Circle-8 emerges as pioneering innovator for the transition to circular textiles

Circle-8 Textile Ecosystems is developing and deploying two interdependent manufacturing facilities. Firstly, a UK-based Advanced Textiles Sorting and Pre-Processing (ATSP) facility for non-reusable textiles – of all types – to supply vital inputs to existing and emerging mechanical and chemical recycling processes. This facility will provide the essential stepping stone to reliable, high volume, cost-effective feedstock supply to Circle-8’s second manufacturing facility, the UK’s first large-scale polymer recycling plant for non-reusable polyester and poly/cotton blend textiles.

Established to help enable the transition to a circular economy for textiles, Circle-8 is committed to the implementation of a full scale 50,000 tonne per year automated sorting and pre-processing facility to produce and supply feedstock to existing and emerging mechanical and chemical recycling processes. In line with its goal to introduce the UK’s first industrial scale fibre-to-fibre chemical recycling plant, the company is taking part in the two-year-long ACT UK initiative.

The project, announced by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Lucy Frazer MP, as part of the Creative Industries Sector Vision, on 14th June, will bring together and advance key technology components required to transition from manual sorting methods to automated systems. These include state-of-the-art optical scanning, robotics, AI, pre-processing (buttons, zips, trim removal) and size reduction equipment – all under one roof. It will create a world-class blueprint that integrates the latest technologies and can be replicated across the UK.

With over 300,000 tonnes of non-rewearable textiles estimated to be generated annually in the country, ACT UK will establish an enabling solution to turn unwanted textiles into feedstock for fibre-to-fibre recycling methods. In effect, it will pave the way for a concrete, optimised approach that can meet high throughput and quality feedstock requirements for recyclers.

Adam Mansell, CEO of UKFT, comments:

“What happens to our textiles when we no longer need them is a growing problem that we cannot ignore. With this ground-breaking project, we’re aiming to create a model to sort and prepare non-rewearable textiles for recycling in a way that’s never been done before, at scale. A national system of recycling plants could save 100,000s of tonnes of material from entering landfill. In turn, the system could generate huge volumes of material for use across the UK textile manufacturing sector.”

Cyndi Rhoades, CEO of Circle-8, concludes:

“The creation of a truly circular textile industry requires a comprehensive approach that evolves and reshapes the post-use textiles collection and sorting supply chain. Transitioning to regional, automated sorting facilities for non-rewearable textiles is an absolute must if we want to achieve reliable, high volume, cost effective material inputs for industrial scale fibre-to-fibre recycling plants. ACT UK offers precisely this, and we are thrilled to be part of this ground-breaking initiative."

Besides ACT UK, Circle-8 and UKFT are also collaborating on the Digital Supply Chain Hub Testbed for Textiles project, funded by Digital Catapult’s Made Smarter Innovation programme. This aims to develop technical solutions to access and use cross-supply chain data, delivering key insights into the economics and values of post-consumer textiles suitable for recycling to retailers and others in the supply chain.

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About ACT UK

ACT UK brings together a consortium of recycling technologies, textile collectors/sorters, academia, manufacturers, industry associations, technologists and brands/retailers, supported with funding from Innovate UK. It is part of a broader Circular Fashion Programme supported by Innovate UK, the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), all part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Led by the UKFT with close involvement of Circle-8 Textile Ecosystems, current project partners include IBM, Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Pangaia, Reskinned, Salvation Army, Oxfam, Textile Recycling International, New Look, Shred Station, Worn Again Technologies, English Fine Cottons, Alex Begg, Camira, Manufacturing Technology Centre, University of Leeds, University of Huddersfield, Textile Recycling Association and WRAP.