#Netherlands #Reju #Chemelot #Sittard-Geleen #Regeneration Hub One

Reju Unveils Its First Large-Scale Textile Recycling Center

In a groundbreaking initiative, Reju™, a pioneer in textile-to-textile recycling, has announced its decision to establish its first large-scale recycling facility, Regeneration Hub One, in the Chemelot Industrial Park located in Sittard-Geleen, Netherlands. This ambitious project is set to enhance the circular economy within the textile industry, aiming to significantly reduce textile waste and promote sustainable practices.

The Significance of Regeneration Hub One

Regeneration Hub One represents a major milestone in Reju's mission to create innovative solutions for textile recycling. With its strategic location in Chemelot, a prominent industrial and innovation hub in Europe, the facility is ideally situated to leverage existing infrastructure and industry synergies. This location was chosen following the successful opening of Reju’s first recycling center, Regeneration Hub Zero, in Frankfurt, Germany, which took place in October 2024.

The planned facility aims to process an impressive 300 million textile items annually that would otherwise be wasted. The outcome will yield a production capacity of 50,000 tons of rBHET (recycled polyester) each year, which will subsequently be repolymerized into Reju PET. This innovative process transforms textile waste into Reju Polyester, which has a carbon footprint 50% lower than that of newly produced polyester. This recycled polyester will then be reintroduced into the supply chain, converted into yarns and fabrics for consumer use.

As textile consumption continues to rise dramatically in Europe—from an average of 17 kg per person in 2019 to 19 kg in 2022—the challenge of textile waste management becomes increasingly urgent. In 2022 alone, approximately 94 million tons of textiles were discarded in EU member states, with a significant portion ending up incinerated or in landfills. Reju aims to ensure traceability of textiles throughout the recycling process, collaborating with partners across the supply chain to address these pressing issues.

Commitment to Circularity

Patrik Frisk, CEO of Reju, emphasized the importance of this new center, noting, “The announcement of Regeneration Hub One's location confirms our commitment to transforming the textile industry through innovation and collaboration.” He further added, “Chemelot provides the perfect environment for expanding our technology and integrating into a wider network of industrial leaders who are also focused on circularity. Here, we aim to demonstrate that a large-scale textile-to-textile circular model is truly achievable.”

Reju's operations are backed by its parent company, Technip Energies, which leverages original technology developed by IBM Research. By capturing, recycling, and reintroducing textile waste—starting with polyester—Reju is creating a scalable circular system that reduces the industry's dependency on virgin raw materials.

Koos van Haasteren, CEO of Chemelot, reiterated the significance of the project by stating, “In Chemelot, we are committed to supporting sustainable innovations and facilitating circular solutions across industries. Reju’s Regeneration Hub One aligns with our mission to foster the transition to a circular economy. By incorporating their advanced textile recycling technology into our industrial ecosystem, we can expedite the reduction of textile waste and set new sustainability standards for materials.”

Supporting Sustainable Growth

The establishment of Regeneration Hub One has also been facilitated by the efforts of the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA), along with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and the Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth. Dutch Minister Sophie Hermans expressed pride in Reju's decision to situate its innovative recycling facility in Chemelot, stating, “This marks a significant milestone for the Netherlands, creating the country’s first large-scale facility capable of transforming discarded textiles into raw materials for new, higher-quality textiles.”

Minister Hermans emphasized that the project contributes to green growth and strengthens the Netherlands' position in the realm of circular chemistry, declaring, “This new plant actively builds the industry of tomorrow, and I am proud that Reju has chosen the Netherlands for its operations.”

Reju's collaborative efforts are aimed at ensuring traceability of textile waste that would otherwise end up in landfills, incinerators, or improperly disposed of, throughout the textile-to-textile recycling process.

Future Development

Since its inception, Reju has rapidly expanded its footprint by opening its first Regeneration Hub in Frankfurt and forming partnerships with organizations like Goodwill and Waste Management in the USA to enhance textile recycling across North America. The company has also partnered with Nouvelles Fibres Textiles to develop automated sorting solutions for clothing and disruptive elements, and with Cibutex and Rematrix in Europe to create interdependent ecosystems among member companies.

Conclusion

Through Regeneration Hub One, Reju aims to revolutionize the textile recycling industry by providing efficient solutions to textile waste management, thereby moving towards a sustainable and circular textile economy. With a vision to uncover infinite possibilities within limited resources, Reju is committed to establishing a global circularity system for recycling textiles, focusing on regenerating and reintegrating polyester textiles back into the market. For more details, visit Reju's official website.