#Recycling / Circular Economy

2025-08-20

matterr welcomes BESTSELLER as new investor to scale polyester recycling

matterr, the German cleantech company pioneering polyester recycling, announces a strategic partnership with family-owned international fashion group BESTSELLER. The investment, made through BESTSELLER’s innovation and investment platform Invest FWD, follows a major EU commitment of 30 million euros in public support through the EFRE/JTF program in North Rhine-Westphalia. Together, these milestones lay the foundation for matterr’s first small-scale industrial plant and the subsequent international scale-up of its technology.

Breaking down polyester, integrating it seamlessly into existing supply chains

matterr has developed an innovative technology for the chemical recycling of polyester from hard-to-recycle textiles and packaging waste. The process delivers drop-in ready raw materials, identical to virgin quality, and is now set to scale.

(c) 2025 - matterr and BESTSELLER collaborate to scale polyester recycling. matterr has developed an innovative technology for the chemical recycling of polyester from hard-to-recycle textiles and packaging waste, delivering drop-in ready raw materials, identical to virgin quality.

By replacing virgin PET production from fossil feedstocks, it substantially reduces greenhouse gas emissions – making a direct contribution to industrial decarbonisation.

Industrial deployment in Germany

With combined financial support from the EU and BESTSELLER, matterr will start building its small-scale industrial plant in Germany in 2026. Once completed, the facility is designed to process 10,000 tonnes of polyesterrich waste annually, creating a reliable source of drop-in ready feedstock for the textile and packaging industries. “Scaling breakthrough technologies requires strong and pragmatic partners,” says Melanie Hackler, CEO of matterr. “With BESTSELLER, we share not only mindset and values, but also the belief that drop-in ready, scalable and economically viable solutions are the business models of the future. This partnership accelerates our mission to make polyester a resource that can be recycled repeatedly.”

A shared ambition to transform the industry

For BESTSELLER, the investment aligns with its broader ambition to decouple from fossil resources and increase the use of recycled materials in fashion. Through Invest FWD, BESTSELLER has invested more than DKK 200 million in innovative companies aiming to create the materials of the future and drive systemic change. “matterr is a young company with an interesting solution that aims to be implemented on a large scale to benefit the entire fashion industry. We believe in the scalability of their technology as well as the commercial potential of the company. This can ensure the right impact in the long run. BESTSELLER has clear ambitions to reduce dependency from fossil sources, and utilisation of recycled polyester is a crucial component in achieving this,” says Dorte Rye Olsen, Head of Sustainability,

BESTSELLER. “Moreover, our investments in innovative recycling technologies align with the fashion industry’s vision of transforming consumers' worn-out garments into raw materials for new clothing. Given the vast number of garments used globally today, it is essential that we take on our responsibility and utilise discarded materials repeatedly.”

By joining forces, matterr and BESTSELLER demonstrate how collaboration between technology innovators and global brands can unlock the needed transition.

matterr at K – Where innovation meets industry

At this year’s K trade fair, matterr took the stage to showcase its technology and demonstrate how it drives circular polyester at an industrial scale. Insightful conversations, strong new connections, and great energy — all together reminds how powerful it is when innovation meets industry. The momentum from Düsseldorf shows: circular transformation is no longer a vision — it’s happening.

Recycling pioneer matterr to build plant at Chemiepark Knapsack

matterr is establishing operations at Chemiepark Knapsack. The planned small-scale industrial depolymerisation plant will be located in the Hürth section of the site and will have an annual capacity of 10,000 tonnes. The facility marks an important step toward a fossil-free, circular PET industry. Groundbreaking is scheduled for 2026.

Circulose restarts commercial-scale production at Ortviken plant in Sundsvall

Circulose today announced the restart of its commercial-scale production plant at Ortviken in Sundsvall, Sweden, marking a significant step in scaling next-generation materials for the global fashion industry. The company plans to resume production of CIRCULOSE®, a recycled pulp made entirely from discarded cotton textiles, in the fourth quarter of 2026.

VIATT 2026 to debut German Pavilion, strengthening European participation alongside key Asian textile hubs

Vietnam’s textile and garment sector continues to be a major contributor to the country’s economic growth, with export revenues expected to reach USD 46 billion in 2025, a 5.6% increase from 2024 . From 26 – 28 February, the Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies (VIATT) is set to contribute to economic growth opportunities by accelerating digital transformation and green transition across the entire textile value chain. The upcoming edition will respond to the rising demand for advanced technologies and sustainable materials with the introduction of the German Pavilion, alongside strong exhibitor participation from key Asian sectors, as well as several high-profile fringe events.

Sustainable, lightweight, and sound absorbing: Polyester-based front trunk solution for BEVs

As car manufacturers look to further reduce their carbon footprint, Autoneum has developed an innovative front trunk solution for battery electric vehicles (BEVs), made entirely from polyester-based textile. The Ultra-Silent Frunk offers significant weight reduction, improved acoustic and thermal insulation, and uses up to 70 percent recycled material, supporting sustainable and efficient vehicle design. Autoneum, global technology leader in acoustic and thermal management for vehicles, has already received orders for the new frunk from three major OEMs in Asia and Europe to be built in three BEV models. Series production for two BEVs has been underway in China and Germany since last year.

Modern testing methods for raw cotton

The 38th International Cotton Conference Bremen will take place from 25 to 27 March 2026 at the Bremen Parliament. This conference has traditionally stood for in-depth expertise and international exchange. The program will focus on technical innovations, market trends, and regulatory frameworks across the entire value chain – from agriculture to the circular economy. With high-profile speakers, the conference is regarded as the key meeting point for the global cotton industry. Today’s focus: Cotton quality and testing methods.