Zhejiang Jiaren New Materials Co., Ltd., with chemical recycling of polyester as its core technology, is advancing a closed-loop system for waste textiles spanning collection, regeneration, and recycling. Founded in 2012, the company's production base in Paojiang, Shaoxing, can process over 40,000 tons of waste textiles annually and produce 30,000 tons of recycled products per year, making it a representative player on the chemical recycling route in the industry.

Unlike the physical method based on recycled plastic bottles, the chemical recycling polyester process is more complex and costly, but it can solve the decolorization challenge of colorful waste polyester garments and achieve effective recycling and reuse. Jiaren's technology route originates from Teijin's ECO CIRCLE® of Japan, with the core being a self-developed combined PET recycling process of glycol alcoholysis and methanol transesterification. After Teijin exited in 2016, Jiaren independently iterated the technology and ultimately achieved 30,000-ton-scale mass production. According to disclosures, the polyester monomers and fibers produced based on this technology have performance fully identical to petroleum-based virgin polyester. After the project is operational, it can save 126,000 tons of water, 57,000 tons of standard coal, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 47,000 tons annually.

At the model level, Jiaren has launched the T2T (textile-to-textile) innovation model, joining forces with upstream and downstream enterprises in waste production, recycling, and processing to build a "recycling—regeneration—recycling" ecosystem. Currently, international brands such as Decathlon, H&M, ZARA, and PUMA have joined this T2T project.

On the product side, Jiaren was highly active in 2024. In July, it established a high-gravity joint R&D center with Beijing University of Chemical Technology to improve capacity and product purification; in October, it launched ECOSO low-temperature dyeable modified polyester fiber, using "molecular-level segment modification" technology to achieve low-temperature dyeing by introducing hydrophilic groups, while improving polyester's hydrophobicity, imparting moisture-wicking and quick-drying functions, and optimizing hand feel. This product has facilitated strategic cooperation between Jiaren and Sumec Textile and Huntsman. In addition, in 2024 Jiaren also launched several new products including chemically recycled flame-retardant and recycled anti-transparency variants.

In terms of capacity expansion, Jiaren has planned a 150,000-ton annual capacity expansion project in the Keqiao Economic Development Zone. The first phase of 50,000 tons was completed and put into production in 2024. Once fully completed, it will be able to process 220,000 tons of waste textiles annually. On strategic cooperation, Jiaren has signed an agreement with cosmo for R&D solutions in the footwear materials field, and established a joint R&D and production base for chemically recycled staple fiber with Zhengkai Chemical Fiber to expand the staple fiber market.

In terms of green operations, through digital technological transformation and smart factory construction, the company can save 1.5 million kWh of electricity annually; at the same time, it purchases 6,500 MWh of green electricity, accounting for more than 40% of total electricity consumption.

From technological breakthroughs to industrial chain collaboration, Jiaren New Materials provides an implementable chemical recycling path for the recycling of waste textiles. Its mass production expansion and brand cooperation progress may have a sustained impact on the global textile circular economy landscape.

Source: Year-End Special | Jiaren New Materials: "Chewing Through" the Hard Bone of Textile Recycling · Originally published on 2025-01-10