#Recycling / Circular Economy

2026-03-05

Textile‑to‑textile recycling leader Circulose joins Spinnova’s ecosystem to accelerate technology scale‑up

Textile‑to‑textile recycling leader Circulose joins Spinnova’s ecosystem (consortium) to help advance the scale‑up of Spinnova’s technology. Spinnova has actively sought partners to accelerate commercial scale‑up, and Circulose, as a key player in textile recycling, strengthens the ecosystem by providing a raw material that is in high demand across the industry.

As a pioneer in circularity within the fashion industry, Circulose recycles cellulosic‑rich textile waste using a patented process to convert discarded textiles into dissolving pulp. Produced entirely from pre‑ and post‑consumer textile waste, this pulp can be used to manufacture regenerated fibres such as viscose, lyocell, and viscose filament.

Through this collaboration, it is intended to integrate CIRCULOSE® pulp into Spinnova’s ecosystem as a feedstock for producing new textile fibres. Unlike the chemical regeneration processes used for traditional man‑made cellulosic fibres, Spinnova’s mechanical technology enables the partners to turn CIRCULOSE® into a new biobased textile fibre without harmful chemicals or dissolving in the fibre‑spinning process. In addition, CIRCULOSE® pulp can be integrated into Spinnova’s process at 100%, eliminating the need for blending with virgin pulp and enabling higher recycled content in the final fibre.

Spinnova has successfully trialled spinning CIRCULOSE® pulp into textile fibre already in 2023, and together the partners have explored its performance in yarn spinning and fabric weaving. With the now‑announced collaboration, Spinnova and Circulose will further integrate the pulp into Spinnova’s process, expanding the offering available to other partners within the ecosystem.

“We are excited to renew our partnership with Spinnova. We strongly believe that innovation will enable man-made cellulosic fibers to play a bigger role in textiles than it does today. Spinnova is a great example of this - it is not only a sustainably produced fiber but also offers attractive performance properties. We’re excited to support their scale-up by enabling SPINNOVA® fiber production to be not only natural and bio-based, but also circular", comments Jonatan Janmark, the CEO at Circulose.

“We are happy to welcome Circulose into Spinnova’s ecosystem. Together, their textile waste‑based pulp and our patented process enable a unique circular solution and bring innovative fibre production closer to commercial scale. With our technology, CIRCULOSE® pulp can be turned into cotton‑like textile fibres instead of viscose. As demand for high‑quality textile waste‑based materials grows, this partnership allows Spinnova to secure valuable circular raw materials while supporting Circulose in expanding the use of its pulp into new, lower‑impact fibres”, says Spinnova’s CEO, Janne Poranen.

Spinnova’s partner NZ TEX GROUP supports scaling of SPINNOVA® fibre

NZ TEX GROUP, Spinnova’s long-term woven fabric manufacturing partner based in Bangladesh, supports the scaling of SPINNOVA® fibre by joining the Spinnova ecosystem. NZ TEX GROUP and Spinnova have jointly developed fabrics, including denim, over several years, and the partners are now formalising and strengthening their cooperation through the ecosystem model.

ECCO introduces first shoe featuring innovative protein-based fibre

ECCO, in partnership with Spinnova, announces the launch of the limited edition ECCO BIOM® 720, a first-of-its-kind shoe utilising an often overlooked leather by-product, transformed into a protein-based fibre. The fibres are produced using patented technology that advances material innovation while reducing waste and supporting full resource use across the leather and textile industry.

Industrial scale meets verified governance: RE&UP is now B Corp™ certified

RE&UP, the circular-tech transforming global textile waste into high-volume Next-Gen materials, has officially become a Certified B Corporation™. The milestone establishes the industrial recycler among a select group of manufacturing infrastructure providers verified as meeting B Lab Standards for social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.

Recover™ and Ünteks Group partner to scale recycled cotton in knitwear

Recover(TM), a global producer of low‐impact, high‐quality recycled cotton fiber, announces a new partnership with Ünteks Group, a vertically integrated textile manufacturer based in Turkey. The collaboration focuses on the development of circular knit fabrics and garments, combining Recover’s recycled cotton fiber with Ünteks Group’s integrated capabilities across knitting, dyeing, printing, and garment production.

ALADIN paves the way for circular and demand-driven textile production in Europe

Textile production can be organized sustainably by utilizing short supply chains and preventing overproduction. This can already be achieved today by intelligently connecting and efficiently utilizing existing infrastructure. At the same time, production becomes circular when innovative technologies and materials are used that enable high-quality recycling. The ALADIN research project, launched in May 2026 and co-funded with five million euros under the EU Horizon Europe program, is creating the conditions for this.

Ence and ShareTex begin initial testing of the ATENEA innovation project to promote textile recycling in Spain

Ence and ShareTex are making progress on the Atenea R&D project, which aims to develop a complete value chain for textile recycling in Spain. Specifically, the goal of the ATENEA project—which is funded by the Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI)—is to connect all the necessary stages for the recovery of textile waste, from collection and management, through recycling and transformation into new raw materials, to their incorporation into new textile products.

Rieter sees Barmag integration on track as orders and sales rise

The first half of 2026 was shaped by the successful completion of the largest acquisition in Rieter’s history. The Man-Made Fiber Division enables entry into the growth segment of man-made fibers and sustainably strengthens Rieter’s market position in the Asia region. The expanded Group is now the world’s leading system supplier for the processing of natural and man-made fibers. In the first half of the year, initial cost savings in material costs and operating expenses have already been realized. The targeted synergies are expected to amount to at least CHF 20 million by the end of the 2028 financial year. Due to the completion of the acquisition on February 2, 2026, the first half of the year for the Man-Made Fiber Division only amounts to five months.