The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Jeanologia and Looptworks, to establish the Green Machine Circular Textile Ecosystem – a first-of-its-kind collaboration to accelerate the large-scale recycling of blended textiles.
The initiative unites HKRITA with Jeanologia as the first official machinery partner and Looptworks, a certified B-Corp textile-to-textile recycling specialist as a prospective adopter. The partnership aims to create an actual pathway for circular transformation.
At the centre of this initiative is HKRITA’s latest Green Machine 4.0, its pioneering hydrothermal recycling technology. This advanced version recovers polyester at 98% or higher purity from cotton-polyester textiles without harmful processes.
Through this collaboration, Jeanologia contributes by delivering machinery engineered to European standards that meets the CE high-pressure requirement, while enabling seamless integration and streamlined logistics. Meanwhile, Looptworks, a Certified B-Corp recycling specialist, transforms diverse pre- and post-consumer textiles into high-quality GRS-certified fibers. This cross-industry collaboration enables the industry to execute circular solutions at scale.
The new Green Machine ecosystem provides a viable pathway for circular transformation. This initiative empowers textile recyclers to process previously unrecyclable materials and unlock new revenue streams, while enabling fashion brands to incorporate recycled fibers into their supply chains in commercial volumes. It also supports manufacturers in adopting more sustainable production models, helping all stakeholders close the loop on textile waste and reduce dependence on virgin resources.
“The circular economy is no longer a distant goal—it is here,” said Jake Koh, CEO, HKRITA. “With the Green Machine 4.0 now proven adoption-ready and scalable, this partnership marks a decisive shift from research to commercialisation. True innovation is defined by real-world impact, and today we are making it a reality,” he added.
“For the last 25 years, we have transformed the denim industry through technology, innovation and collaboration. Today, we are bringing that same experience to one of the industry’s greatest challenges: textile-to-textile recycling,” commented Enrique Silla, CEO and founder, Jeanologia.
“We believe recycling must become part of the industry’s pre-competitive space, where companies work together to create solutions that no single organisation can achieve alone. By combining HKRITA’s innovation, Jeanologia’s industrial engineering and textile bleaching expertise, and Looptworks’ operational deployment, we are creating a model that can help make circularity a reality at industrial scale,” he added.
“Looptworks has had a relationship with HKRITA for over a decade. We are proud to have worked together with their research and management teams to further develop textile circularity innovations at scale. The Green Machine represents a shining example of what is possible for textile recycling,” said said Scott Hamlin, founder and CEO, Looptworks.
“Blended materials have long been a major barrier to circularity, and this technology enables us to effectively realise their value at scale. By reintroducing recovered fibers into the supply chain, we are proving that circular solutions are both environmentally practical and economically viable,” he continued.