So the hunt is on for a technology that can recycle dirty polyester fabric into clean polyester fabric. And that’s where chemical recycling comes in. “This is a chemical plant,” says Mairata.

When Meghan Kelly goes clothes shopping, she scans labels for a key number: 100%. She picks garments made of 100% cotton, 100% wool, and occasionally 100% polyester, avoiding fabrics that blend ...

Stefan Hutter, the owner of fabric and textiles development company Santis Textiles, admits fibre recycling is still at the very early stages in many cases. “The train is still at the station and just ...