Circ , a recycler based in Danville, Virginia, is partnering with Huafon to launch a large-scale textile recycling facility in China. this collaboration aims to transform discarded clothing into high-quality raw materials for the fashion industry.
Processing 200 metric tons of textile waste every day
A new partnership between Circ and Huafon aims to establish a massive textile recycling facility in China. According to the report , the first phase of this project is designed to process approximately 200 metric tons of textile waste on a daily basis.
While the Danville, Virginia-based recycler, Circ, provides the core technology and a network of brand partners, Huafon will contribute the necessary manufacturing infrastructure, engineering expertise, and logistics to ensure the project can scale. This industrial-scale approach is intended to move the technology beyond experimental stages and into mainstream manufacturing.
Recovering PTA and MEG building blocks via hydrothermal processing
Circ utilizes a specialized hydrothermal process to break down textile waste into its most basic chemical components. this method allows the company to recover two essential polyester building blocks: purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and monoethylene glycol (MEG).
By converting old clothes into these high-quality materials, the process allows manufacturers to create new garments that are chemically identical to those made from virgin resources. This creates a closed-loop system where the "waste" from one garment becomes the "raw material" for the next . This shift is vital for reducing the fashion industry's heavy reliance on petroleum-based synthetics and mitigating the environmental impact of textile landfills.
Beyond polyester, the technology also produces regenerated cellulosic fibers, such as lyocell and viscose. These materials can be reintegrated into existing suppy chains, allowing brands and mills to purchase recycled inputs that meet current manufacturing standards.
A 2029 rollout for Shenghong Chemical Fiber’s recycled polyester
Major industrial players are already securing the commercial future of this new textile recycling technology. As reported by WWD, Shenghong Chemical Fiber New Material Co. Ltd. has entered into a long-term agreement to purchase Circ’s recycled polyester for use in its clothing lines starting in 2029.
This agreement marks a significant milestone, as it represents one of the first multi-year purchase deals between a retailer and a textile-to-textile recycler. With construction expected to begin soon, the goal is to have the facility fully operational by 2029, providing a steady stream of recycled materials to the global market and helping brands meet their long-term sustainability targets.
Will Circ's hydrothermal tech meet the 2029 deadline?
Despite the ambitious plans, several critical details remain unverified in the current report. It is not yet clear exactly where in China the new site will be located, nor has the total amount of investment provided by Huafon been disclosed.
Furthermore, while the partnership aims for massive scale, the industry is still waiting to see if this hydrothermal method can maintain its efficiency when processing diverse, blended textile waste at such high volumes. The success of the project hinges on whether the 2029 timeline remains intact and whether the resulting PTA and MEG can compete with the cost and availability of traditional manufacturing inputs.
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