Reju and Circle-8 Join Forces to Advance Textile Recycling in the U.K.
Reju and Circle-8 Team Up for Textile Recycling
In a significant move towards sustainability, Reju™, an innovative textile-to-textile regeneration company, has partnered with Circle-8 Textile Ecosystems in the U.K. This collaboration aims to build a robust circular ecosystem for textile recycling, which is crucial for tackling the rising tide of textile waste.
Circle-8 will supply Reju with post-consumer textile waste, processed through their state-of-the-art digitized Automated Textile Sorting and Preprocessing (ATSP) facility. This forward-thinking partnership will pave the way for a network of industrial-scale facilities managed by Reju, enabling them to manufacture their regenerated Reju Polyester™. This newly created material promises to have a 50% lower carbon footprint compared to conventional polyester and is designed for infinite regeneration.
Patrik Frisk, the CEO of Reju, emphasized the significance of this partnership, stating, "Collaborating with Circle-8's growing ecosystem and ATSP will enhance our textile recycling process efficiency, making it not only streamlined but also precise. This is essential for ensuring that we meet the high-quality standards associated with Reju products. As awareness of the importance of textile recycling continues to grow among consumers and manufacturers alike, having automated and well-placed processing facilities will be critical to keeping textiles out of landfills."
The collaboration between Reju and Circle-8 represents a vital step in establishing the necessary infrastructure for material processing within the U.K. With an estimated 700,000 tonnes of non-reusable textile waste generated annually, this initiative will inspire local brands and retailers to transition toward a more circular textile industry. By providing large-scale pre-sorted and processed feedstock, Circle-8 significantly enhances the efficiency, accuracy, and scalability of the textile recycling process.
Cyndi Rhoades, co-founder and CEO of Circle-8, articulated the shared vision that both companies have toward achieving indefinite textile-to-textile recycling: "This partnership underscores the importance of collaboration and innovation in converting textile waste into a valuable resource. As global regulatory bodies focus their efforts on addressing textile waste, both Reju and Circle-8 are committed to scalable solutions that not only meet regulatory demands but also contribute to a sustainable future."
The core of Circle-8’s mission is to dismantle the traditional extraction-based model of materials usage in favor of circular processes. By designing the necessary ecosystem and infrastructure aimed at unlocking textile-to-textile recycling, they are enhancing the industry’s capacity for sustainability. Their strategic focus lies in establishing automated textile sorting and pre-processing facilities designed to convert non-reusable textiles into viable feedstock for recycling processes.
Reju, on the other hand, is dedicated to innovating solutions for regenerating polyester textiles and PET waste, emphasizing its aim to create a global circular ecosystem for textile recycling. Backed by Technip Energies and technology developed in partnership with IBM Research, Reju seeks to mitigate the environmental impact of PET plastic found in textiles and develop meaningful recycling solutions.
The strategic partnership marks an important milestone in building a more sustainable future for the textile industry by optimizing recycling processes. Going forward, the collaboration aims to expand and evolve, ensuring that recycled materials can seamlessly integrate back into the production cycles of brands while significantly diminishing the environmental footprint of textile waste.
Both companies invite stakeholders across the textile value chain to join them in this pivotal journey to foster a transition from linear to circular business practices while addressing the pressing issue of textile waste and promoting environmental sustainability on a larger scale.