In Kettering, Northamptonshire, Project Re:claim is leveraging technology originally designed for recycling plastic bottles to reprocess polyester textiles into granules, which can then be transformed back into yarn for manufacturing new clothing.

A collaboration between the Salvation Army and recycling specialist Project Plan B, the initiative utilizes items from the charity's sorting center, where approximately 10-20% of donated textiles that cannot be resold are segregated by type. Infrared sensors identify wool, cotton, and nylon items suitable for experimental reprocessing and yarn production worldwide, including polyester for pelletization.

Project Re:claim aims to recycle 2,500 tonnes of waste this year, with plans to double that amount by 2025. It has established partnerships with major retailers like Tesco and John Lewis, as well as niche manufacturers such as David Luke, a school uniform maker, which advocate for the use of recycled polyester among their suppliers.

Prof. Parik Goswami, director of the technical textiles research center at the University of Huddersfield, anticipates significant advancements resulting from this initiative. He believes the next decade will witness a transformative revolution in the textile industry.