CO2AT is the first garment that absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen. Its hood is treated with microbial pigmentation using photosynthetic microorganisms that absorb CO2 and release oxygen, neutralising the impact of its production, improving the user’s immediate environment and producing approximately the same amount of O2 as an oak tree. With proper maintenance, CO2AT is capable of producing oxygen for four years, after which it can be sent back to the lab where the algae organisms are reactivated.

The Fashion Industry is one of the world's greatest polluters. It is estimated that it is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions.

We were charged with creating a piece of Direct Marketing that reflected the brand’s positioning “Future Before Fashion” and its commitment to helping the fashion industry create products with low or no impact on the environment. The target was the retailer’s global network, specifically the decision-makers within the biggest fashion brands.

The objective was to communicate to fashion retailers that we have the technology and the means to act now. To show them that sustainability can and should be mainstream and that a futuristic piece of clothing like CO2AT can exist in the present. Budget: 70K €.

CO2AT is the first garment that absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen, besides having other unique features: anti-bacterial, anti-odor, anti-viral, water-resistant and repellent. 200 units were produced and sent to major fashion brands, in a simulation of what a garment from their Fall/Winter 2043 collection could look like. The aim was to show fashion retailers that a future with truly green solutions is already possible. CO2AT was created in partnership with the London-based multidisciplinary research laboratory Post Carbon Lab. CO2AT behaves like a plant. Its hood is treated with microbial pigmentation using photosynthetic microorganisms that absorb CO2 and release oxygen, neutralising the impact of its production, improving the user’s immediate environment, and producing approximately the same amount of O2 as an oak tree. With proper maintenance, CO2AT is capable of producing oxygen for four years, after which it can be sent back to the algae organisms are reactivated.

October 2021 - Design Phase

December 2021 - First non-living prototype

January 2022 - First culture of living organisms is transferred into fabric.

February 2022 - First living prototype

March through May 2022 - Coated fabric starts being applied to CO2ATs hoodies.

June 2022 - First CO2ATs are sent to key people (Heads of sustainability and Buyers) at major fashion retailer.

From thread to garment, CO2AT was created in partnership with the London-based multidisciplinary research laboratory Post Carbon Lab. CO2AT's hoodie is treated with microbial pigmentation, so it actually behaves like a plant by using photosynthetic microorganisms – a process by which plants take in carbon dioxide and turn it into glucose and oxygen. Therefore, during its life cycle, the living cells coating absorbs CO2 and releases oxygen, improving the immediate environment of the wearer. CO2AT also neutralizes the impact of its production.

200 units were produced and sent to key people at major fashion retailers located around the world, over a period of 7 months (06/21 to 01/22). The aim was to show them that a future with truly green solutions is already possible. By impacting them with this idea, we could potentially be impacting millions.

The main point of creating CO2AT was never sales of the CO2AT itself, but to get brands to consider its technology for their own future collections. We're happy to say that we're starting to achieve just that. We recently initiated an official partnership with Lacoste and we're in active partnership talks with ASOS, GAP, American Eagle and Karl Lagerfeld.

Although sales of the CO2AT itself not being the main objective, this idea acted as an icebreaker with several other brands, resulting in over 2 million dollars in business.

CO2AT was also featured at COP26 (UN Climate Change Conference) and was news in CNN, Forbes, Vogue and The Indian Times, Sourcing Journal (leading publication in B2B trade media), to name a few.