The Thuringian Institute for Textile and Plastics Research (TITK) in Rudolstadt, Germany, has taken a bold step into new territory in textile recycling. At the World Expo in Japan, TITK introduced a pioneering innovation, a polo shirt made from a cellulose fibre that has been recycled three times. The fibre, named Lyohemp, is the first lyocell fibre developed from hemp pulp.

TITK Managing Director Benjamin Redlingshöfer personally wore the triple-recycled polo shirt during the event in Osaka, proudly displaying the “300% Recycling” slogan printed on the fabric. The shirt highlights how, for the first time, a textile fibre has undergone three complete recycling cycles and still retains excellent wearability and comfort.

“With our 300% recycled fibre, we’re showing that closed-loop textile recycling is entirely possible through our technology,” said Redlingshöfer. “This breakthrough shows how far recycling in the textile industry can go, without sacrificing performance.”

TITK’s fibre-to-fibre recycling approach aims to turn a premium fibre back into another high-quality fibre, maintaining the same level of performance, strength, and softness in each recycling cycle.