#Recycling / Circular Economy

2026-02-17

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.

“The preparations are in full swing, and new pulp is expected to roll out of the factory by the end of the year, ensuring there is no gap in supply,” said Jonatan Janmark, CEO of Circulose.

In 2024, under new ownership by private equity firm Altor, Circulose set a renewed strategic direction focused on securing volume commitments from partner brands to bring CIRCULOSE® back to market at scale.

“Our plan was to align the production restart with confirmed demand, and with commitments from 11 brands, we are now moving forward with confidence,” Janmark said. He added that the company has also signed strategic partnerships with fiber producers Tangshan Sanyou, Aditya Birla, and Jilin Chemicals.

With the Ortviken plant back in operation, Circulose will be able to continue supplying fashion brands and fiber producers with high-quality recycled raw material at commercial scale, supporting industry efforts to divert textile waste from landfills and incineration. Currently, orders are being fulfilled with existing inventory produced by Renewcell, prior to its bankruptcy.

“Restarting Ortviken is a major milestone for Circulose and for scaling next-generation materials,” Janmark added. “The fashion industry needs solutions that work at industrial scale and integrate seamlessly into existing supply chains. CIRCULOSE® is designed to do exactly that.”

The Ortviken plant is the world’s first commercial-scale chemical textile recycling facility. Its restart demonstrates that, despite past challenges, the fashion industry is seeking ways to scale proven, real-world solutions that move beyond pilots and into sustained commercial production.

Circulose and CTA announce collaboration to enable lyocell fibers using CIRCULOSE® pulp

Circulose has announced an agreement with China Textile Academy Green Fibre (CTA) to offer lyocell fibers produced using CIRCULOSE® pulp. Producing lyocell from recycled pulp at commercial scale is an important step in making textile-to-textile recycled materials available across a wider range of textile applications.

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.