Dutch Startup Reju Plans Major Polyester Recycling Initiative

2025-05-22 green

Amsterdam, Thursday, 22 May 2025.
Reju aims to recycle 300 million polyester garments annually, significantly reducing waste and emissions. The new plant in the Netherlands will mark a milestone in textile circularity.

Groundbreaking Facility at Chemelot Industrial Park

On May 20, 2025, Reju announced the selection of Chemelot Industrial Park in Sittard, Netherlands, as the location for its first industrial-scale recycling facility, Regeneration Hub One [1]. The facility aims to process an unprecedented 300 million articles of textile waste annually, transforming them into 50,000 tonnes of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rBHET) [2]. This innovative project represents a significant leap forward in textile recycling technology, with the processed material projected to have 50% lower carbon emissions compared to virgin polyester [3].

Strategic Location and Technological Innovation

The selection of Chemelot Industrial Park is strategic, leveraging existing infrastructure and industrial synergies [4]. The project builds upon Reju’s successful pilot facility, Regeneration Hub Zero, which opened in Frankfurt, Germany, in October 2024 [5]. CEO Patrik Frisk emphasizes that ‘Chemelot is the ideal environment for scaling our technology and integrating into a broader network of industrial power houses which are also focused on circularity’ [6].

Addressing Europe’s Growing Textile Waste Crisis

The initiative comes at a crucial time, as textile consumption in Europe has increased from 17 kg per person in 2019 to 19 kg per person in 2022, resulting in approximately 94 million tonnes of discarded textiles in EU member states [7]. Currently, only 3% of the 33 million metric tons of plastic-based fibers produced globally each year gets recycled [8], highlighting the urgent need for large-scale recycling solutions.

Industrial Partnerships and Future Impact

The project has garnered strong support from Dutch authorities, with Sophie Hermans, Minister for Climate Policy and Green Growth, noting that this will be ‘the Netherlands’ first large-scale textile recycling facility where discarded textiles are turned into raw material for new and even better textiles’ [9]. The facility’s development is currently awaiting final investment decision from Technip Energies, Reju’s parent company, which brings nearly 70 years of polyester industry expertise [10].

Bronnen

recycling polyester