Reju’s Regeneration Hub Zero: A New Era in Circular Fashion Begins in Frankfurt

Addressing the Textile Waste Crisis Head-On

Every year, the fashion industry generates around 92 million tons of textile waste. Most of this waste—an estimated 99%—is either burned or sent to landfill. Polyester, one of the most widely used materials, is especially problematic due to its durability and resistance to natural degradation. Reju’s mission to target polyester waste directly addresses this urgent issue, with Regeneration Hub Zero positioned as a solution to the industry’s current reliance on unsustainable, linear production cycles.

Reju CEO Patrik Frisk summarised this ambition, stating, “The world produces 92 million tons of textile waste each year, yet less than 1% is recycled. It is a system that extracts finite resources, creating textile waste with no responsibility for end-of-life.” With Regeneration Hub Zero, Reju is breaking the cycle, ensuring polyester can be collected, recycled, and returned to the market sustainably.

Innovation Through Strategic Partnerships and Advanced Technology

Regeneration Hub Zero isn’t just another recycling facility. Reju has partnered with Technip Energies, a world-renowned engineering company, to develop and scale this project at unprecedented speed. Technip Energies brings over 65 years of engineering expertise, combined with IBM’s advanced recycling technology, which enables Reju to create Reju Polyester—a regenerated fibre with a carbon footprint 50% lower than that of virgin polyester.

Reju’s closed-loop model guarantees traceability, ensuring every fibre is accounted for from the initial collection to the final product. This level of transparency is groundbreaking in an industry plagued by opaque supply chains, providing both brands and consumers with confidence that their textiles are sustainably sourced and can be recycled infinitely.

Regeneration Hub Zero: A Model for Future Textile Recycling

Located in Frankfurt, Regeneration Hub Zero symbolises a larger vision for the fashion industry: a shift to responsible resource management. The facility will start processing textile waste in 2025, focusing on recycling polyester at scale. Reju’s approach is not only practical but transformational, as it aligns with new global regulations calling for reduced waste and more sustainable textile systems.

Reju’s COO, Alain Poincheval, who brings extensive experience from Technip Energies, emphasized the company’s commitment to advancing climate solutions. “We are driving towards a less carbon-reliant economy,” he says. Through Regeneration Hub Zero, Reju demonstrates how circular infrastructure can address global challenges and evolve with the needs of a sustainable fashion future.

The Future of Circular Fashion

Reju’s Regeneration Hub Zero is more than an isolated effort—it is a scalable, global model that, if expanded, could drastically reduce the fashion industry’s environmental footprint. By rethinking how textiles are managed at their end-of-life, Reju is setting the standard for a circular economy that could reshape the fashion landscape.

As brands and consumers become increasingly conscious of environmental impacts, solutions like Reju Polyester offer a viable pathway to more sustainable choices. Through partnerships, technological innovation, and an unwavering commitment to circularity, Reju is making it easier for the industry to embrace responsible practices. The launch of Regeneration Hub Zero is just the beginning.

With future plans to expand this model and technology worldwide, Reju is not only solving textile waste challenges but also proving that fashion can indeed be circular, traceable, and sustainable. In an era where the industry must pivot towards better solutions, Reju’s pioneering hub in Frankfurt represents hope for a cleaner, more responsible fashion future.