Circulose has announced the restart of its commercial-scale production facility at the Ortviken Plant in Sundsvall, marking an important milestone in scaling next-generation materials for the global fashion industry. The company plans to resume production of CIRCULOSE®, a recycled pulp made entirely from discarded cotton textiles, in the fourth quarter of 2026.
According to Jonatan Janmark, CEO of Circulose, preparations at the plant are progressing rapidly, with new pulp expected to leave the factory by the end of the year, ensuring continuity of supply.
Following its acquisition by private equity firm Altor in 2024, Circulose adopted a renewed strategy focused on securing volume commitments from partner brands before restarting production. With confirmed commitments from 11 brands, the company is now moving ahead with confidence. Circulose has also entered strategic partnerships with fibre producers Tangshan Sanyou, Aditya Birla Group and Jilin Chemical Fiber.
Once fully operational, the Ortviken plant will supply fashion brands and fibre producers with high-quality recycled raw material at commercial scale, supporting industry efforts to divert textile waste from landfills and incineration. In the interim, Circulose is fulfilling orders using existing inventory produced by Renewcell prior to its bankruptcy.
Janmark described the restart as a major step for both Circulose and the broader adoption of next-generation materials, noting that the fashion industry requires solutions that function at industrial scale and integrate smoothly into existing supply chains. CIRCULOSE® has been developed with these requirements in mind.
The Ortviken facility remains the world’s first commercial-scale chemical textile recycling plant. Its restart signals renewed confidence in proven textile-to-textile recycling technologies and reflects the industry’s shift from pilot projects towards sustained commercial production.
