Textile-to-textile recycling has made significant technological progress but the industry still faces major economic and infrastructure barriers to achieving commercial scale, according to a 19-page report called “Textile-to-textile recycling: the business case”, from the global business information company Textiles Intelligence. 

Executive attention to sustainability has declined as companies focus more closely on margins, budgets and investment returns. At the same time, climate change is affecting supply chains, raw material prices remain volatile, and regulations relating to textile waste and circularity are becoming more stringent. Consequently, sustainability is increasingly being viewed as a financial and strategic issue rather than solely an environmental one. 

Textile-to-textile recycling can provide three main business benefits, namely: creating new revenue opportunities through circular products; reducing exposure to supply chain risks; and helping companies to comply with emerging regulations. However, the business case remains challenging because recycled fibres are generally more expensive than virgin alternatives and the infrastructure needed to collect, sort and process textile waste is still developing. 

Less than 1% of global fibre production comes from recycled pre-consumer and post-consumer textiles. Most recycled fibre is derived from other sources, particularly plastic bottles. Furthermore, only around 11% of post-consumer textile waste was collected and sorted into streams suitable for recycling last year. This limits the availability of suitable feedstock for textile-to-textile recycling. 

Nevertheless, technological developments in textile-to-textile recycling are continuing. Chemical recycling offers the potential to produce fibres with properties comparable with those of virgin materials. Several companies—including Ambercycle, Circ, Circulose and Syre—are developing and scaling technologies for textile-to-textile recycling. However, high investment costs, limited feedstock availability, infrastructure requirements and energy use remain significant challenges. 

Furthermore, the cost gap between recycled and virgin fibres is substantial. Recycled polyester is estimated to cost 2.6 times more than virgin polyester. In Europe, an estimated Euro8 bn-11 bn (US$9.2 bn-12.7 bn) of capital expenditure and Euro5 bn-6.5 bn of annual operating expenditure would be required to achieve a 15% textile-to-textile recycling rate by 2035. 

Therefore, policy will play an important role in making textile-to-textile recycling commercially viable. The EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and extended producer responsibility (EPR) requirements are expected to increase pressure on companies to consider the end-of-life impacts of their products. Under the existing timetable, national textile EPR schemes should be operational by April 2028 and several countries have already implemented such schemes. 

At the same time, companies can help to reduce investment risk by providing greater certainty regarding future demand. In particular, offtake agreements and collaborative purchasing arrangements would give recycling companies the confidence to invest in new capacity while helping brands to secure supplies of recycled fibres. 

For these reasons, the business case for textile-to-textile recycling is becoming clearer but commercial scale will depend on more than technological progress. Greater investment, reliable supplies of suitable feedstock, stronger demand for recycled fibres and supportive policy measures will all be needed to help close the gap between technological potential and commercial reality. 

Ends.    

The report “Textile-to-textile recycling: the business case” is available for purchase from the global business information company Textiles Intelligence and costs £198 (UK), Euro355 (Europe, Middle East or Africa) or US$465 (Americas or Asia Pacific). For further information or to purchase this report, visit https://bit.ly/4yyRHPL or email us at editorial@textilesintelligence.com 

The report is also available in Issue No 239 of Textile Outlook International. Other reports published in this issue include: “Editorial: Waiting in the wings—China’s invisible sportswear brands”; “World textile and apparel trade and production trends: South-East Asia”; “Survey of the European denim fairs for autumn/winter 2027/28”; “Home textiles: product innovations and business developments”; and “China’s textile industry shifts from scale expansion to value creation”. 

Textile Outlook International, published six times a year by Textiles Intelligence, provides an independent and worldwide perspective on the global fibre, textile and apparel industries.  

A year’s printed subscription to Textile Outlook International costs £1,594 (UK), Euro2,916 (Europe, Middle East or Africa) or US$3,804 (Americas or Asia Pacific). An electronic supplement is also available; please email us at editorial@textilesintelligence.com for details. Single issues and multi-report packages are available on request. To download a sample issue of Textile Outlook International, visit www.textilesintelligence.com or email us editorial@textilesintelligence.com 

For further information about all Textiles Intelligence publications, please visit www.textilesintelligence.com 

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Poppy Broughton, senior editor 

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