Reju Unveils Plans for First Large-Scale Textile Recycling Center in Netherlands

Reju™, a progressive company specializing in textile recycling, has made a significant announcement regarding the establishment of its first large-scale textile-to-textile recycling center, named Regeneration Hub One. This facility will be strategically located within the Chemelot Industrial Park in Sittard-Geleen, Netherlands. The site has been chosen due to Chemelot's status as a premier industrial park and a hub of innovation, which was further highlighted by Reju's recent successful launch of the Regeneration Hub Zero in Frankfurt, October 2024.

The primary goal of Regeneration Hub One is to spearhead Reju's mission towards constructing a circular infrastructure capable of processing textile waste on a monumental scale. By leveraging existing infrastructural elements and fostering industrial synergies, the Hub aims to efficiently scale operations. Once fully functional, the center is projected to regenerate up to 300 million textile items annually, translating to a staggering production capacity of 50,000 tons of rBHET per year. This product will subsequently be repolymerized into Reju PET, a sustainable polyester alternative that boasts 50% lower carbon emissions compared to virgin polyester.

The need for such innovation is underscored by recent data indicating that textile consumption in Europe increased from 17 kg per person in 2019 to 19 kg per person in 2022, creating an escalating volume of textile waste. In 2022, EU member states disposed of around 94 million tons of textiles, much of which ended up incinerated or landfilled. Reju's collaboration with upstream partners will ensure traceability in textile recycling processes.

Patrik Frisk, CEO of Reju, remarks on this pivotal development: "The announcement of Regeneration Hub One reinforces our commitment to transforming the textile industry through innovation and collaboration. Chemelot provides the ideal environment to advance our technology and integrate within a larger industrial ecosystem focused on circularity. Here, we aim to demonstrate that large-scale textile-to-textile recycling is not just an aspiration but a reality."

Additionally, Chemelot CEO Koos van Haasteren emphasized the industrial park's dedication to promoting sustainable innovation and circular solutions across various sectors. He stated, "Reju's Regeneration Hub One aligns seamlessly with our mission of transitioning towards a circular economy, and by incorporating their advanced textile recycling technology into our industrial network, we can significantly mitigate textile waste while setting new sustainability benchmarks in the materials sector."

The establishment of this recycling center has garnered support from the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA), the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, as well as the Ministry of Climate and Green Growth. Minister Sophie Hermans highlighted the strategic importance of Reju's decision to set up its innovative recycling plant in Chemelot, marking it as the Netherlands' first large-scale textile recycling facility where discarded textiles will be transformed into raw materials for new textiles, contributing to a greener economy.

Reju's ongoing partnerships further enhance its mission. From their initial regeneration center in Frankfurt to collaborations with Goodwill and Waste Management in North America, Reju is making strides in promoting textile recycling. Additional alliances have been formed with Nouvelles Fibres Textiles for automated garment sorting and Cibutex in Europe to develop an ecosystem among member companies, reflecting Reju's commitment to fostering sustainable textile supplies.

As Reju embarks on this ambitious project, the integration of circularity and advanced technologies remains at the forefront of its objectives. Through focused innovation and collaborative efforts, Reju aims to redefine how the textile industry approaches waste, positioning itself as a leader in the regenerative textile landscape. For additional information, visit reju.com.