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Reju and Nouvelles Fibres Textiles Collaborate on Circular Textile Waste Ecosystem

In an important step towards sustainable fashion, Reju™, a progressive textile regeneration company, and Nouvelles Fibres Textiles (NFT), a French leader in textile recovery, have joined forces to enhance recycling efforts. This partnership aims at establishing a circular ecosystem for textile waste in France, bolstered by innovative production and recycling methodologies.

The synergy between Reju and NFT will focus on sourcing and processing textile waste, turning it into valuable resources. NFT is set to supply Reju with secondary materials derived from both unused and post-consumer textile waste, which will be recycled into the innovative Reju Polyester™. This collaboration reflects a significant commitment towards enhancing waste management practices in the textile sector.

To facilitate this initiative, both companies will work on improving the infrastructure needed for collecting and processing textile waste from both post-consumer and industrial sources. An essential element of this partnership is the establishment of a transparent supply chain alongside ensuring complete traceability of recycled materials. This is a crucial step towards achieving a circular economy in textiles, thereby mitigating environmental impact.

Reju has been proactive in developing a large-scale infrastructure for sustainable waste collection and regeneration, initially concentrating on polyester. Expected to have a 50% lower carbon footprint compared to virgin polyester, Reju Polyester™ can also be recycled indefinitely. The first demonstration facility, known as the Regeneration Hub Zero, is currently operational in Frankfurt, Germany, and is anticipated to commence producing Reju PET by 2025.

As part of this partnership, NFT has introduced an innovative semi-industrial recycling facility which combines automated sorting technologies by Pellenc ST with Andritz’s shredding equipment. This groundbreaking facility can handle large volumes of post-industrial and post-consumer textile waste, effectively ensuring the removal of contaminating materials and converting the waste into high-quality, uniform fiber and raw material, pivotal for advanced recycling technologies like those employed by Reju.

The CEO of Reju, Patrik Frisk, expressed optimism about the collaboration, stating that, "Reju and Nouvelles Fibres Textiles leverage innovation and cooperation to accelerate the transition to a circular textile ecosystem. This partnership signifies our mutual commitment to tackling the critical issue of textile waste and developing new ways to utilize resources within local supply chains. With textile waste collection becoming mandatory in the European Union by 2025, scalable systems and partnerships are paramount in preventing waste dumping or incineration. Together, we are building the technology needed for recycling and repurposing materials across diverse industries, fundamentally changing how we utilize our resources."

NFT’s Co-Managing Directors, Eric Boël and Etienne Wiroth, emphasized their readiness to assist professionals in recycling their textiles. After six years of dedicated research and collaboration, NFT is prepared with ready-to-implement solutions to transform heterogeneous streams of retired textiles into high-quality, traceable raw materials. This partnership with Reju is paving the way for a more localized, low-emission, and collaborative circular industry, ultimately serving the greater good of society.

As the textile industry faces increased scrutiny over its environmental impact, such partnerships are crucial in assisting brands and recycling initiatives to adapt effectively to emerging legislation and market demands. Reju and NFT’s joint efforts represent a meaningful advance in establishing a comprehensive textile waste management ecosystem, showcasing the potential for innovation and sustainability in addressing global textile waste challenges.

For more information about EU waste directives, visit their official guidelines.