This agreement, which formalises collaboration between the three organisations, aims to promote the practical deployment of textile recycling at industrial levels.
Announced by HKRITA, the agreement brings together Jeanologia, recognised as the machinery partner, and Looptworks, which is positioned as a prospective adopter within the initiative.
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According to HKRITA, the collaboration marks a transition from research-based innovation to the commercial implementation of recycling solutions supported by industry.
Central to the initiative is HKRITA’s Green Machine 4.0. This latest version of the institute’s hydrothermal recycling technology is designed to extract polyester from cotton-polyester blends, achieving 98% or higher purity levels.
The process, as described by HKRITA, does not involve hazardous methods. Jeanologia contributes to the ecosystem by providing machinery engineered to meet European CE high-pressure standards, which is intended to facilitate ease of integration with other industrial processes.
Looptworks, identified as a recycling specialist with Certified B-Corp status, will use the recovered material in creating Global Recycled Standard (GRS)-certified fibres from different kinds of pre- and post-consumer textiles.
The partnership has been structured to support wider adoption by various textile industry participants, allowing recyclers and manufacturers to process materials that were previously difficult to recycle.
This could enable the integration of recovered fibres into commercial fashion supply chains and support moves towards more environmentally sustainable production methods, according to information provided by HKRITA.
The institute also highlights the potential for new revenue opportunities for textile recyclers taking part in the ecosystem.
HKRITA CEO Jake Koh said: “The circular economy is no longer a distant goal—it is here. With the Green Machine 4.0 now proven adoption-ready and scalable, this partnership marks a decisive shift from research to commercialisation. True innovation is defined by real-world impact, and today we are making it a reality.”
Jeanologia CEO and founder Enrique Silla added: “For the last 25 years, we have transformed the denim industry through technology, innovation and collaboration. Today, we are bringing that same experience to one of the industry’s greatest challenges: textile-to-textile recycling. At Jeanologia, we believe recycling must become part of the industry’s pre-competitive space, where companies work together to create solutions that no single organisation can achieve alone. By combining HKRITA’s innovation, Jeanologia’s industrial engineering and textile bleaching expertise, and Looptworks’ operational deployment, we are creating a model that can help make circularity a reality at industrial scale.”
Looptworks founder and CEO Scott Hamlin commented: “Looptworks has had a relationship with HKRITA for over a decade. We are proud to have worked together with the research and management teams at HKRITA to further develop textile circularity innovations at scale.
“The Green Machine represents a shining example of what is possible for textile recycling. Blended materials have long been a major barrier to circularity, and this technology enables us to effectively realise their value at scale. By reintroducing recovered fibres into the supply chain, we are proving that circular solutions are both environmentally practical and economically viable.”
HKRITA is inviting textile recyclers, fashion brands, and manufacturing firms to participate in the Green Machine ecosystem.
The organisation is seeking further collaborators to adopt and expand the initiative, with the stated goal of advancing ecologically responsible solutions for textile waste within the industry.
