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Reju and Nouvelles Fibres Textiles Collaborate for a Circular Textile Waste Ecosystem in France

In a significant step towards sustainability, Reju™, a textile regeneration company, and Nouvelles Fibres Textiles (NFT), a French firm specializing in textile recovery, have joined forces to develop an ecosystem for the recycling of textile waste in France. This collaboration aims to establish a comprehensive system for the collection and processing of textile waste, integrating materials sourced from both consumer and industrial origins.

A New Era for Textile Waste Management

The partnership will see NFT supply recycled raw materials derived from used or unused textile waste to Reju. These materials will then be processed to produce Reju Polyester™, setting the stage for a new standard in textile regeneration. Reju is committed to building the necessary infrastructure to enhance the collection and recycling of sewing and textile waste, with a goal of providing a 100% traceable supply chain for recycled materials.

The finished Reju Polyester™ product is anticipated to reduce carbon footprints by 50% compared to traditional polyester, with producers already working on scalable regeneration cycles. Reju's first demonstration plant, Regeneration Hub Zero, is set to commence operations in Frankfurt, Germany, and will start producing Reju PET in 2025.

Innovative Technologies in Action

The materials processed by NFT will be managed at the new Regeneration Hub Zero facility in Frankfurt and future regeneration plants across Europe. This partnership builds on NFT's groundbreaking semi-industrial facility and research center, inaugurated in November 2023, that uniquely combines automated sorting technologies by Pellenc ST with Andritz tearing lines to handle large volumes of textile waste.

Through their collaborative efforts, NFT is pioneering a solution that can convert heterogeneous waste into high-quality, uniform raw materials, ensuring traceability in the process. According to Patrik Frisk, Reju's CEO, "This partnership underscores our commitment to addressing textile waste through innovation and collaboration, aiming to establish a robust circular textile ecosystem."

Looking Ahead: A Circular Economy

As part of EU regulations set to come into effect in 2025, the collection of textile waste will become mandatory, necessitating scalable systems and partnerships to prevent such waste from ending in landfills or incineration. The collaborative efforts between Reju and NFT not only create a new technology but also develop vital infrastructure needed for the regeneration and reuse of materials across various industries. Eric Boël and Etienne Wiroth, co-managers of NFT, emphasize the readiness to assist industries requiring textile recycling after years of intensive research.

Reju and NFT are paving the way for a less carbon-intensive production landscape through enhanced cooperation and innovation. Their combined efforts aim to transform the entire sector into a more sustainable one that effectively addresses comprehensive textile waste management. Overall, this partnership is designed not only to meet increasing consumer demand for traceability but also to represent a vital step in reducing the carbon emissions associated with the textile industry.

As this partnership unfolds, both companies anticipate the opening of another facility by 2026, which is projected to process 20,000 to 30,000 tons of used consumer textiles annually, creating numerous new jobs in the sector. The establishment of Nouvelles Fibres Textiles represents a considerable leap in minimizing the textile sector's carbon footprint while enabling automation through advanced sorting technologies, thus sealing the last missing link in the French circular economy for textiles.

Conclusion

With this partnership, Reju and Nouvelles Fibres Textiles set a benchmark for innovation in the circular economy of textile waste, demonstrating a profound commitment to sustainable practices that could reshape the future of the textile industry in France and beyond.