Primark Partnered With Circ for Recycled Polyester
The clothing retailer has secured a multiyear deal to integrate recycled materials into its products starting in 2029.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Fashion
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Primark has signed a multiyear agreement to purchase recycled polyester from Circ to reduce reliance on virgin materials. The retailer plans to incorporate the recycled fibers into its clothing lines beginning in 2029.
Why it matters
This partnership provides Circ with a crucial demand commitment, helping secure financing for a new industrial-scale recycling facility in France. The deal supports Primark in its goal to phase out conventional materials from its clothing by 2030.
The planned Circ facility in Saint-Avold, France, is designed to process 70,000 metric tons of textile waste annually at an estimated cost of 500 million dollars. Primark spent 18 months evaluating various textile-to-textile polyester providers before finalizing the agreement.
The players
Primark
Primark is an international clothing retailer headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, known for its high-volume, low-price apparel strategy.
Circ
Circ is a textile technology company focused on industrial-scale chemical recycling that separates polycotton into sustainable raw materials.
The details
Circ utilizes proprietary technology to separate polycotton into cellulose from cotton and PTA and MEG building blocks from polyester. The new French facility is currently being developed through a combination of equity, debt, grants, and guarantees.
Timeline
2021: Primark launched its Primark Cares strategy.
End of 2028: Construction of the French facility is expected to be completed.
2029: Primark will start using recycled polyester in its clothing.
2030: Primark target date to remove conventional materials from its clothing.
Culture Shift
This partnership reflects a broader industry movement toward textile-to-textile recycling as retailers attempt to transition away from traditional virgin plastic fibers. The move signals a shift from voluntary sustainability targets toward heavy capital investment in chemical recycling infrastructure.
Shoppers will likely see an increasing volume of garments made from recycled fibers on store shelves as the 2030 target date approaches. These changes are expected to eventually influence the material composition of most clothing units sold at Primark locations.
The takeaway
Retailers are increasingly turning to dedicated recycling partners to solve the technical challenges of fiber-to-fiber regeneration. Consumers can expect future clothing labels to reflect these material changes as the industry scales up chemical recycling capacity.
Further reading
For more on how major retailers are changing their supply chains, visit the Fashion section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WWD.
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