Circ, a global textile-to-textile recycling leader, today announced a strategic partnership with Selenis, a global polyester manufacturing company based in Portugal, to toll and polymerize thousands of metric tons of Circ Polyester at industrial scale.
This agreement significantly advances the commercial production of Circ Polyester in Europe and marks a major milestone in the company’s mission to scale circular alternatives to both polyester and man-made cellulosics (lyocell) in the fashion supply chain.
This industrial collaboration allows Circ to leverage Selenis’ proven polymerization infrastructure and technical expertise to transform recycled monomers from end-of-life textiles into high-quality Circ Polyester, ready for application across apparel categories including activewear, basics and fashion. The result is a scalable, circular solution that integrates seamlessly into existing supply chains.
“Selenis has been a long-standing partner in our journey, and we’re proud to take this next step with them to bring Circ Polyester to market at industrial volumes. This is also a defining moment that affirms Circ’s dual-product strategy, offering both recycled lyocell and polyester—as we meet growing demand for circular materials across categories,” said Peter Majeranowski, CEO of Circ.
A trusted producer of high-performance polyesters for various end markets, Selenis brings decades of technical expertise and operational excellence to the partnership. Their collaboration with Circ is advancing the next generation of recycled polyester and expanding the range of circular solutions available to fiber producers, mills, and fashion brands alike.
“This partnership reflects our commitment to reducing waste and scaling up advanced recycling solutions, “said Duarte Matos Gil, CEO of Selenis. “Circularity is no longer a concept; it must become an industrial reality. Whether it is bottle-to-bottle or textile-to-textile, the goal is the same: materials must complete a full life cycle and return as high-quality products, again and again.
A bottle should become a new bottle, not downcycled. A garment should be reborn as another garment, not wasted. To achieve this on a scale, we need both innovation and regulation. Supportive, forward-looking legislation is essential to unlock investment and create a level playing field for truly circular systems.”
“While the world was focused on recycling for packaging, our strategy since 2022 was to lead textile circularity,” added Eduardo Santos, Global Head of Corporate Strategy at Selenis. “We committed our resources and innovation to explore the textile side of the problem, even when our core business was in plastics.
This partnership with Circ, officially launched in June 2023, represents a tangible step in tackling fast fashion’s impact on the environment. We’ve made strategic advances – first in the U.S. and now, in Italy – strengthening our position in textile circularity across both sides of the Atlantic.”
ABOUT CIRC®
Circ is on a mission to power the clean closet with patented technology that recycles global fashion waste back into textiles. Circ is building a truly circular economy for the fashion industry. To ease the way for recycled fibers, Circ operates Circ-Ready, a select community of global supply-chain partners with a demonstrated ability to utilize Circ materials.
Headquartered in Danville, Virginia, Circ is a polycotton blend chemical recycler and the company behind the world’s first commercial-scale facility for textile-to-textile polycotton recycling, currently under development in Saint-Avold, France. A 2023 Earthshot Prize Finalist, 2024 Fast Company Most Innovative Company, and Certified B Corporation, Circ is revitalizing the future of material technology and manufacturing.
ABOUT SELENIS
Selenis is a global manufacturer of specialty polyesters, recognized for delivering innovative and sustainable solutions across industries. With production facilities in Portugal and a focus on advanced recycling and eco-efficient manufacturing, Selenis provides materials used in diverse applications ranging from packaging to textiles. The company is committed to enabling a more sustainable future through long-term collaboration, technological innovation, and operational excellence.