Reju, the textile-to-textile regeneration company, has secured Γé¼135 million in funding from the Dutch government's NIKI program. This major investment will support an industrial-scale textile recycling hub at Chemelot Industrial Park in Sittard-Geleen, the Netherlands. The award marks a critical step toward the company's final investment decision.
Dutch NIKI Program Backs Large-Scale Textile Recycling
The Nationale Investeringsregeling Klimaatprojecten Industrie (NIKI) is the Netherlands' flagship program for industrial decarbonization and circularity. It supports both national and European Union circular economy objectives. Reju's Γé¼135 million award covers the investment phase and ongoing operations of the planned Regeneration Hub.
"We are grateful to the Government of the Netherlands and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate for supporting the scale-up of commercial technologies that can deliver measurable emissions reductions," said Patrik Frisk, CEO of Reju. He described the award as "a strong vote of confidence in our technology and our team."
Frisk added that the Chemelot facility will deliver circular raw materials at scale. It will also establish a replicable blueprint for circular textiles across Europe.
How the Regeneration Hub Transforms Textile Waste
The planned textile recycling facility will convert difficult-to-recycle, polyester-containing textiles into high-quality circular intermediates. These intermediates will feed new polyester production. The process diverts residual textile fractions from landfill and incineration.
Key features of the Regeneration Hub include:
- Reju Polyester with approximately 50% lower carbon emissions compared to virgin polyester
- Regenerated material reintroduced into downstream supply chains
- Yarns and fabrics ready for end-use consumer applications
- Fully traceable circular supply chains
The project emphasizes industrial integration and energy efficiency. It aims to maximize the displacement of virgin, fossil-based polyester inputs.
Why Reju Chose Chemelot Industrial Park
Reju selected Chemelot Industrial Park for its established industrial ecosystem. The park offers shared utilities and logistics infrastructure along with proximity to innovation and research capabilities. These features support efficient ramp-up and operational reliability.
The site also positions the facility as a model for future textile recycling expansion across Europe. Reju plans to use the Chemelot hub as a replicable blueprint for additional regeneration sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NIKI program?
NIKI (Nationale Investeringsregeling Klimaatprojecten Industrie) is the Dutch government's flagship funding program. It accelerates large-scale industrial decarbonization and circularity in alignment with EU objectives.
How much will the Regeneration Hub reduce carbon emissions?
The facility will produce Reju Polyester with approximately 50% lower carbon emissions compared to virgin polyester. It achieves this by processing post-consumer textiles that would otherwise end up in landfill or incineration.
Where will the Regeneration Hub be located?
The hub will be built at Chemelot Industrial Park in Sittard-Geleen, the Netherlands. Reju chose the site for its industrial infrastructure, shared utilities, and proximity to research capabilities.
The Γé¼135 million NIKI award signals growing government support for circular textile solutions in Europe. As the industry faces increasing pressure to reduce waste and emissions, Reju's industrial-scale textile recycling model could set a precedent for polyester circularity. B2B stakeholders across the value chain can explore more developments like this in our textile news section.
