#Recycling / Circular Economy

2024-03-14

Building Circular Systems, next phase of work to create scale in textile-to-textile recycling systems

Accelerating Circularity is proud to announce the launch of the next phase of work, Building Circular Systems (BCS). The goal is to expand our work on circular textile-to-textile systems that will enable the reduction of the textile industry’s GHG impacts and reduce the volume of textiles going to landfill and incineration.

Previous Accelerating Circularity textile-to-textile (T2T) trials have demonstrated the successful replacement of virgin fibers in yarns and fabrics that targeted a minimum of 40% recycled cotton or recycled polyester. Each of the new materials were run at standard industry minimum order quantities.

ACP’s Building Circular Systems (BCS) objectives are to significantly increase volumes of materials, develop new tools and expand circular system education based on the learnings from the previous work. This next phase will include more collaborations with additional partners and a wider geographic scope. BCS provides the opportunity for participants to benefit from; witnessing 1st hand the capabilities and challenges of circular systems, collectively building the tools necessary to commercialize at industry scale T2T and connecting with peers on T2T regulations and transition pathways. Ultimately this work will enable companies to better meet their own goals of incorporating recycled materials and GHG reduction targets.

There are 3 main workstreams:

Building Markets through expanded trials in both the United States and European Union.
Creating the Textile Hierarchy Tool that outlines pathways for used textiles to maximize resource savings and reduce environmental impacts.
Educating and providing access to information and available tools on circular T2T systems.

“This milestone marks a major step forward in ACP’s efforts to build commercial circular textile-to-textile systems, provide industry tools and deliver on education and knowledge allowing companies to transfer learnings to their sourcing strategies. ” said Karla Magruder, founder, and president of Accelerating Circularity. “We are driving positive change in the supply chain through collaboration and leading the way toward our vision of a world where textiles are no longer wasted.”

Accelerating Circularity announces global commitment to sustainable textile industry at Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting

Accelerating Circularity, a leading nonprofit dedicated to transforming the apparel industry by creating business models and supply chains for manufacturing more sustainable fabrics, this week proudly announced its Commitment to Action at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) 2024 Annual Meeting. This commitment, titled "Building Circular Systems," aims to transform the textile industry by building scalable systems where materials are continuously repurposed and reused, rather than just being recycled once or discarded.

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.