Product Overview: Renewcell
Introduction
Renewcell is a pioneering company in the textile recycling industry, renowned for its innovative and patented process of transforming cellulosic textile waste into a high-quality, biobased material called Circulose®. This groundbreaking technology addresses the significant environmental impact of the textile industry by providing a sustainable alternative to traditional raw materials.
What it Does
Renewcell’s process involves the recycling of used garments and textile production waste, primarily those with high cellulosic content such as cotton and viscose. These textiles are collected, processed, and converted into a dissolving pulp product known as Circulose®. This recycled material is then reintegrated into the textile production value chain, serving as an equal-quality replacement for virgin materials like cotton, oil, and wood.
Key Features and Functionality
Raw Material Processing
- Renewcell receives and processes used garments and textile production waste, which are shredded, de-buttoned, de-zipped, and de-colored to create a uniform slurry.
Contaminant Removal
- The slurry undergoes a separation process to remove contaminants and non-cellulosic content, ensuring the purity of the final product.
Production of Circulose®
- The purified slurry is dried to produce Circulose®, a branded dissolving pulp made from 100% recycled textiles. This material is packaged into bales for distribution.
Quality Control
- Renewcell utilizes advanced technology, such as hand-held NIR sensors from Sagitto, to perform quality checks on incoming textile waste. This ensures the suitability of each load for the recycling process.
Environmental Benefits
- The use of Circulose® significantly reduces the environmental footprint of textile production. It consumes much less water and chemicals compared to traditional cotton production, which requires large quantities of water and the use of pesticides and fertilizers.
Industrial Scale Production
- Renewcell operates on an industrial scale, with its demonstration plant in Kristinehamn, Sweden, capable of producing up to 4,500 tonnes of Circulose® per year. The new Ortviken plant, co-located with pulp and paper producer SCA, has a production capacity of 60,000 tonnes per year, with potential for future expansion.
Industry Integration
- Circulose® is used by major textile producers and fashion brands such as Levi’s, Calvin Klein, H&M, and Tommy Hilfiger to replace raw materials with high environmental impact. This integration supports the broader goal of making the fashion industry more sustainable.
Renewcell’s innovative technology and commitment to sustainability make it a leader in the textile recycling industry, offering a viable solution to reduce waste and environmental impact while providing high-quality, recycled materials for textile production.