KK
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) · University
A biobased solvent that pulls the dye out during mechanical recycling.
LicensingIn-development
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Receive a weekly email digest of the latest textile recycling solutions added by the network.Browse 313 solutions in textile recycling technology on the Halo network
Updated Nov 2, 2026
Textile recycling technology covers recovering usable material from a textile at end of life. On Halo, the solutions cover removing the pigment or dye, enzymatic and chemical recycling, and sorting and converting what is recovered. Sign up to search the full network and post your specific need.
Removing the pigment or dye
KK
Leila Azimian
Bio-Stat-Green Consulting Inc · Supplier
Pigment separated from thermoplastic polyurethane efficiently enough to matter.
Early-stage
KS
Immobilized enzymes degrading pigment continuously in the same material.
Early-stage
Giorgio Tofani
National Institute of Chemistry (Kemijski inštitut) · University
A dissolution process extracting pigment out of recycled polyurethane.
Early-stage
Enzymatic and chemical recycling
UO
University of Copenhagen
Metal-free glycolysis breaks PET and PET/cotton fabric down to repolymerizable BHET while recovering the cotton.
In-development
EV
Evoralis · Startup
Enzymes that depolymerize synthetic textile polymers, including complex blends, with no mechanical separation step.
In-development
JC
EsterCycle · Startup
Advanced recycling aimed at mixed bioplastics, which usually defeat sorting.
Sponsored researchIn-development
Johan Kers
Birch Biosciences · Startup
PET recycled enzymatically and still strong enough for packaging.
In-development
MT
BIOCHOSEN · Supplier
Valorization of the screen rejects left after corrugated board recycling.
In-development
Sorting and converting what is recovered
Samiris Côcco Teixeira
Universidade Federal de Viçosa · University
Resin markers read by FT-IR, so a polymer can be sorted reliably.
Sponsored researchEarly-stage
Gajanan Bhat
University of Georgia
Recycled biodegradable film converted into a melt-blown nonwoven.
Sponsored researchEarly-stage
Farshid Pahlevani
Sustainable Solutions Simplified · Supplier
Waste-based thermal insulation for food delivery packaging.
Co-developmentIn-development
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Who is working on textile recycling technology
Organizations in textile recycling technology
Universities, startups, and suppliers with solutions in textile recycling.
About textile recycling technology
Color is the obstacle almost every entry on Halo addresses. Four remove pigment or dye from a polymer before it can be recycled, using biobased solvents, immobilized enzymes or a dissolution process. The rest break the polymer down enzymatically or chemically, or turn the recovered material into something else. On Halo it spans three groups: removing the pigment or dye, enzymatic and chemical recycling, and sorting and converting what is recovered.
Stage of development. Work on textile recycling technology on Halo is split between university programs and companies. 30% of the solutions are in market. Co-development and licensing are the usual partnering routes, and about 46% of the solutions that state terms offer pilot engagements.
Three trends in textile recycling on Halo
Four entries on one obstacle. Removing pigment from thermoplastic polyurethane draws three separate approaches, immobilized enzymes, a dissolution process and a separation step, and a fourth entry pulls dye out of textiles with a biobased solvent during mechanical recycling. Recycled polymer is worth what its color allows it to become, and dark is worth least.
Enzymes are doing the depolymerizing. PET recycled enzymatically to a strength that still works in packaging, immobilized enzymes degrading pigment in a continuous process, and advanced recycling built for mixed bioplastics. Enzymatic routes tolerate mixed and contaminated feedstock where a purely chemical process needs sorting first.
Sorting is what the recycling depends on. Three entries work on what happens before and after the chemistry. Resin markers read by FT-IR make a polymer sortable, recycled biodegradable film is converted into a melt-blown nonwoven, and a waste stream becomes thermal insulation for food delivery packaging. Mixed material defeats recycling, so identifying it is half the problem.
299organizations
313solutions listed
57%from startups and companies
30%in market
Frequently asked questions
What is textile recycling?
Textile recycling technology covers recovering usable material from a textile or a polymer at end of life. It spans enzymatic and chemical recycling of polyester and mixed bioplastics, removing the pigment or dye that blocks reuse, sorting aids, and the conversion of recovered material into a new product. Recyclers, converters and brand owners are the buyers.
What are examples of textile recycling?
Three examples of textile recycling solutions on Halo include:
- A biobased solvent that pulls the dye out during mechanical recycling. (National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL))
- Advanced recycling aimed at mixed bioplastics, which usually defeat sorting. (EsterCycle)
- Resin markers read by FT-IR, so a polymer can be sorted reliably. (Universidade Federal de Viçosa)
What are the latest textile recycling innovations?
The most recently updated textile recycling solutions on Halo include:
- Enzymes that depolymerize synthetic textile polymers, including complex blends, with no mechanical separation step. (Evoralis)
- Scannable identifiers embedded in the fiber itself, so garments can be traced and sorted for recycling. (Fibarcode)
- Metal-free glycolysis breaks PET and PET/cotton fabric down to repolymerizable BHET while recovering the cotton. (University of Copenhagen)
Which companies and suppliers are developing textile recycling?
There are 299 organizations with textile recycling solutions on Halo, 42 of them universities and research institutions. Among them are National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Bio-Stat-Green Consulting Inc, and Lewis University. Most offer co-development or licensing. Sign up to see every organization working in the area and to send them your specific need.
How do I find textile recycling research partners?
Browsing textile recycling solutions on Halo is free. Sign up to search the full network and save the ones you want. Post your specific need to get exact matches. Organizations reply directly on the platform.
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