Technip Energies-owned textile regeneration specialist, Reju has formally designated Lacq, France, as the location for its first industrial-scale French Regeneration Hub. Situated on the TotalEnergies-owned Induslacq platform, the facility represents a pivotal shift from pilot operations to high-volume commercialization. This development addresses a critical market gap, as currently only 1 per cent of the 121 million tons of global textile waste is recycled back into garments. By situating the hub within France’s ‘low-carbon industrial basin,’ Reju is positioning itself to capitalize on the European Union’s 2025 mandatory textile collection requirements, transforming national waste streams into strategic raw material reserves.

Proprietary depolymerization technology overcomes downcycling

The Lacq facility will deploy advanced depolymerization technology - co-developed with IBM Research - to break down post-consumer polyester into rBHET, a purified monomer. Unlike traditional mechanical methods that degrade fiber quality, this chemical process yields Reju Polyester, which maintains virgin-grade performance with a 50 per cent lower carbon footprint.

This hub is not merely an addition to capacity; it is the industrialization of a closed-loop model, states Patrik Frisk, CEO, Reju. The project, pending a final investment decision by Technip Energies, is expected to generate 80 direct and 300 indirect jobs, reinforcing France's leadership in the $9 billion global textile recycling sector.

Owned by Technip Energies, Reju is an industrial technology firm specializing in polyester textile-to-textile regeneration. Operating across European and North American markets, the company leverages IBM-originated molecular sorting to produce infinitely recyclable PET. Reju is currently executing a global expansion strategy with planned hubs in the Netherlands and a $390 million facility in New York.