UK fast fashion retailer Primark and recycling company Circ have announced a long-term sourcing agreement aimed at scaling up the use of recycled polyester made from textile waste in garment production. The two parties will work together to advance the industrial application of textile-to-textile closed-loop recycled fibers, with Primark increasing its procurement of recycled polyester that Circ extracts from discarded textiles using patented technology, to be used in making new clothing.

Key Points

  • Primark and Circ have signed a long-term purchase agreement to scale up the use of recycled polyester fiber sourced from textile waste.
  • Circ holds patented technology that converts textile waste into recycled fiber, with its product being textile-to-textile closed-loop recycled polyester.
  • The agreement aims to scale the application of this recycled fiber in Primark's garment production and reduce reliance on virgin polyester.

Background and Drivers

The fashion industry has long relied on virgin polyester, whose primary feedstock comes from fossil fuels. Recycled polyester made from textile waste is seen as one path to lowering the carbon footprint of clothing and reducing textile waste sent to landfill and incineration. Circ's technology route falls under "textile-to-textile" recycling, meaning old garments and textile scraps are converted back into fiber usable for new clothing production, rather than being downcycled into lower-value products.

For Primark, signing a long-term sourcing agreement means providing a stable demand signal for recycled fiber suppliers, helping the technology move from pilot to scale. For Circ, tying up with a major retailer helps amortize technology costs and expand production capacity.

Industry Impact

Direct sourcing agreements between brands and recycling technology companies are becoming a common model for commercializing recycled textile materials. Compared with relying on voluntary initiatives or short-term pilots, long-term purchase agreements provide recycling companies with predictable order volumes, which helps attract investment and build production lines. This collaboration also reflects the growing pressure on clothing retailers to increase the share of recycled materials in their products in response to regulatory requirements and consumer expectations. If the high-value utilization of textile waste can be scaled up, it will gradually change the feedstock structure of recycled polyester, which has long depended on recycled plastic bottles.

Source: Primark inks deal to boost use of recycled polyester made from textile waste · Originally published on 2026-09-28