Recycled Textiles Fuel Sustainable PET Production
Selenis and Circ® Pioneer Circularity in Polyester Supply Chain
A groundbreaking collaboration is transforming textile waste into high-quality polyester, offering a potential solution to the industry’s growing sustainability challenges. Selenis, a leading PET manufacturer, has successfully produced recycled PET chips using materials recovered by Circ®, a Virginia-based textile-to-textile recycler.
Pilot Plant Success
The chip production occurred in batches at Selenis’ pilot plant in San-Giorgio, Italy. Utilizing polycotton textile waste as feedstock, the process yielded PET chips suitable for creating durable DTY yarn. This yarn will be instrumental in Circ®’s upcoming product launches, demonstrating the viability of closed-loop textile systems.
Eduardo Santos, Head of Corporate Strategy at Selenis, highlighted the impressive results. The monomer synthesis showed a performance comparable to virgin terephthalic acid.
He further expressed confidence in the consistent quality of Circ®’s monomer output and predicted future commercial viability.
Industry Momentum Towards Circularity
The fashion industry is a significant contributor to global waste. According to a 2024 report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, less than 1% of clothing material is recycled into new clothing, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions like this partnership. (Ellen MacArthur Foundation – Fashion)
“The Circ partnership complements Selenis’s existing mission and goals for a more sustainable textile industry. We anticipate expanding upon this collaboration and providing support for Circ’s forthcoming commercial production trials.”
—Eduardo Santos, Head of Corporate Strategy at Selenis
Future Plans
Selenis is actively pursuing an offtake partnership with Circ® to support the operation of its inaugural industrial facility. This collaboration signifies a major step towards scaling up textile recycling and reducing reliance on virgin materials. The success of this initial phase paves the way for broader adoption of circular economy principles within the polyester supply chain.
The partnership demonstrates a commitment to innovation and sustainability, potentially reshaping the future of textile production and consumption.
