In preparation for its first large-scale textile recycling facility, US textile recycling pioneer Circ has placed an engineering order with international technology firm ANDRITZ.
Cotton and polyester will be recovered from mixed textile waste for the first time by this facility.
Circ’s Chief Operating Officer, Conor Hartman, states: “We are still thrilled about our ongoing partnership with ANDRITZ. By working together, we will bring Circ’s creative recycling method to market and advance the fashion industry’s transition to a genuinely circular one. ANDRITZ is the ideal partner to assist us in industrially converting textile waste into recycled fibres because of its experience in developing and constructing large-scale process equipment.
Blends of polyester and cotton make up the majority of fashion waste, which makes increasing circularity extremely difficult. One of the biggest challenges has been separating synthetic and cellulosic fibres from textile waste. Waste from polycotton textiles may be broken down into its constituent polyester and cotton using Circ’s creative recycling method. 200 tonnes of textile waste will be processed daily by the new facility, enabling polyester to be recycled for the manufacturing of polyester and cotton to be recycled for the creation of lyocell. As a result, less virgin raw material will be required.
“We are excited to support Circ in their vision of circularity because the technology they have developed is uniquely suited to solve one of the biggest challenges in fashion waste and recycling,” says Michael Waupotitsch, Vice President Textile Recycling at ANDRITZ. We have the necessary skills to assist customers in reaching their objectives thanks to our comprehensive understanding of resizing, mechanical separation, hydrothermal processing, cellulosic pulp recovery, pulp cleaning, and pulp drying. Their creative recycling technique will be made a reality with the aid of our machinery and process development expertise.
At the ANDRITZ Fibre R&D Centre in Springfield, Ohio, USA, ANDRITZ has been successfully testing Circ for a number of years. The decision to extend this collaboration is the result of recent advancements and the partnership’s success.
A trailblazing business, Circ® focusses on eco-friendly garment industry solutions. Circ lessens the need for natural resources and fuel by turning trash from the fashion industry into recyclable raw materials for textiles. Building a genuinely circular economy is the company’s goal in order to shield the environment from the expense of clothes.