Breaking down polyester, integrating it seamlessly into existing supply chains

matterr has developed an innovative technology for the chemical recycling of polyester from hard-to-recycle textiles and packaging waste. The process delivers drop-in ready raw materials, identical to virgin quality, and is now set to scale.

By replacing virgin PET production from fossil feedstocks, it substantially reduces greenhouse gas emissions – making a direct contribution to industrial decarbonisation.

Industrial deployment in Germany

With combined financial support from the EU and BESTSELLER, matterr will start building its small-scale industrial plant in Germany in 2026. Once completed, the facility is designed to process 10,000 tonnes of polyesterrich waste annually, creating a reliable source of drop-in ready feedstock for the textile and packaging industries. “Scaling breakthrough technologies requires strong and pragmatic partners,” says Melanie Hackler, CEO of matterr. “With BESTSELLER, we share not only mindset and values, but also the belief that drop-in ready, scalable and economically viable solutions are the business models of the future. This partnership accelerates our mission to make polyester a resource that can be recycled repeatedly.”

A shared ambition to transform the industry

For BESTSELLER, the investment aligns with its broader ambition to decouple from fossil resources and increase the use of recycled materials in fashion. Through Invest FWD, BESTSELLER has invested more than DKK 200 million in innovative companies aiming to create the materials of the future and drive systemic change. “matterr is a young company with an interesting solution that aims to be implemented on a large scale to benefit the entire fashion industry. We believe in the scalability of their technology as well as the commercial potential of the company. This can ensure the right impact in the long run. BESTSELLER has clear ambitions to reduce dependency from fossil sources, and utilisation of recycled polyester is a crucial component in achieving this,” says Dorte Rye Olsen, Head of Sustainability,

BESTSELLER. “Moreover, our investments in innovative recycling technologies align with the fashion industry’s vision of transforming consumers' worn-out garments into raw materials for new clothing. Given the vast number of garments used globally today, it is essential that we take on our responsibility and utilise discarded materials repeatedly.”

By joining forces, matterr and BESTSELLER demonstrate how collaboration between technology innovators and global brands can unlock the needed transition.