Tersus Solutions is at the forefront of the circular fashion economy, partnering with over 30 brands, including Patagonia, The North Face, and Lululemon to clean, repair, and ship secondhand clothing and shoes. Based in Englewood, Colorado, Tersus uses cutting-edge cleaning technology to support branded resale storefronts, helping extend product life cycles.
As the resale market grows rapidly—projected to hit $40 billion in the U.S. by 2029—Tersus is strategically positioned to support this surge, particularly as more companies embrace resale and consumers shift toward sustainability.
The company’s secret weapon is its innovative use of liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) in high-pressure washing machines. This nearly waterless and chemical-free method significantly reduces environmental impact while maintaining garment quality.
The CO2 is recaptured and reused, and the system captures microfibers and toxic substances like PFAS. Developed by Tersus founder Steve Madsen, the technology preserves garment integrity while providing a scalable, eco-conscious solution to industrial garment cleaning needs.
Expanding Services with Repairs, Recycling, and Creative Reuse to Minimize Fashion Waste
Tersus’s services extend beyond cleaning to include repair and recycling. It handles around 25,000 repairs annually, a number expected to rise due to shifting legislation such as California’s extended producer responsibility laws and right-to-repair initiatives.
The company also decontaminates firefighting gear and recycles down from old garments. These multi-faceted operations allow Tersus to divert over 90% of processed items from landfills, positioning it as a central hub in circular fashion and responsible apparel management.
Tersus Powers the Future of Circular Fashion With CO2 Cleaning and Smart Resale Logistics
Much of what Tersus processes comes from customer returns—either barely worn items or pieces returned through take-back programs. After intake, each garment is inspected, graded, barcoded, and tracked using software like Archive or Trove.
Items are sorted for appropriate treatment—cleaning, repair, or creative reuse. Some are restored to like-new condition, while others are repurposed into one-of-a-kind pieces, such as The North Face’s Remade line, which combines parts from multiple returned garments into unique designs.
Harnessing CO2 Technology and Smart Logistics to Power Sustainable Apparel Circularity at Scale
Tersus’s advanced operations are enabled by its liquid CO2 technology, which cleans about 100 pounds of apparel per load without using harmful solvents or heat. The machines run at room temperature and maintain textile quality while reusing 96% of CO2.
Alongside cleaning, the company employs a photography lab to document unique or damaged items for resale listings. Future improvements, such as digital product passports, may streamline tracking, but current systems already manage thousands of garments monthly.
From a former kitty litter factory, Tersus now operates a 100,000-square-foot distribution center where it ships tens of thousands of items each month. Final touches like branded “belly bands” and customized packaging ensure a professional resale experience.
The company’s data sharing with brands also informs better product design by identifying common failure points. Tersus stands as a model of how technology, sustainability, and logistics can converge to transform how apparel is reused, repaired, and recirculated in a circular economy.
