Blog - Erie Cotton

Brian Rubin of Erie

Friday Sep 5th, 2025

Join Zach and Jacob as they sit down with Brian Rubin, third-generation president of Erie Cotton, a pioneering textile recycling company with roots dating back to 1946.

In this episode, Brian shares the fascinating history of his family’s business — from its origins in scrap metal and wiping cloths, through decades of industry shifts, to its innovative role in sustainability today.

Listen as Brian discusses how Erie Cotton transforms used textiles into valuable wiping cloths for industries across the country, navigates the complexities of global supply chains, and embraces partnerships with refugees and immigrants in Erie. Discover the challenges and triumphs of succession in a family business, the importance of relationships and reliability, and what it means to be “green before green was cool.”

Tune in for a candid, conversational look at the intersection of tradition, innovation, and social impact in the textile recycling industry.

This podcast is sponsored by Zac Wild CFP, CEPA financial advisor with Edward Jones. Zac works for business owners who are interested in maximizing their investments in tandem with efficient tax strategies. this includes fully leveraging the benefits of 401k's, SIMPLE IRA, and other more unique tax advantaged accounts.

Recipes for Manufacturing Success: Erie Cotton

Thursday Oct 17th, 2024

In this episode of Recipes for Manufacturing Success, we are going to Erie Cotton. Erie Cotton has changed the landscape of wiping and recycling over the last 78 years. What started as a “hole in the wall” laundry operation has now become one of the largest producers of Industrial Wiping Cloths in the United States with a 50,000-square-foot facility located in Erie, Pennsylvania.

The company is committed to creating strong partnerships and growth in the Erie community. Erie Cotton currently employs more than 45 individuals, many who are immigrants and refugees. Erie Cotton is a proud member of SMART (Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles), whose member companies help to prevent more than 3.8 billion pounds of post-consumer textile waste from ending up in landfills each year. Today we're meeting with Brian Rubin who is third generation of the family business. He will discuss the innovative ways Erie Cotton has evolved with the ever-changing fashion industry and how they are proud to provide a quality product and respect their customers.

The Ultimate Guide to Reclaimed Rags

Tuesday Jun 18th, 2024

At Erie Cotton, we take pride in offering a wide range of high-quality reclaimed rags that not only serve various cleaning and industrial purposes but also contribute to sustainable practices in the textile industry.