Paris-based textile-to-textile recycling firm Reju is one step closer to scaling its commercial operations.
On Wednesday, the company was awarded 135 million euros (approximately $156 million) in funding under the Netherlands’ Nationale Investeringsregeling Klimaatprojecten Industrie (NIKI) program.
The funding will support Reju’s planned industrial-scale Regeneration Hub at Chemelot Industrial Park in Sittard-Geleen, in the country’s southeast region. Reju said the award—covering both the investment phase and ongoing operations—marks a critical milestone on the path toward a final investment decision
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Reju chose Chemelot Industrial Park as the site of its first industrial-scale “regeneration center” last May.
The Regeneration Hub will process post-consumer textiles that would otherwise enter the waste stream. The regenerated output will be transformed into Reju Polyester, delivering approximately 50 percent lower carbon emissions compared with virgin polyester. The material will then be reintroduced into downstream supply chains, where it will be converted into yarns and fabrics ready for end-use consumer applications.
The plant is poised to process some 60,000 metric tons of castoff clothing a year when it begins operations in 2027.
Chemelot Industrial Park was selected from a shortlist of 47 potential locations, distinguished by its well-established industrial ecosystem, integrated utilities, robust logistics infrastructure, and close ties to leading research and innovation hubs. According to Reju, these advantages are expected to enable a fast and efficient ramp-up, ensure operational reliability, and provide a scalable blueprint for replicating the model across future sites.
In addition to reducing the environmental impact of textile waste, the project is expected to emphasize industrial integration, energy and resource efficiency, and fully traceable circular supply chains, maximizing the displacement of virgin, fossil-based inputs.
Reju’s project is closely aligned with NIKI’s goals to accelerate large-scale industrial decarbonization and circularity. The Dutch government’s flagship program supports both national and European Union circular economy objectives.
“We are grateful to the Government of the Netherlands and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate for supporting the scale-up of commercial technologies that can deliver measurable emissions reductions and accelerate the transition to a truly circular textile industry,” said Patrik Frisk, CEO of Reju. “This award is a strong vote of confidence in our technology and our team. At Chemelot, we will deliver circular raw materials at scale, reduce emissions across textile value chains, and establish a replicable blueprint for circular textiles in Europe.”
