Axens, IFPEN and JEPLAN validate industrial-scale textile-to-textile polyester recycling
- Axens, IFPEN and JEPLAN processed several tens of tons of post-consumer polyester textiles in JEPLAN's semi‑industrial unit (capacity 1,000 t/yr).
- The run produced several tens of tons of BHET monomer for conversion back into polyester yarns, fabrics and garments.
- IFPEN and JEPLAN granted Axens an exclusive worldwide license to deploy the Rewind® PET technology for textile-to-textile recycling.
- About 60% of global textile production uses polyester while under 1% of fibers today are genuine textile-to-textile recycled material.
Industrial-scale validation
Axens, IFPEN and JEPLAN completed a semi‑industrial textile‑to‑textile recycling trial processing several tens of tons of post‑consumer, polyester‑rich textiles sorted in France and run in JEPLAN's semi‑industrial demonstration unit in Japan (1,000 t/yr capacity).
Process output
The test produced several tens of tons of BHET monomer, intended for conversion into polyester yarns, fabrics and garments, closing the loop from post‑consumer textiles back to textile feedstock.
Technology deployment and licensing
Rewind® PET, already commercialized for PET packaging, was validated for textile use and IFPEN/JEPLAN granted Axens an exclusive worldwide license to deploy the technology to industrial players developing local or regional textile‑to‑textile loops.
Circularity implications
The trial demonstrates one of the first representative industrial runs for textile PET chemical recycling, enabling substitution of fossil feedstock at existing polyester production sites and offering a short recycling loop with potential carbon‑footprint and cost benefits; this is notable given that roughly 60% of textile production uses polyester while under 1% of fibers are recycled into textiles today.
Source: Axens