Circle-8 Partners with NewRetex to Advance Circular Textile Recycling in the UK
Circle-8 Textile Ecosystems, a UK-based leader in circular textile infrastructure, has partnered with Danish innovation firm NewRetex to install an advanced AI-powered textile sorting line. This fully automated system—capable of processing 25,000 tonnes annually—marks a pivotal step in scaling up fibre-to-fibre recycling in the UK.
Each year, over 700,000 tonnes of non-reusable textiles are discarded in the UK, with less than 1% recycled into new materials. Circle-8’s investment in NewRetex’s high-precision sorting technology aims to change that by enabling accurate classification of textiles by fibre type, color, and hardware, while also collecting traceable data for integration into Digital Product Passports.
Supported by Innovate UK’s ACT programme, this collaboration not only strengthens local recycling infrastructure but also positions the UK at the forefront of sustainable textile innovation in Europe