US textile recycler Circ has received backing from the French government and the European Union to build a EUR 440 million plant. The recycling hub will be located at Saint-Avold in northern France.
Circ claims its new recycling plant will be the first to recover cotton and polyester on an industrial scale. Reuters reports the plant near Metz will have a processing capacity of 70 000 tonnes a year. It is scheduled to open in 2028, employing 200 people.
Partners include Worley, GEA, and Andritz and the idea is to use it as a blueprint for future plants.
Special process
Circ uses a hydrothermal technology that breaks down the polyester without damaging the cotton. This ensures both can be recovered in the same process and recycled.
Clothing retailers Inditex and Patagonia have taken a stake in Circ to incorporate the new material.
Going forward
‘Today, most of the clothing produced is a blend of polyester and cotton and that makes it very difficult to recycle, so having this facility is a major milestone,’ says Circ founder Peter Majeranowski.
The recycler underlines that the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global greenhouse gases. He believes the large-scale blended materials site signals a much-needed turning point for the industry.
‘We have a lot of interest from all over the world, from South Asia, East Asia, the States, of course, Canada and Australia,’ Majeranowski adds.
Read more about Corc’s story as recently featured in Recycling International >>
Don't hesitate to contact us to share your input and ideas. Subscribe to the magazine or (free) newsletter.
Loading ...
