ANDRITZ Partners With Circ To Build Landmark Textile Recycling Plant
International technology group ANDRITZ has secured an engineering order from Circ, a U.S.-based textile recycling innovator, to develop its first large-scale textile recycling plant. This groundbreaking facility will be the first to successfully recover cotton and polyester from blended textile waste, marking a significant step toward circularity in the fashion industry.
Circ’s innovative recycling process addresses the challenge of polyester-cotton blends, which make up the majority of fashion waste. By breaking down polycotton textile waste into its original components—cotton and polyester—the new plant will process 200 tonnes of textile waste per day. This will allow the cotton to be recycled for lyocell production, while the polyester will be reused to make new polyester fibres, reducing reliance on virgin raw materials.
Conor Hartman, Chief Operating Officer at Circ, said: “We are excited about our continued collaboration with ANDRITZ. Their expertise in large-scale process equipment is essential for commercializing our recycling process and moving towards a truly circular fashion industry.”
Michael Waupotitsch, Vice President of Textile Recycling at ANDRITZ, stated: “Circ’s technology is uniquely suited to solve one of fashion’s biggest recycling challenges. With our extensive knowledge in process development and machinery, we are eager to bring their innovative technology to life and help achieve their vision of circularity.”
The partnership builds on successful trials conducted at the ANDRITZ Fibre R&D Centre in Springfield, Ohio, and will see further expansion of cooperation to advance textile recycling on an industrial scale.
