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Dual Technology Integration: Erema and BlockTexx Solve the Challenge of Recycling Mixed Textiles

Plastmatch Global Digest 2025-10-22 11:08:42

At the K Show in Germany in 2025, the Erema Group announced a strategic investment in the clean technology company BlockTexx. This Australian pioneering company has developed a process to separate polyester and cellulose from blended textiles. By integrating the technologies of both companies, this collaboration aims to scale up post-consumer textile-to-textile recycling to an industrial level.

Through strategic cooperation, the Erema Group emphasizes its commitment to returning polyester to the garment production cycle and expanding the scale of textile-to-textile recycling. "The scale of the PET fiber industry is three times that of the PET bottle industry. For years, we have been investing in R&D for textile and fiber recycling. With the technology we already provide for PET fiber recycling, our next step is to achieve comprehensive industrial textile recycling. We see BlockTexx as a key partner in this effort. Their technology paves the way for second-hand textiles to re-enter the production cycle," said Erema Group CEO Manfred Hackl.

BlockTexx's process separates polyester and cellulose from post-consumer textiles and garments, providing polyester for Erema's technology. The Intarema FibrePro: IV system processes the polyester into recycled pellets suitable for the production of new garments. "Our thermo-mechanical recycling system is a core element of textile recycling," said Wolfgang Hermann, Business Development Manager for Fibres and Textiles at Erema Group. "However, comprehensive textile recycling requires the combination of multiple technologies, and BlockTexx unlocks the solution for processing polyester-blended textiles."

Industrial scale expansion

BlockTexx operates a facility in Australia, processing 10,000 tons annually, and plans to build a second 50,000-ton facility. The introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation for textiles by the EU will increase the demand for recycling solutions, thereby increasing the urgency for industry transformation.

The textile industry faces recycling challenges.

According to data from the Textile Exchange, the production of synthetic fibers in 2023 is 75 million tons, with polyester being the most common, accounting for 57% of total fiber production. The recycling rate of polyester is estimated to be only 1%. According to Textile Exchange, by 2023, regenerated fibers account for 7.7% of the global fiber market, with 7% coming from recycled PET bottles, which means that most regenerated polyester today still comes from PET bottles.

With the recent passage of binding legislation by the European Union, which mandates producers' extended responsibility (EPR) programs that require textile manufacturers to collect, sort, and recycle textile waste, the industry is poised for transformation. As these rules come into effect over the next few years, the demand for post-consumer textile recycling solutions is expected to increase significantly. "EU legislation could fundamentally change the industry. While most textile production occurs in Asia, Europe is the primary consumer of fashion. Therefore, this legislation will have significant global implications," noted Graham Ross, co-founder of BlockTexx.

Set New Standards for Cyclicity

By combining mechanical processing, chemical separation, and fiber regeneration, this partnership has established a model that sets a new industrial standard for circularity. "25 years ago, people couldn't imagine bottle-to-bottle recycling. Today, it has become the norm. I believe the same will happen with textile-to-textile recycling," said Hackl. "The textile industry has been slow to recognize the importance of recycling, often using difficulties as an excuse. Now, there are no more excuses. Through the collaboration between EREMA and BlockTexx, textile-to-textile recycling will become a reality on an industrial scale," added Jones.

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Dual Technology Integration: Erema and BlockTexx Solve the Challenge of Recycling Mixed Textiles

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