Swedish company Re:newcell has developed a technology that makes it possible to take waste from the textile industry and from it produce new pulp. Such a pulp is called dissolving pulp, and is today made from trees. Dissolving pulp is mainly used to manufacture textile fiber materials such as viscose or lyocell. Until today it has not been possible to make new high quality textiles from recycled fabric.

With the company’s newly developed technology, old textiles such as jeans or T-shirts can be converted into new textile pulp. Such Re:newcell pulp is then used to produce new clothes.

The global textile demand is currently some 90 million tons per year. Natural materials such as cotton and viscose represent only about one-third. The remaining fibers are mainly oil-based materials such as polyester, elastane and nylon.

Being able to increase the amount of natural materials by extending the life of already available resources is a top priority both among consumers and among big fashion companies. Until now, it has not been possible to recycle cotton into the quality that the fashion industry demands, but with Re:newcell pulp this becomes possible.

Re:newcell has started construction of its demonstration plant, where a completely new way of recycling cotton will revolutionise the fashion industry. The factory is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2017.