Reju To Set Up First Industrial-Scale Textile Recycling Hub In Netherlands
Reju™, a leading textile-to-textile regeneration company, has announced the selection of Chemelot Industrial Park in Sittard-Geleen, Netherlands, as the location for Regeneration Hub One, its first industrial-scale textile recycling center.
Following the successful opening of Regeneration Hub Zero in Frankfurt in October 2024, this new hub marks a significant step in Reju’s mission to build scalable infrastructure for textile waste regeneration. The project, subject to final investment approval by Reju’s parent company Technip Energies, will be strategically located at Chemelot, an advanced European industrial and innovation hub allowing Reju to leverage existing infrastructure and industrial synergies for efficient scaling.
Once operational, Regeneration Hub One will regenerate the equivalent of 300 million textile articles annually, producing 50,000 tonnes of rBHET (recycled monomer) per year. This will be repolymerized into Reju PET and converted into Reju Polyester, delivering 50% lower carbon emissions compared to virgin polyester. The regenerated polyester will re-enter the textile supply chain, forming new yarns and fabrics for consumer products.
The hub will also ensure textile-to-textile traceability through close collaboration with upstream partners, promoting transparency and circularity across the value chain.
The Netherlands’ commitment to green innovation and circular industry was instrumental in attracting this investment. The Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA), the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, and the Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth supported Reju’s decision. Minister Sophie Hermans (Climate Policy and Green Growth) hailed the project as a landmark development, stating that the Netherlands is now home to its first large-scale textile recycling plant, turning discarded garments into high-quality raw materials for new textiles.
Reju’s proprietary technology, originally developed by IBM Research, enables the efficient recovery and regeneration of polyester-based textile waste. Owned by Technip Energies, Reju aims to reduce the industry’s dependence on virgin materials by creating a scalable, circular system.
Koos van Haasteren, CEO of Chemelot, emphasized the alignment of Reju’s mission with Chemelot’s focus on sustainable and circular innovation in materials. “By integrating Reju’s advanced textile recycling technology within our industrial ecosystem, we can accelerate the reduction of textile waste and set new sustainability benchmarks for the sector,” he said.
The move reflects a growing urgency to address Europe’s rising textile waste, which reached an estimated 94 million tonnes in 2022. With textile consumption rising from 17kg to 19kg per person between 2019 and 2022, the need for circular solutions has become critical.
Regeneration Hub One represents a major milestone in the evolution of Europe’s circular economy, positioning the Netherlands as a leader in industrial-scale textile recycling.
