SaXcell and Birla Cellulose sign MoU for recycled fibre production

SaXcell’s textile waste pulping technology combined with Birla’s advanced wet spinning expertise results in high-quality sustainable ‘SaXcell’ recycled fibres serving the circular textile needs of customers at commercial scale.

Textile recycling innovator SaXcell has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Aditya Birla Group’s, Birla Cellulose, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of man-made cellulosic fibre.

The MoU paves the way for the expansion of collaboration between the two companies for production of recycled man-made cellulosic fibres. SaXcell’s textile waste pulping technology combined with Birla’s advanced wet spinning expertise results in high-quality sustainable ‘SaXcell’ recycled fibres serving the circular textile needs of customers at commercial scale.

Commenting on the development, Erik van der Weerd, CEO, SaXcell, highlighted that this collaboration fits SaXcell’s vision to set up a robust circular textile supply chain based on partnership and mutual commitment. He explains, “To address today’s social and environmental challenges of the textile industry, global collaboration is imperative. We need to facilitate a change from a linear to a circular economy and we need to do it now. SaXcell’s and Birla’s combined innovation force and production power offer a great opportunity to create real impact.”

Commenting on this circularity and sustainability focussed collaboration, Dr Aspi Patel, Chief Technology Officer, Aditya Birla Group and Birla Cellulose, points out, “Birla Cellulose is strongly committed to support innovators for expanding circular fibre offerings in the textile and non-woven value chain. We have been exploring innovative business models and partnerships, this collaboration is one such initiative, where we aim to help SaXcell leapfrog from pilot to commercial demonstration scale. Such partnerships will play an increasingly important role in accelerating circularity in global textile value chain.”

SaXcell B.V. is an innovative technology development company that recycles used textiles into feedstock for making new and sustainable man-made cellulosic fibres. Creating the new fibres requires less water, land and chemicals. A team of researchers from Saxion University of Applied Science in Enschede started with SaXcell B.V. in 2015. After extensively testing and improving the technology, a pilot factory was successfully built in 2020. By 2024 SaXcell will further expand by building a Small Scale Production plant in Enschede, The Netherlands.

Birla Cellulose, the pulp and fibre business of the Aditya Birla Group, is a leading sustainability-focused Man-Made Cellulosic Fibres (MMCF) producer.

Birla Cellulose operates 12 sites for pulp and fibre manufacturing that apply environmentally efficient processes including recycled materials, closed loop technologies contributing to enhanced conservation of natural resources. Birla Cellulose is among the top Hot Button Ranking MMCF producers and has been accorded a ‘dark green shirt’ by the Canopy Planet Society. Its five global advanced research centres are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and pilot plants. Birla Cellulose’s fibres are made from renewable wood and are produced using processes with lower environmental impact. 

Birla Cellulose collaborates actively with its upstream and downstream partners to create a bigger and broader positive impact on the sustainability of its value chain.