Recycling Technology for Waste Polyester Textiles Accelerates Toward Industrialization

With the global textile industry shifting toward green and low‑carbon production, the recycling of waste polyester textiles has become a key priority.

Zhejiang Ailis Dyeing & Finishing Co., Ltd., in collaboration with Zhejiang Sci‑Tech University, has developed a combined physical‑chemical recycling process that retains fiber strength and flexibility from the physical method while leveraging the chemical method's ability to precisely decompose dye molecules – effectively addressing challenges such as residual dyes, impurity removal, and restoring regenerated fiber strength and colorfastness.

Zhejiang Jiaren New Materials Co., Ltd. has achieved a purity of up to 99.9% in its regenerated DMT products, with a 50,000‑ton annual production line already in operation. Zhongyuan Rensheng Group has introduced a BHET‑based chemical recycling technology for polyester, involving three steps – glycolysis, purification, and polycondensation – which converts waste textiles into high‑quality regenerated filament suitable for premium fashion applications.