New facility marks a key step in scaling circular textiles in the U.S.
Reju, a textile-to-textile regeneration company, has announced the site selection for its first industrial-scale facility in the United States, marking a major milestone in its global expansion strategy. The future Regeneration Hub will be located in Rochester, New York, underscoring the company’s commitment to building circular textile systems across key global regions.
The selected site spans 18.9 acres at Eastman Business Park and is designed to regenerate the equivalent of up to 300 million garments annually that would otherwise end up as textile waste. The facility will produce recycled BHET (rBHET), which will be repolymerized into Reju PET, supporting a closed-loop textile economy. The project is also expected to create opportunities for near-shoring and diversifying manufacturing. Final investment approval remains subject to a decision by the board of Technip Energies, Reju’s parent company.
“As our first Regeneration Hub in the United States, this site selection is a major leap forward in building a truly global circular system,” said Patrik Frisk, CEO, Reju. “We are proud to bring Reju’s sustainable manufacturing and jobs to the Rochester community.”
The Rochester facility will become a key node in Reju’s growing network of regeneration hubs, complementing Regeneration Hub Zero in Frankfurt and Regeneration Hub One at Chemelot Industrial Park in Sittard, the Netherlands.
Reju leverages proprietary recycling technology developed by Technip Energies and IBM Research to regenerate textile waste—initially polyester—into high-quality Reju Polyester. The material delivers a carbon footprint around 50 per ecnt lower than virgin polyester and is engineered for multiple recycling cycles.
“New York State is committed to creating good paying jobs, and supporting innovative projects and companies that are working to keep materials out of landfills and protecting our planet,” said Kathy Hochul, Governor, New York State. “Reju’s ambitious project, that will create approximately 70 new jobs at Eastman Business Park, shows how smart investments can turn waste into opportunity.”
“Kodak is thrilled to welcome Reju to Eastman Business Park,” said Jim Moran, President, Eastman Business Park, Kodak. “We look forward to supporting Reju’s goal of building a system where textile waste doesn’t exist.”