France’s Textile Recycling Revolution: Nouvelles Fibres Textiles Launches Automated Plant

Inauguration of automated textile waste sorting and recycling plant at Nouvelles Fibres Textiles © ANDRITZ

(IN BRIEF) Nouvelles Fibres Textiles, in partnership with Pellenc ST and ANDRITZ, has inaugurated France’s first automated textile recycling plant. This pioneering facility, launched on November 30, 2023, marks a significant step toward a circular economy for textiles. The plant’s automated sorting line can efficiently categorize garments by composition and color, as well as remove hard elements like buttons and zippers. It aims to process textile waste, generating recycled fibers for various industries. This initiative aligns with the EU’s strategy to reduce textile waste and promote sustainable and circular textiles by 2030. The partnership represents a collaborative effort involving key stakeholders to address the textile waste challenge in France.

(PRESS RELEASE) GRAZ, 1-Nov-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — A groundbreaking partnership between Nouvelles Fibres Textiles, Pellenc ST, and international technology group ANDRITZ (VIE: ANDR), an international technology group based in Austria, has led to the inauguration of France’s inaugural industrial plant for the automated sorting and recycling of textile waste. The momentous occasion took place at Nouvelles Fibres Textiles in Amplepuis on November 30, 2023. This innovative plant marks a significant stride toward a circular economy for textiles, addressing the pressing challenge of textile waste in the European Union.

Nouvelles Fibres Textiles, a leading textile recycling company, joined forces with waste sorting specialist Pellenc ST and ANDRITZ, renowned for its expertise in textile recycling machinery and processes, to bring this transformative project to life.

The partnership is a resounding commitment to combat textile waste within the EU. Aligned with the EU’s sustainable and circular textiles strategy, which aims to increase the use of recycled fibers in textile products by 2030 while minimizing incineration and landfilling of textiles, this industrial plant represents a major step forward.

At the core of this development is an automated textile sorting line capable of efficiently categorizing garments by composition and color. The system also excels at removing hard elements such as buttons and zippers, rendering the material ready for further processing in an ANDRITZ tearing machine.

The automated textile sorting line at Nouvelles Fibres Textiles serves multiple essential functions. It facilitates large-scale production, conducts customer trials and collaborative projects, and supports the research and development activities of the partners. The plant’s primary objective is to process textile waste and generate recycled fibers for applications across the spinning, nonwovens, and composites industries.

This achievement represents the final piece of the puzzle in establishing a comprehensive ecosystem in France, where stakeholders from the fashion industry, social and solidarity economy sectors, waste management companies, and diverse textile producers collaborate toward realizing a circular textile economy.

Eric Boel, General Manager of Nouvelles Fibres Textiles, expressed, “The opening of the new line marks a milestone in our efforts to turn textile waste into resources. And we are already laying the foundations for a second material preparation plant with a capacity to process 25,000 tons of post-consumer textiles per year.”

Alexandre Butte, General Manager of ANDRITZ Laroche, added, “We are proud to be part of the sustainable transformation. With our technologies and our close partnership with Nouvelles Fibres Textiles and Pellenc ST, ANDRITZ is making a significant contribution to a circular economy for textiles.”

This remarkable partnership sets the stage for a future where textile waste becomes a valuable resource, supporting sustainability, innovation, and environmental responsibility in the textile industry.

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ANDRITZ GROUP
International technology group ANDRITZ offers a broad portfolio of innovative plants, equipment, systems, services and digital solutions for a wide range of industries and end markets. Sustainability is an integral part of the company’s business strategy and corporate culture. With its extensive portfolio of sustainable products and solutions, ANDRITZ aims to make the greatest possible contribution to a sustainable future and help its customers achieve their sustainability goals. ANDRITZ is a global market leader in all four of its business areas – Pulp & Paper, Metals, Hydro and Separation. Technological leadership and global presence are cornerstones of the group’s strategy, which is focused on long-term profitable growth. The publicly listed group has around 30,000 employees and over 280 locations in more than 40 countries.

Media contact:

Susan Trast
HEAD OF CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING
susan.trast@andritz.com

SOURCE: ANDRITZ