Pioneering start-ups join ITMF

Syre: Revolutionizing polyester recycling at scale

Syre's mission is to decarbonize and reduce waste within the textile sector, specifically focusing on polyester. With a bold goal of establishing 12 production plants by 2032, Syre aims to achieve textile-to-textile recycling at hyperscale, producing over 3 million metric tons of circular polyester and abating more than 15 million metric tons of CO2e. Syre's membership with ITMF offers access to a global network, allowing for knowledge exchange and collaboration across the value chain. Stina Billinger, Sustainability & Public Affairs Director of Syre, highlighted the benefits, noting that connecting with established textile companies worldwide provides valuable insights to advance their mission.

Mr. Christian Schindler, Director General of ITMF, stated that “for ITMF it is important that start-ups like Syre become corporate members of ITMF. Syre offers new solutions for the pressing need to recycle textile waste. Companies along the textile value chain see the necessity to make the industry circular. Textile-to-textile recycling is a core step to reach this objective. To scale and speed up circularity it is required to intensify collaboration across all segments. ITMF offers a unique industry network that comprises all segments from fiber producers via textile machinery manufacturers down to integrated producers of apparel and home textiles. ITMF also offers valuable information that helps start-ups to better understand the global textile market and dynamics.”

Ms. Stina Billinger, Sustainability & Public Affairs Director of Syre, commented that “by joining ITMF as a corporate member, Syre has the opportunity to connect with well-established textile companies from around the world. This access helps to better understand the global textile value chain and to learn from the expertise and experience of players with a long history in the market. Having access to ITMF’s conferences, workshops, webinars, and publications offers start-ups to have a comprehensive view of the industry and to connect with relevant players.”

RE&UP Recycling Technologies: Next-Gen cotton and polyester for circularity

Netherlands-based RE&UP Recycling Technologies has developed Next-Gen Cotton and Next-Gen Polyester fibers, which match the performance of virgin materials. Their innovations aim to reshape the textile-to-textile paradigm by providing scalable circular solutions. Christian Schindler, Director General of ITMF, commented on the strategic benefits of having RE&UP as a corporate member, emphasizing the value of collaborative efforts to drive industry-wide circularity. RE&UP's General Manager, Andreas Dorner, shared that ITMF’s membership enhances their access to international data and builds critical professional networks, supporting their mission to foster circularity in textiles.

Mr. Christian Schindler, Director General of ITMF, stated that “welcoming RE&UP Recycling Technologies as a new corporate member of ITMF is a mutually beneficial step. For ITMF members it is valuable to have a company in the membership that is working on a very important technology that is crucial to scale up the industry’s circularity efforts. For RE&UP, membership with ITMF provides additional access to relevant data and a unique international network.”

Mr. Andreas Dorner, General Manager of RE&UP Recycling Technologies, emphasized that “becoming a member of ITMF, RE&UP is joining a unique organisation that provides important data that allows us to better assess the short-term and long-term evolution of the textile industry. Furthermore, ITMF’s members are from along the entire textile value chain from around the world. This helps in building an international professional network that is even more important when it comes to circularity.”

Sci-Lume Labs Inc.: Making circular materials from agricultural waste

Sci-Lume Labs Inc., a USA-based company, has introduced Bylon®, a circular material crafted from renewable agricultural waste. Bylon aims to make “scalably sourced, earth-digestible, and 100% recyclable clothing” accessible to all, effectively closing the loop in fashion sustainability. Sci-Lume Labs' CEO, Oliver Shafaat, emphasized the importance of ITMF's global network for start-ups, which enables them to build partnerships and gain insights from established market players. By bridging start-ups with experienced industry leaders, ITMF facilitates the scaling of innovations like Bylon to make a lasting impact on the global textile economy.

Mr. Christian Schindler, Director General of ITMF, commented that “ITMF is very proud to have start-ups like Sci-Lume Labs applying for and winning the ITMF Start-up Award. It is important for ITMF to bring together well-established textile and apparel companies with start- ups on the ITMF-platform. The objective is that they benefit from each other. Start-ups are bringing new ideas and technologies to the table while well-established companies have market expertise and experience that can help start-ups to scale up. For Sci-Lume Labs, membership with ITMF also provides unique access to relevant data and an international network from the entire textile value chain.”

Mr. Oliver Shafaat, CEO of Sci-Lume Labs Inc., emphasized that “becoming a member of ITMF helps us to get a better understanding of the textile industry’s dynamics. Furthermore, ITMF’s members come from every part of the world’s textile value chain, and it is critical to build communication and collaboration between these different stakeholders. All aspects of our industry need to work together to develop the sustainable and circular solutions the world needs. Platforms like ITMF play a vital role in enabling the transition to a more circular textiles industry.”

Conclusion

These companies represent a new wave of circular-tech solutions within the textile industry. ITMF Director General Christian Schindler highlighted the organization's commitment to supporting circular initiatives, saying, "Our goal is to enable synergies between start-ups with new technologies and established companies with deep market knowledge, creating a robust pathway toward a sustainable future."

For more information about the companies, please visit their respective websites:

Syre: https://www.syre.com

RE&UP Recycling Technologies: https://reandup.com

Sci-Lume Labs Inc.: https://www.sci-lumelabs.com

With these new members, ITMF is positioned to drive the transition toward a circular textile economy by fostering innovation, collaboration, and sustainable practices.