SaXcell, a textile recycling innovator, has recently entered into a significant memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Birla Cellulose, an arm of India’s Aditya Birla Group and one of the world’s largest manufacturers of man-made cellulosic fibres.
Combining SaXcell’s innovative textile waste pulping technology with Birla’s advanced wet spinning expertise, the partnership aims to produce high-quality sustainable fibres under the name ‘SaXcell.’ These recycled fibres are tailored to meet the circular textile needs of customers on a commercial scale, marking a significant stride toward a more sustainable and circular textile industry, as highlighted in a joint press release by Aditya Birla Group and SaXcell.
Erik van der Weerd, CEO of SaXcell, stressed the urgency of transitioning from a linear to a circular economy within the textile industry and expressed optimism about the impact this alliance could create. “SaXcell’s and Birla’s combined innovation force and production power offer a great opportunity to create real impact,” he said.
“Birla Cellulose is strongly committed to support innovators for expanding circular fibre offerings in the textile and non-woven value chain. We have been exploring innovative business models and partnerships. This collaboration is one such initiative, where we aim to help SaXcell leapfrog from pilot to commercial demonstration scale. Such partnerships will play an increasingly important role in accelerating circularity in the global textile value chain,” said Aspi Patel, chief technology officer, Aditya Birla Group and Birla Cellulose.
SaXcell B.V., a technology development company, specialises in recycling used textiles into feedstock for sustainable man-made cellulosic fibres. The process significantly reduces water, land, and chemical usage. Originating from Saxion University of Applied Science in Enschede, Netherlands, SaXcell B.V. was established in 2015 and has continually evolved its technology. With a successful pilot factory built in 2020, SaXcell plans to expand further by constructing a Small Scale Production plant in Enschede by 2024.
Birla Cellulose, a leading player in sustainability-focused Man-Made Cellulosic Fibres (MMCF) production, operates 12 sites globally, integrating environmentally efficient closed-loop technologies.
