moisture absorption and release. Tests showed that the fabric is quick drying and ensures that moisture is rapidly drawn away from the skin, thus accelerating evaporation for long-lasting comfort. 

As of August 2024, URC Vietnam has distributed 4,142 uniforms to the Sales Group and 3,938 to the Integrated Supply Chain (ISC) team. Each uniform is made from recycled plastic bottles and coffee grounds, with every shirt equating to 8.03 1.5L plastic bottles, 14.55 600ml plastic bottles, and 17.46 500ml plastic bottles. In total, this initiative has repurposed approximately 162 million 500ml plastic bottles for 8,000 uniforms, substantially reducing our carbon footprint and reinforcing our leadership in corporate sustainability.  

By integrating recycled materials like coffee grounds and plastic bottles into the supply chain, URC Vietnam is championing circular fashion. This initiative not only minimizes waste but also supports the well-being of both our employees and the planet. As the team deepens its partnership with Faslink, URC Vietnam reaffirms its commitment to sustainable innovation. Together, we are setting new benchmarks in corporate responsibility by delivering stylish, functional, and eco-conscious uniforms that align with our vision for a more sustainable future and a greener URC.