Over 50 million tonnes of textiles go to landfill every year. The demand for raw materials to make textiles is set to increase by 63% over the next decade. Current textile recycling methods turn less than 1% of non-reusable materials back into new textiles, whilst the demand for resources continues to grow. Plastics use is also increasing and current recycling methods are unable to meet market demand for high quality materials

Worn Again Technologies has developed a polymer recycling technology for non-reusable textiles which separates, decontaminates and extracts polyester and cellulose (from cotton). The inputs can be pure polyester, poly/cotton, poly/cellulose blends with up to 10% 'other', including nylon, wool, elastane, etc. The outputs are polyester pellets and cellulose pulp to be returned into supply chains to become fibre, yarn and textiles as part of a continual cycle.

Worn Again's recycling technology is able to separate, decontaminate and extract polyester and cellulose (from cotton) from non-reusable textiles and polyester bottles and packaging to produce dual PET and cellulose outputs. By using existing textiles as inputs for making new textiles, regenerative recycling processes will enable the circularity of raw materials. Additionally, this will lead to a widespread reduction in CO2 emissions, water, pesticides and land use.

Worn Again Technologies has secured around £7.1 million in equity capital from investors. Key investors include the H&M Group and global fluid engineering and manufacturing firm, Sulzer.