HKRITA, Jeanologia and Looptworks Team to Commercialize Blended Textile Recycling
As fashion aims to transition to circular systems, one hurdle has typically created a roadblock: the prevalence of blended fabrics.
The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA), laundry innovator Jeanologia and textile-to-textile recycler Looptworks are looking to scale recycling of blended textiles with a newly inked memorandum of understanding. The collaboration will see the creation of the Green Machine Circular Textile Ecosystem, bringing together HKRITA as the technology provider, Jeanologia as the machinery supplier and Looptworks as a potential adopter.
HKRITA’s Green Machine 4.0 is able to separate polyester from cotton-poly blends using hydrothermal recycling technology. Using a combination of heat, water and green chemistry, the machine turns cotton fibers into cellulose powder, which can be used for the production of regenerated cellulosic fibers, water-retaining materials for agriculture and PFAS-free durable water repellants. The remaining polyester is at least 98 percent pure, allowing it to be recycled into new polyester. The process only takes about two hours.
“Blended materials have long been a major barrier to circularity, and this technology enables us to effectively realize their value at scale,” said Scott Hamlin, founder and CEO of Looptworks. “By reintroducing recovered fibers into the supply chain, we are proving that circular solutions are both environmentally practical and economically viable.”
The Green Machine is commercially scalable. Brands like Monki have used fibers extracted from the device for collections, and manufacturers including Isko and PT. Kahatex have adopted or licensed the technology.
“The circular economy is no longer a distant goal—it is here,” said Jake Koh, CEO of HKRITA. “With the Green Machine 4.0 now proven adoption-ready and scalable, this partnership marks a decisive shift from research to commercialization.”
With the MOU, the partners are helping to propel this further. Jeanologia will support as the first machinery parter of Green Machine by building machines that fit European regulatory needs, while Looptworks will leverage its expertise at creating recycled fibers. Adding blended feedstocks allows textile recyclers to expand their revenue streams, and reaching a greater scale will allow more brands to adopt these fibers.
In addition to the three partners, the ecosystem is open to other collaborators including textile recyclers, manufacturers and fashion brands.
“For the last 25 years, we have transformed the denim industry through technology, innovation and collaboration,” said Enrique Silla, CEO and founder of Jeanologia. “Today, we are bringing that same experience to one of the industry’s greatest challenges: textile-to-textile recycling. At Jeanologia, we believe recycling must become part of the industry’s pre-competitive space, where companies work together to create solutions that no single organization can achieve alone.”