The apparel and textile industry is at a critical crossroads, grappling with the urgent need for environmental sustainability and the demand for innovative solutions. RE&UP Technologies (RE&UP), a trailblazer in the textile recycling sector, has risen to meet these challenges with groundbreaking solutions that have garnered them awards in the Innovation and Environmental categories in the 2024 Just Style Excellence Awards.
The Just Style Excellence Awards celebrate the greatest achievements and innovations in the apparel and textile industry. Powered by GlobalData’s business intelligence, the Awards recognize the people and companies that are driving change in the industry.
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RE&UP won the Innovation award for its pioneering feedstock-agnostic technology that can recycle a vast array of textile wastes, including complex polycotton blends, into high-quality materials. The company secured the Environmental award for its significant contributions to circularity in fashion.
Innovative textile recycling technology: A game changer
RE&UP’s innovative textile-to-textile recycling company is feedstock agnostic and is able to process post-consumer and post-industrial textile waste at scale thus providing virgin like cotton fibers and polyester chips. Not limited by the composition of the feedstock, the technology allows for the processing of a diverse array of textile wastes, including cotton, polyester, and polycotton blends, without concern for their initial color or impurities.
The ability to separate polycotton blends into their constituent raw materials—cotton and polyester—is particularly noteworthy. This separation process is crucial for recycling efforts, as it allows for the individual materials to be reused in new textile production, thereby extending the life cycle of the fibers and reducing the need for virgin materials.
RE&UP’s advanced in-house decolorization technologies are equally impressive, enabling the processing of both colored and uncolored textile waste. This innovation not only increases the types of resources that can be recycled but also ensures that the resulting products are of a quality comparable to virgin materials, suitable for a wide range of textile applications.
With an initial operational capacity of 80 kilotons annually in Türkiye and ambitious plans to expand to over one million tons globally by 2030, RE&UP is scaling up their technology to have a significant impact on the textile recycling industry. Their scalable, patent-pending technology is poised to revolutionize the way the industry approaches textile waste, setting a new benchmark for innovation.
Environmental excellence in textile recycling
The Environmental award recognizes RE&UP’s significant achievements in reducing the ecological impact of textile production. The company’s recycled materials achieve over a 90% reduction in water use and over an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions when compared to conventional material production. These figures are supported by LCA data from RE&UP’s facilities in Türkiye.
The environmental benefits of RE&UP’s recycled fibers extend beyond water and carbon savings. By providing a solution to divert textile waste from landfills and incineration, the company is actively promoting a circular economy. This approach not only addresses the immediate issue of waste management but also encourages the industry to rethink its relationship with resources, prioritizing reuse and recycling over the linear ‘take-make-dispose’ model.
RE&UP’s commitment to quality and sustainability is further reinforced by their adherence to stringent industry certifications. All RE&UP products are 100% traceable and certified by the Global Recycle Standard (GRS) and the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS), which are leading standards for verifying the recycled content of products and the integrity of the production process. These certifications indicate RE&UP’s rigorous approach to ensuring that their fibers meet the highest standards of sustainability and consumer safety. By maintaining these certifications, RE&UP provides assurance to brands and consumers alike that their investment in sustainable textiles is well-founded and contributes to a more responsible fashion industry.
Economically, RE&UP’s recycled fibers offer a competitive edge by eliminating the “green premium” often associated with sustainable products. This cost-effectiveness is crucial for widespread adoption, as it enables brands to meet sustainability goals without compromising on their bottom line. Additionally, RE&UP’s fibers help brands comply with stringent sustainability regulations, such as the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the Green Claims Directive, further cementing their position as a leader in environmentally friendly textile solutions.
Paving the way for a sustainable textile industry
RE&UP’s groundbreaking technology, commitment to sustainability, and strategic vision set them apart as a company that is redefining the standards of textile recycling and leading the industry towards a more sustainable and economically viable future. As the industry continues to evolve, RE&UP’s contributions will serve as a model for others to follow, ensuring a greener, more innovative path forward for apparel and textiles.
“We are deeply honored to receive these awards and recognition from the Just Style Excellence Awards. This acknowledgment is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team at RE&UP. Our goal of advancing textile recycling is not just about innovation – it’s about creating a future where circularity is the norm, not the exception. The industry needs one-stop solution providers like RE&UP at scale to tackle today’s challenges effectively, combining comprehensive capabilities with a commitment to circularity. We remain dedicated to driving positive change in the industry and are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a more sustainable world” – Andreas Dorner, General Manager, RE&UP
Company Profile
RE&UP, a new venture of SANKO, is reshaping the textile recycling industry with its innovative Next-Gen Cotton and Polyester materials that rival virgin materials. Leveraging SANKO’s century-long heritage and over 330 patents, RE&UP’s expertise in woven technologies is recognized worldwide.
Headquartered in the Netherlands, with operational facilities in Türkiye, RE&UP aims to reach a 200Kt annual recycling capacity by 2025 and expand to over 1Mt by 2030. Their proprietary technology, an industry first, is capable of recycling a wide range of textile wastes, including challenging polycotton blends.
The company’s feedstock-agnostic process supports the fashion industry’s move towards circularity by recycling both pre- and post-consumer waste with less need for sorting. RE&UP’s advanced processes create pure, recyclable materials, positioning them as a sustainable choice for the future of textiles.
Contact Details
E-mail: info@reandup.com
Links
Website: https://reandup.com/
