#Recycling / Circular Economy

2024-10-24

First tests for pilot plant for chemical recycling of textiles successful

Ence and the Swedish start-up ShareTex have successfully conducted the first tests of textile chemical recycling through an innovative technology that does not require high pressure, temperature, nor does it use toxic solvents.

This technology will be verified in the pilot plant that Ence and ShareTex are going to launch in the town of As Pontes in A Coruña and will allow the manufacture of recycled textile fibres.

Within the framework of these tests, a process has been addressed that makes it possible to recover a wider range of products than traditional mechanical recycling, including those whose composition presents a mixture of components (as is the case in most textile products), integrating them back into the textile value chain or into high added value products.

The start-up of the pilot textile waste recycling plant in As Pontes is a strategic project for Ence, as it is in line with the company’s commitment to minimising the use of natural resources, as well as a key project in ShareTex’s strategy to commercialise its technology.

Likewise, the Consorcio Galego para a Reciclaxe Química de Téxtiles Posconsumo (Galician Consortium for the Chemical Recycling of Post-consumer Textiles) is being set up with the main objective of promoting research activity in the field of sustainable recycling technology in Galicia.

This institution is made up of, among others, the Swedish startup ShareTex, Ence, the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Environmental Technologies of the University of Santiago de Compostela (CRETUS), the EQ2 group of the University of Vigo, the University of La Coruña, CETIM Technological Centre, AIMEN Technological Centre and the textile recycling companies Insertega and Coleo.

Ence in As Pontes

Ence will carry out an investment of up to 355 million in the implementation of the three phases of its overall project in As Pontes, a project that will generate about 1,250 jobs.

With regard to these phases, the first will involve the implementation of a recovered fibre plant which includes the pilot plant for the recovery of textile fibres, the second includes a cogeneration plant of 150 MW of thermal power and about 50 MW of electrical power and the third, a tissue plant.

Reju announces site selection for French Regeneration Hub in Lacq advancing Europe’s circular textile infrastructure

Reju, the textile-to-textile regeneration company based in France, announces the site selection for an industrial sized Regeneration Hub, in Lacq, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, on the Induslacq platform. Reju, a Technip Energies owned company, is deepening its roots in France through the development of this new Regeneration Hub.

Covestro showcases monomaterial concept in autonomous SUE People Mover

UE | STUDIOS has unveiled the fully autonomous electric minibus “Self-driving Urban E-Shuttle” (SUE), placing strong emphasis on sustainable material design. Developed within a project funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) and the European Union, the vehicle will begin public road testing this year. At the core of the concept is the consistent use of recyclable monomaterials to improve circularity at end of life.

Circ announces New Fiber Club partners to accelerate commercial adoption of recycled textiles

Circ®, a global leader in textile‑to‑textile recycling, announced the scaling of its Fiber Club initiative. Building on the success of the inaugural program, Circ is bringing together a new group of brand partners: the lifestyle brand Madewell (under J.Crew Group), sustainable fashion brand Reformation, and European retailer C&A, alongside supply chain partners Lenzing and Linz Textil.

Circulose restarts commercial-scale production at Ortviken plant in Sundsvall

Circulose today announced the restart of its commercial-scale production plant at Ortviken in Sundsvall, Sweden, marking a significant step in scaling next-generation materials for the global fashion industry. The company plans to resume production of CIRCULOSE®, a recycled pulp made entirely from discarded cotton textiles, in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Esquel Group adds two new extra-long staple cotton varieties approved

Esquel Group’s Xinjiang Research & Development Center has successfully developed two new Sea Island cotton (Extra-Long-Staple cotton, ELS cotton) varieties named “Yuan Loong 37” and “Yuan Loong 42,” which have been officially approved and granted registration numbers. Both varieties have also obtained Plant Variety Rights certificates, marking another significant breakthrough for the Group in cotton breeding and commercial application.

Itema America acquires Palmetto Loom Reed, strengthening local manufacturing and service in the U.S.

Itema America, the U.S. subsidiary of Italy-based Itema Group, has acquired – through an Assets Purchase Agreement – Palmetto Loom Reed, a Greenville, South Carolina-based manufacturer of weaving reeds and one of the last remaining domestic producers of these precision components in the United States.

lululemon introduces Unrestricted Power™ — A new sensation for strength training

lululemon (NASDAQ: LULU) has unveiled Unrestricted Power™, a new innovation platform engineered for heavy lifts and demanding gym sessions. The assortment, which launches in North America, is backed by thousands of hours of research and development, providing secure support without compromising comfort and mobility, enabling a distraction-free fit built to match every move.

Aid by Trade Foundation reaches new milestones in supply chain transparency

The Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) is reaching new milestones as it leads the way towards greater physical traceability for Cotton made in Africa® (CmiA) cotton. With around 700 suppliers and producers in a total of 25 countries, the Aid by Trade Foundation has reached a new record number of partners who can trace CmiA cotton from the product back to its origin. This is more than double the previous year’s figure.