#Netherlands #Reju #Textile Recycling #Regeneration Hub #Sittard-Geleen

Reju Selects Chemelot Industrial Park for Regeneration Hub One

Reju™, a leader in textile regeneration, has announced the selection of Chemelot Industrial Park in Sittard-Geleen, Netherlands, as the site for its first industrial-scale textile recycling center, dubbed Regeneration Hub One. This significant investment follows the successful opening of Regeneration Hub Zero in Frankfurt in October 2024.

The Regeneration Hub One aims to accelerate Reju's infrastructure development for large-scale textile waste regeneration. The strategic choice of location allows Reju to leverage existing infrastructure and industrial synergies, enabling efficient operational scaling.

The final investment decision for the project will be made by the management of Technip Energies, Reju’s parent company. The hub is ambitious, targeting the regeneration of 300 million garments annually, which would otherwise end up in landfills. It aims to achieve a production capacity of 50,000 tons of rBHET each year, which will be re-polymerized into Reju PET. The end product, derived from textile waste, will be transformed into Reju polyester, boasting a carbon footprint 50% lower than that of virgin polyester. This polyester will eventually re-enter the supply chain, facilitating the production of yarns and fabrics ready for consumer use.

Textile consumption in Europe has surged from 17 kilograms per person in 2019 to 19 kilograms in 2022, a volume significant enough to fill an oversized suitcase for every individual residing in Europe. Consequently, textile waste has also increased, with approximately 94 million tons of textiles disposed of across EU member states in 2022, likely resulting in incineration or landfilling. To combat this issue, Reju plans to collaborate closely with partners along the supply chain to ensure traceability of textiles from end to end.

Patrik Frisk, CEO of Reju, highlighted this development as a major milestone for the company: “With the announcement of the Regeneration Hub One location, we reaffirm our commitment to transforming the textile industry through innovation and collaboration. Chemelot provides the ideal environment for scaling our technology and integrating with a broader network of industrial enterprises focused on creating a regenerative circular system. Here, we aim to demonstrate that large-scale circularity in the textile industry is achievable.”

Reju, a subsidiary of Technip Energies, utilizes proprietary technology initially developed by IBM Research. By recovering, regenerating, and recycling textile waste, particularly polyester, Reju is establishing a new scalable circular system that reduces the industry's dependence on virgin resources.

Koos van Haasteren, CEO of Chemelot, stated, “At Chemelot, we are keen on supporting sustainable innovations and implementing circular solutions across various sectors. Reju's Regeneration Hub One aligns with our mission to facilitate the transition to a circular economy. By integrating advanced textile recycling technology with our industrial ecosystem, we can expedite textile waste reduction and set new sustainability benchmarks in the materials sector.”

The recycling center's establishment at Chemelot is supported by the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA), the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, and the Ministry of Climate and Green Growth. Minister Sophie Hermans emphasized, “With Reju's decision to locate an innovative recycling plant in Chemelot, the Netherlands gains the country’s first large-scale recycling facility, processing used textiles into raw materials for the creation of new, improved textiles. This is the type of future-oriented, sustainable industry we aim to cultivate.”

Reju also boasts an array of partnerships aimed at enhancing textile recycling in North America and Europe, ensuring a robust ecosystem for sustainable textile solutions. For more information, visit reju.com.