Recover, the company of Mechanical cotton recycling based in Banyeres de Mariola (Alicante), has joined the T2T Alliance, a European platform that brings together next-generation recyclers to give the sector greater influence in the development of standards. With this step, the company seeks to have the voice of textile recycling in Europe gain presence in regulatory debates and in the definition of standards.
The movement comes in a key moment for community policywith initiatives underway that are redefining the fashion value chainThe T2T Alliance, launched in early March and focused on recycling. textile-to-textile, aims to consolidate itself as a defense and lobby group to accelerate the circularity across the sector.
What is the T2T Alliance and why now?
The T2T Alliance is presented as a coordination forum for textile recycling stakeholders who want to play an active role in drafting European policies and standardsIts main objective is to ensure that the textile-to-textile recycling link has greater weight in legal and administrative decision-making, preventing the circular transition from being overshadowed by other priorities.
Its lines of work include the elimination of barriers to the growth of the sector, the promotion of recycled content requirements in products and the promotion of a closed-loop approach that encompasses post-industrial, pre-consumer, and post-consumer waste. The alliance also aims to serve as a technical benchmark for scaling up solutions for textile recycling on a European scale.
The alliance aims to promote a closed loop and good practices that integrate different textile waste streams into industrial recovery circuits.
Who are its members and what is their profile?
The founding partners include some of the most prominent names in the textile recycling industry: Circ (United States)The Swedish company Syre, Circulose (linked to the former Renewcell), and Re&Up, belonging to the Turkish Sanko group, are among the players. These are primarily companies with technologies from chemical recycling, to which Recover is now added to reinforce the representation of mechanical recycling within the block.
This combination of profiles allows the alliance to cover a wider range of technological solutions, from the recovery of cellulosic fibers to the reprocessing of cotton-containing blends. With this, the T2T Alliance aims to engage with European institutions on a more comprehensive, evidence-based sectoral strategy.
The role of Recover and its industrial footprint
Recover was born as spin-off of Hilaturas Ferre and since 2020 it operates with its own brand, based in Banyeres of Mariola (Alicante)The company manages facilities dedicated to textile recycling in Spain, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam and El Salvador, which gives it a global industrial and logistical vision to scale fiber recycling to large volumes.
With his addition, the company will contribute technical expertise in large-scale mechanical recycling and will work to ensure that the specific characteristics of the mechanical process are taken into account in the legislation. According to its management, collaboration among industry leaders is essential to unlock relevant textile-to-textile recycling and accelerate circularity throughout the value chain.
Recover emphasizes that its entry comes to give visibility to recyclers to policy makers and interest groups, and support the effective implementation of the ecodesign law and other measures that boost the sector's competitiveness. The company considers it a priority that standards be developed with the technical knowledge of those who recycle fiber in the plant.
Regulatory implications in the EU
The EU agenda includes initiatives that directly affect the fashion and textile sectors, where turn-to-turn recycling can play a crucial role. Among the sector's priorities are: ecodesign criteria aligned with recyclabilitymechanisms to facilitate the collection and sorting of textile waste and frameworks that incentivize industrial investment in new capabilities.
The alliance aims for these guidelines to be translated into clear, measurable and enforceable standards throughout the supply chain. Active participation of recyclers in consultation processes would help adjust technical requirements, avoid bottlenecks and accelerate the adoption of recycled materials in the European market.
Market data and pending challenges
According to recent sector figures, of the approximately 132 million tons of fiber Of those produced in the last fiscal year, only 7,6% came from recycled material, and less than 1% originated from textile recycling to textileThe majority still comes from streams such as recycled bottles converted into synthetic fibers, highlighting the challenge of scaling T2T in volume and quality.
Next steps for the alliance
T2T Alliance aims to consolidate a platform that promotes collaboration between recyclersIt aims to standardize best practices and represent the sector in a unified manner before European institutions. Its goals include breaking down regulatory barriers, supporting recycling requirements, and strengthening a sustainable approach. closed loop to integrate post-industrial, pre-consumer and post-consumer waste in Europe.
The addition of Recover strengthens the weight of cotton recycling on an industrial scale within the alliance and adds the perspective of a Spanish company with international presence. The move consolidates a common position of the sector to improve circularity, gain regulatory efficiency and accelerate the adoption of recycled fibers in the European fashion industry.
