The Scale of the Opportunity
The global textile recycling market is projected to reach $5.5 billion by 2027. Recycled content commands premiums of 15-40% over virgin materials in premium market segments — a structural shift, not a temporary trend.
Four Models for Circular Fabric Business
1. Pre-consumer recycling: Factory yarn waste and fabric scraps are clean, sorted, and available in quantity. 2. Post-consumer mechanical recycling: AI-powered NIR sorting separates cotton from polyester at 99% accuracy. 3. Chemical recycling: Depolymerization of polyester produces material indistinguishable from virgin PET. 4. Fiber-to-fiber biological recycling: Enzymatic breakdown of cellulosic fibers advancing rapidly.