REI and Ambercycle team up to scale regenerated polyester for outdoor gear
REI, the nation’s largest consumer co-op, has entered a three-year offtake agreement with Ambercycle, a company known for its work in molecular regeneration. The partnership will bring cycora® — Ambercycle’s regenerated polyester — into REI’s product lines, helping reduce waste and the environmental impact of outdoor gear production.
The fashion and textile industry generates around 92 million tons of waste every year, with most of it ending up in landfills or being burned. Polyester, the most common fiber used in technical and outdoor clothing, makes up about 57% of all global fiber production. Most of it still relies on fossil fuels.
As one of the biggest outdoor retailers in the United States, REI is in a strong position to help expand the market for regenerated polyester. Many of its well-known products — like the Magma Sleeping Bag, XeroCloud Rain Jacket, and Road Tripper Duffel Bag — depend on polyester for performance. The co-op has also been working with over a thousand brand partners through its Product Impact Standards to promote more responsible and inclusive production practices.
Since 2020, REI has increased the amount of recycled polyester in its Co-op brand products by five times. By 2024, over half of the polyester used in its own-brand items came from recycled sources. The new partnership with Ambercycle builds on this progress by turning old textiles into new fabric feedstocks, closing the loop between waste and production.
Ajay Chadha, Director of Materials Innovation at REI Co-op Brands, said the move is part of REI’s broader effort to cut emissions and reduce dependence on virgin polyester. “We see next-generation materials as key to building a low-carbon future for outdoor gear,” he said. “By investing in textile-to-textile recycling, we’re cutting emissions at the source while continuing to deliver quality gear for our members.”
The agreement outlines a phased plan for adopting cycora® in REI’s products — starting with key performance categories, then expanding as Ambercycle’s production capacity grows. Meanwhile, Ambercycle is scaling up its molecular regeneration facilities to recover end-of-life textiles and feed them back into the fabric supply chain.
“REI’s reach goes far beyond its own brand,” said Shay Sethi, CEO and co-founder of Ambercycle. “With its large member base and network of outdoor brands, REI is in a unique position to help move the entire industry toward low-carbon materials. By using cycora®, they’re proving that performance and circularity can go hand in hand.”
REI says that taking action on climate isn’t just about reducing harm — it’s about finding new ways to design durable, high-performing products that tread lighter on the planet. The collaboration with Ambercycle reflects that mindset, combining practical sustainability with the needs of people who spend their time outdoors.
