Shree Renga Polymers’ RPSF, Traceable Clothing Brand Create An Eco Footprint In The Indian Market

New Products and Innovation

Shree Renga Polymers’ RPSF, Traceable Clothing Brand Create An Eco Footprint In The Indian Market

From recycled polyester staple fibre (RPSF) to India’s first sustainable and traceable fashion brand - EcoLine Clothing – Shree Renga Polymers has come a long way in a short span of time. Karur-based Shree Renga Polymers is just one of the two manufacturers of RPSF in Southern India. Senthil Sankar, Managing Partner, Shree Renga Polymers, started this business alongwith with his visionary and proactive parents – Ms Vijayalakshmi Sankar, and Mr K. Sankar. “When we started the business, the combined capacity of RPSF was around 1000 tons per day in India. Now it is close to 3000 tons per day in India with more than 42 plants. However there are only two plants in South India. This gives us a good market to cater to in the southern region as spinning capacities are very high. We expect the knitwear and home textile markets to embrace sustainability. In that case we stand to gain a huge advantage today,” believes Senthil Sankar, Managing Partner, Shree Renga Polymers. But this is not just a run-of-the-mill RPSF. Senthil Sankar does not use even a drop of water for dyeing the fiber. “This is our USP – dope dyed technology that makes waterless dyeing possible. This is the greenest way to dye a fiber. We use state-of-the-art German technology from Oerlikon Neumag,” he said. The company offers a very wide range of colored fibers, and can develop any color that a customer may want. Senthil further states, “Besides being recycled, our RPSF has other sustainability credentials too. Our plants use wind power, so that is clean energy. And we have zero wastage at the plant. The excess fiber, if any, is used to make value-added products. And the sludge is used to make bricks. We are very conscious of our carbon footprint, and believe in clean production process.” Shree Renga Polymers’ RPSF finds applications in yarn spinning firstly, and also in nonwovens – automotive and carpets, and in home furnishings. Its applications as reinforcement fiber in construction is also being explored. The company sells close to 7,200 tons of RPSF per annum, in the domestic market. EcoLine Clothing offers true sustainability with traceability The company has already begun to move into vertical integration. “We are doing a lot of innovations in fabric for our sustainable brand EcoLine Clothing,” informed Senthil. EcoLine Clothing is India’s first fashion brand that offers sustainability and traceability, launched by Shree Renga Polymers earlier this year. The EcoLine Clothing brand incorporates functionality and style alongwith sustainability. “Our apparel comes with properties such as anti-microbial, anti-static, moisture management, soft hand feel. We follow a very trendy approach to our fashion styles keeping fashion, comfort, quality above all else. There is no compromise on these factors just because it is a sustainable apparel.” Shree Renga Polymers offers EcoLine Clothing through online channels, and has received very encouraging response from consumers in this short time. Senthil and his parents believe that sustainability can no longer be a compromise, it has to be a way of life and business. “Since there is a firm move towards sustainability, it is about time the value chain starts using sustainable products. Shree Renga Polymers aims to be a vertically integrated player and wants to exploit this opportunity,” concludes Senthil.