In a major step toward large-scale textile circularity, Circ®, the pioneering U.S.-based textile-to-textile recycler, has announced its first sourcing partnership with H&M Group. The collaboration marks the first time H&M will incorporate Circ’s recycled fibers from polycotton textile waste into its global product line.
The debut products will include a women’s fleece sweatshirt made with Circ® Polyester in Fall 2025, followed by men’s denim crafted from TENCEL™ | Circ® with REFIBRA™ technology in Spring 2026.
Partnership Integrates Circ’s Innovation into Lenzing’s Global Platform
A key component of this collaboration is the participation of the Lenzing Group, a global leader in regenerated cellulose fibers. For the first time, Circ’s recycled pulp will be commercialized through Lenzing’s established global supply chain within the TENCEL™ | Circ® with REFIBRA™ platform.
Lenzing’s REFIBRA™ technology combines recycled textile waste with wood-based raw materials sourced from certified or controlled origins. Within this initiative, the Lyocell fiber branded under TENCEL™ | Circ® with REFIBRA™ technology contains 30% Circ® pulp derived from recycled textile waste. This milestone demonstrates how established fiber platforms can directly integrate and scale next-generation materials like Circ®.
“True circularity requires the entire value chain to work together,” said Florian Heubrander, Executive Vice President, Commercial Textiles at Lenzing Group. “By integrating Circ’s recycled pulp into our REFIBRA™ technology and partnering with H&M Group, we are proving that circular fashion can be commercially viable.”
Collaboration Accelerated by UNIDO SWITCH2CE Program
The partnership builds on the UNIDO SWITCH2CE program, a global initiative promoting circular economy practices. Through a two-year pilot led by Intellecap, UNIDO, and H&M Group, Circ successfully recycled 2.6 tonnes of polycotton waste from suppliers in Bangladesh into Circ® Lyocell and Circ® Polyester.
This pilot validated the commercial feasibility of Circ’s technology within local supply chains, paving the way for this global rollout.
“Collaborating with key partners like Circ is essential to our vision of growing our business decoupled from resource extraction, with materials circulating at their highest value,” said Cecilia Strömblad Brännsten, Head of Resource Use and Circularity at H&M Group.
“What we’re announcing today is the next step — turning pilots into global practice,” added Peter Majeranowski, CEO at Circ®. “H&M Group brings global scale, and Lenzing brings decades of fiber expertise. Together, they provide the infrastructure to close the loop at commercial volumes.”
Circular Fashion in Action: Supply Chain Collaboration
The partnership also involves key supply chain participants who transformed Circ’s recycled materials into new, market-ready textiles.
- AGI Denim wove the TENCEL™ | Circ® fibers into denim fabric.
- Palmetto converted Circ® recycled PET chips into polyester staple fiber.
- Fakir Knitwear knitted the fleece fabric for H&M’s womenswear collection.
Circ’s recycling technology is engineered to integrate seamlessly into existing manufacturing systems, enabling suppliers to adopt circular materials without disruption. Through its Circ®-Ready initiative, the company collaborates with partners to scale circular textile solutions across global production networks.
“By advancing a circular value chain approach through public-private partnerships, we are accelerating climate-smart solutions that can be scaled for lasting impact,” said Mark Draeck, SWITCH2CE Chief Technical Advisor at UNIDO.
Showcasing Circular Progress at Textile Exchange Conference 2025
Garment samples from this groundbreaking collaboration will be displayed at the Textile Exchange Conference 2025, taking place from October 13–17 in Lisbon, Portugal.
This initiative marks a pivotal step in aligning global industry leaders — from recyclers and fiber producers to brands and policymakers — toward a shared vision of fully circular, low-impact textile production.
