#Recycling / Circular Economy

2024-05-23

Recycling Technologies. Next-Gen Fibers.

RE&UP pushes sustainable solutions further at Global Fashion Summit. The circulartech company reshapes the traditional textile-to-textile paradigm to bring to life sustainable solutions addressing the planet’s most pressing challenges.

The Global Fashion Summit convenes decision makers from brands, retailers, suppliers, policy and interlinked industries and it is the place to be for RE&UP to bring into the discussion how its unique ecosystem of recycling cotton, polyester and polycotton can reshape the traditional textile-to-textile paradigm.

Built upon the century-long textile heritage of SANKO, this new venture has engineered a unique and patented proprietary technology that is one-of-a-kind in its ability to separate polycotton blended materials into new pure materials for recycling. A combination of advanced thermochemical, thermomechanical and mechanical technologies, this solution is feedstock agnostic and broadens the scope of accessible waste streams.

The result is revolutionary Next-Gen Cotton and Next-Gen Polyester that offer performance on par with virgin options, including robust fiber length and full decolorization, while significantly reducing the environmental impact thanks to reduced water usage (~85%) and CO2 emissions (~85%) when compared to virgin materials. All of this, with immediate applicability for yarns, fabrics and garments today and at scale. RE&UP operates facilities in Turkiye, with more expected to open in Europe and Asia. The company aims to recycle over 200,000 tons of textile waste annually by 2025, with plans to expand to over 1 million tons globally by 2030.

This ambitious scale-up positions RE&UP at the forefront of sustainable transformation in the fashion industry. "At RE&UP, we are dedicated to fostering a more responsible and technologically advanced future for textiles and fashion," said Fatih Konukoglu, Chairman at RE&UP. "Enriched by parent company SANKO’s centenary knowledge in textile innovation, we are able to share a unique expertise bringing groundbreaking sustainability advancements to the table." RE&UP’s participation in the Global Fashion Summit highlights its commitment to driving positive change in the fashion industry, taking part in the fireside chat “Future Fibers: Enabling the Circular Model” with Mr. Fatih Konukoglu, and the panel “Unlocking Global Collaboration” with Ebru Ozkucuk Guler, Chief Sustainability Officer, to share the company’s innovative solutions and collaborative approach leading the way towards a more sustainable and circular future for textiles and fashion.

RE&UP debuts at Ecomondo 2025 to showcase circular fashion innovation

RE&UP makes its first appearance at Ecomondo – The Green Technology Expo, Europe’s leading event for ecological transition and circular economy. Specializing in textile-to-textile recycling, RE&UP transforms end-of-life fabrics into Next-Gen recycled cotton fibers and polyester chips, giving new life to materials that would otherwise go to waste.

RE&UP kicked off Textile Exchange 2025 with circular textile solutions

RE&UP is diving into Textile Exchange 2025, joining a global community of innovators, brands, and changemakers. This year’s conference theme is Shifting Landscapes: Connecting Environmental Adaptation and Systems Transformation, which explores how the fashion industry can adapt, innovate, and accelerate the shift toward circularity.

RE&UP steps up at Première Vision: from newcomer to key player

After making its debut at Première Vision last year alongside ISKO, RE&UP returns in 2025 with a stronger presence and a bigger stage. The circular textile technology leader is now exhibiting independently in Hall 6, Booth 6S30 – and taking part in one of the show’s key panel discussions on textile recycling.

RE&UP powers ONLY’s recycled tops program

Circular textile technology leader RE&UP supports BESTSELLER’s women’s brand ONLY in launching a new jersey program of basic tops made from next-generation recycled polyester. The first styles are already in stores. Using its modular recycling technology, RE&UP transforms post-consumer and factory textile waste into fibers that meet the same performance standards as virgin materials.

Europe needs tipping point to scale textile-to-textile recycling, BCG and ReHubs say

A new report from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and ReHubs, titled “Advancing Textile Circularity – Europe’s textile waste challenge: Scaling Textile-to-Textile requires enabling mechanisms”, highlights the urgent need for systemic action to tackle Europe’s growing textile waste and scale a circular textile economy.

AI Circular Economy Conference 2026 fuels innovation at the intersection of AI and Circular Economy

The AI Circular Economy Conference 2026, organised by nova-Institute, brought together 116 participants from 15 countries in Cologne and online to explore the transformation of the chemical and materials industry supported and accelerated by artificial intelligence. During the two-day event, leading experts from industry, research, start-ups and the investment community discussed how AI can maximise the potential of renewable carbon creating efficient circular value chains. The conference featured 24 presentations and multiple panel discussions, highlighting the growing convergence of digital technologies and circular material systems. It demonstrated how artificial intelligence is progressing from the experimental stage to real industrial implementation within the circular economy.

Circ deepens access to recycled fibers with Xinxiang Bailu Chemical Fiber Co., Ltd. partnership agreement

Circ®, a global leader in textile‑to‑textile recycling, today announced a new partnership agreement with Xinxiang Bailu Chemical Fiber Co., a Canopy Dark Green Shirt producer and one of the world’s leading producers of viscose filament. The agreement marks a significant step in Circ’s continued expansion in China and strengthens its position within the country’s rapidly evolving circular textile ecosystem; further supporting Circ’s ability to supply recycled fibers near existing fashion supply chains.

YKK launches “YZiP® Light” aluminum alloy zipper for cotton pants

YKK Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Koichi Matsushima; hereafter, YKK) has launched YZiP® Light, a lightweight aluminum alloy zipper for cotton pants, with sales beginning in late March. The introduction of YZiP® Light expands YKK’s zipper portfolio—led by the flagship YZiP® copper alloy zipper—providing customers with greater flexibility to meet diverse garment needs.

Shima Seiki showcases WHOLEGARMENT® and 3D knitting solutions for technical textiles at Techtextil 2026

Leading textile technology solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, along with its Italian subsidiary SHIMA SEIKI ITALIA S.p.A., will be participating in the Techtextil 2026 exhibition in Frankfurt, Germany next month. On display will be WHOLEGARMENT® and other advanced three-dimensional knitting applications across a wide range of industries besides fashion apparel that are not typically associated with knitting, such as technical textiles using industrial materials and advanced three-dimensional knitting.