Reju selects Rochester, New York for its first U.S. regeneration hub, scaling circular textile recycling and creating sustainable manufacturing jobs.
Reju has confirmed the selection of a site for its first industrial-scale facility in the United States, representing a major step forward in the company’s ambition to scale circular textile manufacturing globally. The new Regeneration Hub will be located in Rochester, New York, underscoring the company’s strategic focus on expanding sustainable textile solutions across key international markets.
The selected site covers approximately 18.9 acres within Eastman Business Park, a well-established industrial zone known for its advanced infrastructure and manufacturing ecosystem. Once operational, the facility is expected to regenerate the equivalent of nearly 300 million textile articles each year that would otherwise be discarded as waste. These discarded materials will be converted into recycled BHET (rBHET), which will then be repolymerized into Reju PET, a high-quality regenerated polyester designed for repeated recycling.
Beyond its environmental impact, the U.S. facility is intended to support diversification and near-shoring of manufacturing capacity, helping reduce supply-chain risks while strengthening domestic production capabilities. The project remains subject to a final investment decision by the board of Technip Energies, the parent company overseeing Reju’s long-term industrial expansion strategy.
According to Patrik Frisk, the Rochester site marks a pivotal milestone in the company’s global roadmap. He emphasized that establishing the first U.S. Regeneration Hub represents a decisive move toward building a truly international circular textile system, while also delivering sustainable manufacturing jobs and economic benefits to the local community.
The Rochester facility will become a core element of Reju’s growing global network of regeneration hubs. It will complement Regeneration Hub Zero, the demonstration plant currently operating in Frankfurt, as well as Regeneration Hub One, which was announced last year at Chemelot Industrial Park. Together, these sites form the foundation of a scalable, interconnected system designed to process textile waste across multiple regions.
The regeneration process relies on proprietary recycling technology developed by Technip Energies, enabling the conversion of polyester-based textile waste into regenerated polyester with significantly lower environmental impact. Compared with virgin polyester, the regenerated material delivers an estimated 50% reduction in carbon footprint and is engineered for multiple recycling cycles, reducing reliance on fossil-based raw materials.
Support for the project has also been voiced at the state level. New York State leadership highlighted the facility’s alignment with broader goals to create well-paid jobs, reduce landfill waste, and strengthen the green economy. Governor Hochul noted that the project is expected to create around 70 new jobs and demonstrates how innovative investment can transform waste streams into economic opportunity.
Local partners have also welcomed the announcement. Kodak, which manages Eastman Business Park, expressed strong support through its President of EBP, Jim Moran, citing the park’s infrastructure and capabilities as well suited to enabling a future where textile waste is eliminated rather than discarded.
Through collaborations with global brands, textile mills, and waste aggregators, Reju aims to ensure full textile-to-textile traceability. The U.S. Regeneration Hub strengthens the company’s American footprint and reinforces its message that post-consumer textile waste can be transformed into a valuable industrial resource, proving that large-scale circularity is not only achievable, but commercially viable today.
