#Paris #France #Reju #Nouvelles Fibres Textiles #circular economy

Reju and Nouvelles Fibres Textiles: Pioneering Circular Textile Waste Solutions in France

Introduction

In a significant step towards sustainability, Reju™, a progressive textile regeneration firm, has announced a collaboration with Nouvelles Fibres Textiles (NFT), a French company specializing in the end-of-life recovery of textiles. Together, they aim to develop a circular ecosystem for textile waste in France, focusing on innovative recycling solutions and the sustainable sourcing of secondary raw materials.

Collaboration Overview

The partnership will involve NFT supplying Reju with secondary raw materials derived from used and unused textile waste. This supply chain is designed to enhance the processing and recycling of textile waste and old garments from both post-consumer and post-industrial sources. The goal is to ensure a fully traceable supply chain that guarantees 100% traceability of recycled materials.

Reju is currently focused on creating a scalable infrastructure to process textile waste, beginning with polyester. The end product, branded as Reju Polyester™, is expected to have a carbon footprint 50% lower than that of virgin polyester and is designed to be infinitely regenerable. Notably, Reju's first demonstration plant, Regeneration Hub Zero, is already operational in Frankfurt, Germany, with plans to produce Reju PET by 2025.

Infrastructure Development

NFT's contribution will be pivotal as they help expand the infrastructure necessary for collecting and processing textile waste. The materials provided by NFT will be processed both at Reju’s existing Regeneration Hub Zero and at future Reju Regeneration Hubs planned across Europe.

In November 2023, NFT and its partners launched a unique research center and semi-industrial facility dedicated to textile recycling. This pilot line is notable for being the first to combine Pellenc ST’s automated sorting technologies with Andritz's tearing lines, enabling the processing of large volumes of post-industrial and post-consumer textile waste. The facility effectively handles difficult materials and transforms them into high-quality industrial fibers and raw materials for new recycling technologies like those employed by Reju.

Industry Impact

Patrik Frisk, CEO of Reju, stated that this partnership reflects a shared commitment to addressing textile waste and developing new methods for utilizing resources within local supply chains. With the European Union mandating textile waste collection by 2025, systems for scalable processing are critical. Together, Reju and NFT are laying the technological and infrastructural groundwork necessary for regenerating and reusing materials across various industries, ultimately changing resource consumption patterns.

Eric Boël and Etienne Wiroth, Co-directors of NFT, emphasized that after six years of research and collaboration, they are now equipped to support professionals who need textile recycling solutions. They have crafted a pioneering, turnkey solution that converts diversified textile flows at the end of their lifecycle into high-quality homogeneous raw materials, ensuring complete traceability throughout the process. Their partnership with Reju is paving the way for a local, circular economy with reduced carbon emissions and enhanced collaboration across the textile industry.

The Future of Textile Recycling

Reju specializes in creating innovative recycling solutions for polyester textiles and PET waste, backed by Technip Energies and employing technology derived from IBM research. Their overarching objective is to establish a global circular recycling ecosystem addressing the issue of PET plastics found in textiles. The establishment of NFT marks a significant advancement in reducing the carbon footprint of the textile sector. Automated sorting technology has completed the final piece of the circular economy puzzle in France, forming a comprehensive ecosystem that unites brands, social economy participants, collectors, sorters, and industrial actors to enhance sustainability and traceability in consumer choices.

Conclusion

The collaboration between Reju and NFT heralds a new era in the textile industry, where innovation and environmental responsibility go hand in hand. This initiative not only seeks to minimize textile waste but also strives for sustainable solutions that can serve as a model for future practices in various industries. The joint efforts illustrate a transformative approach to managing textile resources effectively, reflecting a growing commitment to sustainability in the global market.