Circ is partnering with Chinese spandex and polyurethane producer Huafon to develop a textile recycling site in China, with a first phase designed to process about 200 metric tons of waste a day.

The companies announced the project Thursday. Located within Huafon’s industrial footprint, the site will use Circ’s technology to recover both the cotton and polyester components of blended textile waste. Huafon will invest directly alongside Circ and other investors, with additional processing capacity planned for later phases.

For Circ, the agreement adds an industrial partner that will contribute manufacturing infrastructure and expertise in engineering, procurement, logistics and commercialization. The Danville, Va.-based recycler will bring its technology and network of brands, textile manufacturers and buyers for the recovered materials.

“China is at the center of global textile production, making it a critical location for scaling textile-to-textile recycling. Huafon brings the industrial capabilities, experience, and investment to move quickly and build a platform that can scale well beyond this first site,” said Peter Majeranowski, Circ’s CEO.

The site is designed to recover cellulosic pulp from cotton and two polyester building blocks: purified terephthalic acid, or PTA, and monoethylene glycol, or MEG. These inputs can then be used to manufacture new polyester and regenerated cellulosic fibers, including lyocell and viscose.

Circ sorts textile waste and reduces it to smaller pieces before hydrothermal processing. It works with fiber manufacturers to convert the recovered inputs into materials that brands and mills can purchase through existing supply chains.

Huafon’s businesses span polyurethane, polyamide, spandex and other materials. The group acquired DuPont’s Biomaterials business in 2022. The business now operates as Covation Biomaterials, which produces Sorona.

“Circ has developed one of the most promising textile-to-textile recycling technologies we have seen, and Huafon is ready to help bring it to market. By combining Circ’s innovation with our industrial strength and investment, we can turn textile waste into high-quality materials at a scale the industry needs,” said Feifeng You, vice president of Huafon Group and chairman of Huafon Microfibre Shanghai Tech Co. Ltd.

The China project adds to Circ’s plans for its first industrial facility in Saint-Avold, France. That plant is designed to process 70,000 metric tons of textile waste annually. The company’s project page says construction will begin soon, with full operations expected in 2029.

Circ has also been adding buyers and manufacturing partners for its recycled materials. Under an agreement announced Aug. 25, China’s Shenghong Chemical Fiber New Material Co. Ltd. will purchase Circ’s recycled polyester chips to manufacture filament yarn.

On Sept. 28, Primark announced a long-term agreement to introduce Circ’s polyester made from textile waste into its clothing in 2029. The retailer described the deal as its first multi-year purchase agreement with a textile-to-textile recycler.