H&M-backed textile recycler Renewcell files for Bankruptcy

Credit: Renewcell website The bankruptcy announcement came as a significant blow to the sustainable fashion movement, as Renewcell had established partnerships with major fashion brands such as H&M, PVH, and Levi’s®.

These collaborations aimed to replace virgin materials like cotton and wood pulp with Circulose®, Renewcell’s recycled material that can be reused multiple times without quality loss.

The textile process on the website describes it as, “CIRCULOSE® is a branded dissolving pulp that we make from 100% textile waste, such as worn-out jeans and production scraps.

Fiber producers use dissolving pulp to make viscose, lyocell, modal, acetate other kinds of biodegradable regenerated fibers (also called man-made cellulosic fibers).” “These fibers are then spun into yarns, woven or knitted into fabrics and finally cut and sewn into new high-quality textile products.” :The only difference with Circulose® is that they are made from textile waste instead of new cotton, oil or wood.” Credit: Renewcell H&M, in particular, had been a key partner and investor in Renewcell since 2017 and even held a 10.37% stake in the company…