Production demonstrator for large-scale polyester recycling

Global production of virgin textile fibres amounted to 111 million tonnes in 2019 and is expected to increase to 150 million tonnes by 2030. Fossil-based polyester is the most widely used fibre, accounting for 50-60% of textile waste, but less than 1% of this is recycled fiber-to-fiber today. At the same time, demand for recycled fibers is growing rapidly, driven by new legislation, environmental commitments from the textile industry and increased awareness among consumers.

Objectives of the project

The aim and purpose of the project is to demonstrate the technical, environmental and economic feasibility of large-scale chemical fiber-to-fiber recycling of mixed polyester waste. By creating the conditions for a first full-scale plant in Sweden with a capacity of 20,000 tons per year, a global roll-out of the technology is planned. A key part of the project is the development of a patented core technology that has high tolerance to variations and impurities in the raw material, which is crucial given the heterogeneity that characterizes textile waste.

In summary, the project aims to solve the textile industry's biggest fiber challenge by enabling large-scale recycling of polyester. This has the potential to provide significant environmental and societal benefits, while helping to close the cycle of polyester in the industry and reduce dependence on virgin resources.