#Recycling / Circular Economy

2022-01-27

VF and The North Face help rev up world's first machine to separate and recycle blended fabrics

Due to population growth and rapid changes in fashion trends, the amount of textile waste sent to landfills around the world has become severe.

Today, the cotton-polyester fabric blend is the most popular blend in the world, due to its improved fit, style, comfort and longevity over single fiber fabrics.

Unfortunately, blended fabrics have not been able to be recycled and fed back into the supply chain as part of a waste-free closed-loop recycling system…

…until now.

Introducing “The Green Machine”

VF is excited to partner with an international consortium on a feasibility study of “The Green Machine,” the world’s first recycling technology that has proven to separate cotton from polyester in blended fabrics.

This multi-stakeholder initiative is led by Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and brings together key partners along the garment supply chain including the Hong Kong Research institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA), Chip Mong Insee, Dakota Industrial, H&M Foundation and VF to assess the industrial scale development of the Green Machine in Cambodia.

Cambodia is the 9th largest garment producer in the world, and roughly 60% of its total industrial waste is comprised of textiles and garments.

The North Face® will conduct its feasibility study, ultimately informing its decision to use this technology at scale in 2022.

The Green Machine, created by HKRITA, is a hydrothermal treatment method using only heat, water and less than 15% biodegradable chemicals to selectively separate cotton from polyester.

The quality of the polyester fibers is maintained throughout the process, which allows for fiber-to-fiber recycling and forms a closed loop recycling system that eliminates waste.

The North Face® has set a goal for 100% of its apparel fabrics to be recycled, regeneratively-grown and/or responsibly-sourced renewable by 2025.

VF has a goal of half our polyester to come from recycled materials by 2025.

The Green Machine will be a game changer for major companies like VF, bringing us one step closer to a circular fashion economy where the demand for virgin material and used textile waste are a thing of the past.

This multi-stakeholder initiative will have a positive impact on air quality, water and land use, ultimately contributing to a better future for the people of Cambodia and the planet.

Performance Apparels: Functional textiles drive innovation at Techtextil 2026

From high-performance fibres and advanced membranes to smart textiles and sustainable material concepts – functional apparel is becoming one of the most dynamic innovation fields in technical textiles. At Techtextil 2026, exhibitors demonstrate how new materials, finishing technologies and digital functions are shaping the next generation of protective, workwear and outdoor systems.

Texprocess 2026: Automation, digitalisation and AI reshape textile processing

Investment decisions in textile processing have become increasingly complex. Rising energy prices, labour shortages and geopolitical uncertainties are forcing companies to prioritise technologies that deliver measurable improvements in efficiency and process stability. This applies not only to apparel production, but also to the processing of technical textiles and high-performance materials. Modernisation projects are therefore being evaluated more selectively – but the pressure to upgrade production systems continues to grow. Texprocess 2026 reflects this tension between cautious investment behaviour and increasing technological demand.

Textile Chemicals & Dyes: Innovation in Textile Chemistry moves into focus at Techtextil 2026

From PFAS-free finishes and water-saving dyeing technologies to advanced coatings and recycling-compatible formulations, innovation in textile chemistry is accelerating across the industry. Reflecting this development, Techtextil 2026 introduces Textile Chemicals & Dyes as a dedicated product segment, highlighting the growing role of chemical solutions in shaping the next generation of technical textiles.

textile.4U publishes special edition “Top 100 Textile Recycling Companies 2025”

With a comprehensive 176-page special edition, textile.4U is dedicating its latest issue entirely to one of the most dynamic and influential topics in today’s textile industry: textile recycling. The new issue, published exclusively in high-quality print, presents the Top 100 textile recycling companies researched and selected by TexData – organizations that already play a key role in the transition to circular textiles or are expected to have a significant impact in the near future.

Reju secures €135 Million in Dutch NIKI Funding for industrial-scale textile-to-textile regeneration hub at Chemelot Industrial Park, the Netherlands

Reju™, the progressive textile-to-textile regeneration company, has been awarded €135 million in funding under the Netherlands’ Nationale Investeringsregeling Klimaatprojecten Industrie (NIKI) program. The funding will support Reju’s planned industrial-scale Regeneration Hub at Chemelot Industrial Park in Sittard-Geleen, covering both the investment phase and ongoing operations, and represents a critical milestone on the path toward final investment decision.

eeden is now a Canopy partner

eeden is committed to enable circular textiles by developing recycling technologies that turn textile waste into valuable raw materials. But the commitment goes further – eeden advocates for supply chain solutions that uphold responsible environmental and ethical standards, protecting global ecosystems including Ancient and Endangered Forests.

Carbios confirms Longlaville plant in France following financing progress

Carbios has reaffirmed its plans to build its Longlaville plant in France within a project financing framework, targeting the start of production in the first half of 2028. The company also reports a solid cash position of around €60 million at the end of 2025 and has appointed Benoît Grenot as Deputy Chief Executive Officer to support the execution of its strategic projects.

New study shows low environmental impact by Cotton made in Africa Organic Cotton from Tanzania

Today, the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) is announcing the results of a comprehensive life-cycle analysis (LCA) for cotton produced in Tanzania under the Cotton made in Africa Organic (CmiA Organic) standard. The study emphasises the small ecological footprint of CmiA Organic verified cotton. This can largely be traced back to the absence of synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilisers, and artificial irrigation. Consequently, CmiA Organic cotton can help the textile industry meet regulatory requirements as well as science-based targets. The results also show that the consequences of climate change threaten the livelihoods of these cotton farmers, even though the type of agriculture they practise barely contributes to climate change.

PERFORMANCE DAYS proves its relevance as the industry’s key meeting point

Held on March 18–19, 2026, PERFORMANCE DAYS once again confirmed its position as a leading international platform for functional textiles. A total of 3.366 trade visitors and around 560 exhibitors gathered in Munich, with the event already kicking off successfully on DAY 0, which received highly positive feedback for its interactive format. Despite challenging conditions caused by the public transport strike in Munich, the event saw strong attendance and a consistently high level of activity across both exhibition days.