Reju and Cibutex Join Forces for Sustainable Circular Textile Ecosystem
In a significant move towards sustainability in the textile industry, Reju™, a pioneering company dedicated to textile-to-textile regeneration, has teamed up with Cibutex, a cooperative of firms aiming to enhance the sustainability of textile supply chains. This strategic partnership focuses on creating a comprehensive ecosystem that allows for the recycling of post-consumer textile waste, redirecting such materials back into production cycles.
The collaboration stands to provide crucial secondary raw materials for Reju, sourced from textile waste generated by Cibutex's member companies. These materials will support Reju in producing its innovative regenerated Reju Polyester™, reflecting a circular regeneration process that takes full advantage of Reju's advanced recycling technology.
Reju is at the forefront of developing a global infrastructure for large-scale textile waste regeneration, primarily focusing on polyester. Notably, the company boasts that its Reju Polyester™ will deliver a carbon footprint reduction of up to 50% compared to traditional virgin polyester, and highlights the capability of this regenerated material to be recycled infinitely.
The processing of textiles from Cibutex member companies is set to take place at Reju’s upcoming facility, Regeneration Hub Zero, located in Frankfurt, Germany, which is expected to be fully operational by 2025. Additionally, other future Reju Regeneration Hubs are also on the agenda, aiming to expand the recycling capacity.
Cibutex operates as a cooperative, gathering various companies from the textile service sector to collect, process, and reintroduce post-use business textiles into the production pipeline, thus paving the way for a closed-loop system. The collaboration with Reju not only promotes efficiency but also incorporates traceability and scalability into the textile supply chain, which are crucial for creating a truly sustainable circular economy in the industry.
Patrik Frisk, CEO of Reju, articulated the vision behind the partnership, stating, "Our alliance with Cibutex is pivotal in spearheading a circular ecosystem tailored for business textiles. Cibutex’s unique strategy to engage its members harmonizes seamlessly with Reju's commitment to efficient large-scale textile regeneration. Collaboratively, we are addressing the pressing problem of textile waste and establishing an infrastructure that avoids sending these valuable resources to landfills and incineration, all while lowering the industry's overall carbon footprint."
Adding to this sentiment, Jan Lamme, CEO of Cibutex, remarked on the cooperative’s foundational principle of cultivating a circular textile economy. He expressed, "Teaming up with Reju amplifies our capacity to reintegrate post-used business textiles into the production cycle while maintaining the necessary traceability and quality for a sustainable future. This partnership marks a significant milestone in achieving our goals for a closed-loop supply chain dedicated to the textile service sector."
The collaboration between Reju and Cibutex underscores the incredible potential of shared innovation to combat the soaring issue of textile waste. At a crucial juncture where the European Union's new regulations mandating the collection of textile waste are being implemented concurrently with impending regulations in the U.S., this initiative positions itself as a scalable solution that meets regulatory requirements while fostering a more sustainable future.
About Cibutex
Founded in March 2022, Cibutex is a cooperative based in the Netherlands initiated by companies such as Blycolin Textile Services, Dibella, and others. Their goal is to advocate for greater circularity in textile supply chains through collective efforts that harness the combined knowledge and capabilities of textile businesses across Europe.
About Reju
Reju is a leading materials regeneration company focusing on innovative techniques for recycling polyester textiles and PET waste. Backed by Technip Energies and utilizing cutting-edge technology developed initially by IBM research, Reju endeavors to implement a global ecosystem for textile recycling that addresses the growing issue of PET plastic within textiles. For more details, visit their website at
Reju.