One of the clearest messages from the discussion was that many of the technologies required for textile-to-textile recycling have matured significantly.
The recent ITMAconnect webinar, Scaling Textile-to-Textile Recycling: From Fibre Innovation to Factory Implementation, brought together industry experts from across the textile value chain to examine the next phase of the industry’s development. While significant progress has been made in recycling technologies, the discussion focused on a different question: what will it take to scale textile-to-textile recycling into commercially viable industrial production?
Moderated by Sophie Ridler, Recycled Engagement Manager at Textile Exchange, the webinar featured perspectives from fibre innovation, yarn manufacturing, mechanical recycling and sorting technologies. Despite representing different parts of the textile recycling landscape, the panellists shared a common view: while technological innovation continues to advance, the industry’s next phase will depend on turning these innovations into commercially viable industrial solutions.
Technology is maturing. Scaling is next.
One of the clearest messages from the discussion was that many of the technologies required for textile-to-textile recycling have matured significantly. Across fibre regeneration, sorting and yarn manufacturing, innovation continues to advance, allowing more companies to move beyond pilot projects towards commercial deployment.
As Tanja Karila, Chief Commercial Officer of Infinited Fiber Company, noted:
“The technology works. The value chain around the technology needs to be onboarded and ready to scale with you.”
The discussion reflected a broader industry shift. Rather than asking whether recycling technologies can work, attention is increasingly turning towards creating the commercial conditions needed for wider adoption.
Scaling requires the entire value chain
Turning technological innovation into industrial-scale production requires coordinated progress across the textile manufacturing value chain.
Throughout the discussion, panellists emphasised that successful implementation depends on collaboration across recyclers, machinery manufacturers, fibre producers, brands, manufacturers, researchers and policymakers.
Long-term partnerships, investment confidence and shared commitment across the value chain will increasingly determine how quickly textile-to-textile recycling can expand beyond early commercial projects.
For technology providers, this also creates new opportunities. As recycling becomes increasingly integrated into mainstream textile manufacturing, demand is growing for complementary technologies supporting sorting, fibre processing, spinning, automation, traceability and production optimisation.
Feedstock, Market Demand and Policy Must Progress Together
While technology continues to advance, panellists agreed that several challenges remain.
Reliable feedstock is one of the most significant. Post-consumer textiles vary widely in fibre composition, colour and quality, making consistent processing considerably more complex than recycling production waste.
At the same time, investment confidence depends on stronger market demand for recycled fibres and policy frameworks that encourage long-term industry investment without creating unnecessary complexity.
Rather than viewing these issues independently, the discussion highlighted the need for technical innovation, market demand, infrastructure and policy to progress together.
Five industry takeaways
The discussion highlighted five clear priorities for the industry’s next phase:
• Recycling technology has progressed significantly, with many recycling solutions moving beyond pilot-stage development.
• Scaling depends on collaboration across the textile manufacturing value chain.
• Reliable feedstock remains a critical challenge requiring continued investment in collection, sorting and traceability.
• Market demand, investment and policy must develop together to support wider commercial adoption.
• Industrial implementation, not technology development, is becoming the industry’s next priority.
Stop talking. Start doing.
Asked to share one final piece of advice for the industry, each panellist offered a concise but powerful message. Although expressed differently, their closing remarks reflected a common message: continued progress now depends on accelerating implementation through collaboration, purposeful design and practical action across the value chain.
Bertram Wevers encouraged the industry to “Stop talking. Start doing.” Tanja Karila urged stakeholders to “Do it together with your ecosystem.” Jean-François Gryspeert reminded participants to “Just do it. Make it easy to start.” Anurag Gupta highlighted the importance of “Design for circularity,” while Sophie Ridler reinforced the need to “Design meaningfully.”
Together, these closing messages captured the spirit of the discussion. The technologies continue to advance, but scaling textile-to-textile recycling will ultimately depend on how effectively the industry works together to turn innovation into commercially viable, industrial-scale solutions.
As the industry enters this next phase, ITMA 2027 will bring together technology providers, manufacturers, recyclers, brands, researchers and policymakers from across the global textile and garment manufacturing ecosystem. By convening the global textile manufacturing ecosystem, ITMA will continue to foster dialogue, showcase technologies and enable partnerships that accelerate the industry’s transition from innovation to industrial-scale implementation.