#Paris #France #Reju #NFT #Textile Recycling

Reju and Nouvelles Fibres Textiles Collaborate to Tackle Textile Waste

In a bold step towards sustainability, Reju™, an innovative textile regeneration company, has announced a partnership with Nouvelles Fibres Textiles (NFT) in France to establish a circular ecosystem for textile waste. This collaboration focuses on the sourcing and recycling of textile materials, aiming to reduce waste and foster a sustainable fashion industry.

NFT, a firm specializing in the recovery of end-of-life textiles, will provide secondary raw materials obtained from discarded or unused textiles to Reju. This partnership is poised to extend far beyond initial recycling efforts; it will develop a robust collection and processing infrastructure dedicated to managing apparel waste from both post-consumer and post-industrial sources. This strategic collaboration is designed to ensure 100% traceability of recycled materials, promoting transparency throughout the process.

Reju is on a journey to revolutionize textile waste management by developing the infrastructure needed for large-scale regeneration of materials, starting specifically with polyester. The end product, known as Reju Polyester™, is designed to have an astonishing 50% lower carbon footprint in comparison to traditional virgin polyester and offers the capability for infinite regeneration. Their first site, known as the Regeneration Hub Zero, has been operational in Frankfurt, Germany, and will facilitate the production of Reju PET by 2025.

The operational base at Reju's Regeneration Hub Zero will be where the materials provided by NFT undergo processing. Additionally, plans for future Reju Regeneration Hubs across Europe are already underway, ensuring that this initiative can influence a broader geographic area. In November 2023, NFT, in collaboration with various partners, inaugurated a unique semi-industrial site dedicated to textile recycling, which combines high-tech automated sorting with advanced tearing lines. This setup allows NFT to efficiently handle large volumes of textile waste, thereby improving the quality of recycled materials available for new textile technologies like that of Reju.

The partnership symbolizes a commitment from both companies to innovate solutions to combat the growing issue of textile waste effectively. According to Patrik Frisk, CEO of Reju, "Through innovation and collaboration, we're accelerating the transition to a more circular textile ecosystem. This partnership highlights our joint dedication to addressing textile waste and finding new usages for resources within local supply chains. With the European Union's mandate for textile waste collection set to come into effect in 2025, the need for scalable systems and partnerships has never been more critical."

NFT's co-directors, Eric Boël and Etienne Wiroth, also emphasized the readiness of Nouvelles Fibres Textiles to collaborate with industry professionals seeking textile recycling solutions. Their innovative approach transforms varied textile waste into high-quality homogeneous raw materials while ensuring traceability, paving the way for what they describe as a more localized, collaborative, and less carbon-intensive industry.

The collaboration between Reju and NFT marks a crucial step toward reshaping the fashion industry's impact on the planet. As they build out their technological and infrastructural capabilities, it is clear that the circular economy model is gaining momentum. Moreover, by taking proactive steps now, these companies are not only addressing the challenges associated with textile waste but also setting an example for others in the industry. This partnership points to a future where fashion can exist harmoniously within the ecological limits of our planet, ultimately contributing to the preservation of our environment and resources.

As this partnership progresses, stakeholders and consumers alike should keep an eye on these developments as they signal a turning point in textile waste management, with the potential to foster a more sustainable future for the industry as a whole.