Circle-8 & NewRetex Use AI to Transform Textile Recycling in UK
Circle-8 Textile Ecosystems, a leading British company, has made a strategic move by acquiring a cutting-edge, automated single-line sorter from NewRetex, a Danish innovation firm. This investment marks a significant step toward enhancing the development of a circular textile infrastructure in the UK, setting a new industry standard for the future of textile recycling.
The UK generates over 700,000 tonnes of non-reusable textiles annually, but less than 1% is currently recycled into new textiles. Most of this waste ends up in landfills or is incinerated. This waste stream represents an untapped resource that holds great potential for creating a circular economy by transforming textile waste into raw materials for fibre-to-fibre recycling. This process is especially relevant for recycling polyester, cotton, and man-made cellulosic fibers.
With NewRetex as a key partner, Circle-8 is developing a network of automated sorting and pre-treatment facilities aimed at converting non-reusable textiles into valuable materials for large-scale fibre-to-fibre recycling. The NewRetex single-line sorter is a vital component of this network, designed for high-performance with a capacity of 25,000 tonnes per year—a significant milestone toward industrial circularity.
Circle-8 has also received substantial backing from Innovate UK’s ACT UK programme under its Automatic Sorting for Circularity and Textiles initiative. This funding supports the development of an Automated Textile Sorting & Pre-processing (ATSP) system to accelerate fibre-to-fibre recycling on an industrial scale.
Cyndi Rhoades, Co-founder and CEO of Circle-8, expressed her excitement about the partnership:
“We are extremely impressed by the approach NewRetex has taken with their automated sorting system. This will significantly advance the shift from manual to automated sorting of non-reusable textiles, setting the stage for scaling fibre-to-fibre recycling plants in the UK.”
The NewRetex sorting line allows for high-capacity sorting and precise classification of textiles by:
- Material composition
- Colour
- Hard parts like buttons and zippers
Additionally, the system will collect valuable data such as the weight and size of each textile, which will be integrated across pre-sorting, baling, and recycling facilities. This data will help trace materials from collection to the final recycled product and, ultimately, enable the use of Digital Product Passports.
Rikke Bech, CEO and Co-founder of NewRetex, added:
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Circle-8 to bring our sorting and traceability technologies to the UK. Their plans for scaling textile sorting and recycling in the UK have great potential, and we are excited to help drive this transformation in Europe.”
This partnership takes NewRetex into the next phase of ecosystem development, working with partners from across the UK and Europe.