Zenbird Editorial TeamJEPLAN, Inc., Axens, and IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN) have successfully completed their demonstration of a semi-commercial scale fibre-to-fibre recycling process. The partners processed tens of tonnes of used textile waste at a facility in Kitakyushu, Japan, to produce monomers recycled from 100 per cent waste polyester. This is an achievement that pushes for a circular economy for the global textile industry.
The demonstration took place at the Kitakyushu Hibikinada Plant, a semi-commercial facility operated by JEPLAN with an annual production capacity of 1,000 tonnes. The project utilised polyester textile waste collected through public systems in France. Before being shipped to Japan, the waste underwent sorting and pre-treatment by partner companies Nouvelles Fibres Textile and Mapea.
The process employs Rewind® PET technology to break down post-consumer polyester into a that monomer becomes intermediate raw material for manufacturing new PET. The successful production at this scale proves that the technology is ready for industrial application. The resulting material will be processed into recycled polyester yarn, fabric, and clothing, specifically targeting the sportswear, interior, and luxury fashion sectors.
This trial is one of the first in the world to demonstrate fibre-to-fibre chemical recycling at a scale that reflects actual commercial operating conditions. It provides a technical foundation for stakeholders in the textile industry to integrate circularity into their entire supply chain, from raw material procurement to product end-of-life management.
The technology is already proven for food-grade PET packaging recycling and is now confirmed effective for textiles. Axens holds an exclusive licensing agreement with IFPEN and JEPLAN to deploy this technology to industrial operators worldwide.
[Reference] JEPLAN News (Japanese)
