Parkdale Mills Acquires CiCLO to Tackle Microplastic Pollution

The deal integrates CiCLO’s proprietary chemistry—which creates pathways for microorganisms to break down synthetic polymers—into Parkdale’s massive yarn manufacturing infrastructure. While CiCLO is already utilized by major retailers like Target, Walmart, and Stella McCartney, the parent company plans to push the material into industrial sectors beyond apparel. These include nonwovens for hygiene products, filtration systems, and geotextiles, where synthetic fibers are currently essential but environmentally taxing.

Davis Warlick, chief operating officer at Parkdale, emphasized that the company intends to scale the technology to combat microplastic fiber persistence at a broader industrial level. Cheryl Smyre, vice president of Parkdale Advanced Materials, noted that the focus will shift toward expanding partnerships across the supply chain, treating microplastic pollution as a challenge that transcends traditional fashion and into essential industrial applications.