Re-Fresh Global

What Re-Fresh Global does

Re-Fresh Global is a textile recycling biotech that operates a proprietary enzymatic platform, branded SMART-UP™, to convert discarded and mixed-fiber textiles into three trademarked raw material streams: Re-Celloop™ (microfibrillated cellulose), Re-SanPulp™ (recycled textile pulp), and Re-Thanol™ (bioethanol). The four-step process — mechanical shredding, enzymatic hydrolysis, filtration, and product preparation — separates natural and synthetic fibers without depolymerization, a capability the company positions as unique and patented, enabling end-to-end processing of cotton, polyester, and elastane blends that conventional recycling cannot handle. The company is incorporated in Germany as REFNOW SMART-UP Microfactories GmbH, with offices in Berlin, Tel Aviv, and Paris, and serves enterprise customers primarily in automotive (Volkswagen Group), interior/furniture (MEAVO), packaging, cosmetics, and construction industries.

The business model combines direct sales of recycled raw materials, technology licensing of the SMART-UP™ microfactory system to third parties, pilot-project collaborations and off-take orders with brand partners, and a single consumer SKU (the Re-Fresh SOHO office phone booth priced at €2,999 promotional). Go-to-market is sales-led and event-driven, leveraging participation in industry conferences (Performance Days, GITEX Europe, Textile Recycling Expo) and startup competitions. Key strategic partnerships include SOEX for feedstock collection and the Volkswagen Group for automotive interior components, alongside research collaborations with CITEVE (Portugal) and STFI (Germany). Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the company is in commercial-pilot phase with only €1.1 million of pre-seed funding raised to date (July 2023, Earlybird/SOSV-led), positioning it as an early-stage player racing to scale ahead of EU regulations phasing out textile incineration and landfill by 2025.

Name

Re-Fresh Global

Legal name

REFNOW SMART-UP Microfactories GmbH

Website

https://re-fresh.global

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Re-Fresh Global is a biotech startup that uses a proprietary enzymatic platform (SMART-UP™) to convert mixed-fiber textile waste into cellulose, pulp, and bioethanol raw materials, serving enterprise customers in automotive, packaging, cosmetics, and construction industries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Textile Recycling & Circular Materials

NAICS

Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing (32522), Textile Product Mills (314), Fabric Mills (3132)

SIC

Textile Mill Products (2200)

akta.pro primary industry

Regenerated & Recycled Fiber Production (rPET/rNylon/Regenerated Cellulose) (IMAOAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Recycled Textile Compounding & Nonwoven Reprocessing (Insulation/Felts/Geotextiles) (IMAOAMAH), Textile & Apparel Sorting/Recovery Facilities (EUAIADAJ), Sustainable & Certified Materials (Organic, Recycled, Traceable) (CRAAAMAK), Fiber-Based Sustainable Packaging (Recycled Paper, Molded Fiber, Bagasse) (IMALAMAA)

Keywords

• Textile recycling
• Circular economy materials
• Enzymatic biotechnology
• Sustainable raw materials
• Cellulose nanofibers

Headquarters

HQ city

Tel Aviv

HQ country

Israel

HQ region

Middle East

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Recycled Raw Materials Sales: Sale of recycled raw materials derived from textile waste including Re-Celloop™ (microfibrillated cellulose), Re-SanPulp™ (textile pulp), and Re-Thanol (bioethanol). Materials sold to manufacturers in cosmetics, packaging, automotive, construction, and other industries.
2. Finished Product Sales: Direct sale of finished products made from recycled textiles, such as the Re-Fresh SOHO office phone booth (€2,999 promotional price).
3. Technology Licensing: Licensing of SMART-UP™ system to third parties, allowing external companies to utilize proprietary technology and machinery for textile recycling operations.
4. Pilot Project Collaboration: Commercial pilots and off-take orders with brand partners including Volkswagen Group and other international OEMs in automotive and packaging industries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Re-Fresh Global operates a biotechnology platform that converts discarded textiles into high-quality raw materials using its proprietary SMART-UP™ enzymatic process. The company produces three core material outputs: Re-Celloop™ (microfibrillated cellulose from cotton biomass), Re-SanPulp™ (textile pulp from recycled natural and synthetic fibers), and Re-Thanol™ (bioethanol). It also manufactures finished products like the Re-Fresh SOHO office phone booth from 100% recycled textiles.

Product overview

Re-Fresh Global operates a platform-based circular economy model that transforms textile waste into three primary raw material streams: (1) Re-Celloop, a patented microfibrillated cellulose from cotton biomass used in packaging, cosmetics, and coatings; (2) Re-SanPulp, a customizable textile pulp from recycled fibers serving automotive, interior design, and construction applications; and (3) Re-Thanol, a bio-ethanol for cosmetics and chemical industries. The proprietary SMART-UP™ enzymatic technology enables fiber-to-fiber circularity by separating natural and synthetic fibers without damaging them. The company also manufactures finished products like the Re-Fresh SOHO phone booth from 100% recycled textiles, while offering services including textile waste collection, recycled materials supply, and sustainable product development consulting.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Re-Celloop™: A patented microfibrillated cellulose regenerated from cotton biomass. Biodegradable, resilient, and versatile; applications include packaging, paper, and pharmaceuticals. Also referred to as Re-Nano™ on some product pages.
• Re-SanPulp™
• Re-Thanol™
• SMART-UP™
• Re-Fresh SOHO™

Products and services

• Re-Celloop™ Patented microfibrillated cellulose regenerated from cotton biomass; bio-based, biodegradable, and versatile material used in packaging, paper, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and coatings as a plastic-replacing material.
• Re-SanPulp™ Textile pulp made from recycled natural and synthetic fibers; customizable, sanitized, and acoustic material used to create new fibers, non-wovens, construction materials, automotive interiors, and acoustic panels.
• Re-Thanol™ Pure bio-ethanol produced from discarded textiles using advanced biotechnology; used in beauty, sanitation, chemical, and fragrance industries.
• Re-Fresh SOHO™ World's first office phone booth made from 100% recycled textile using Re-SanPulp™ acoustic material; TÜV-SÜD certified with 31 decibel noise reduction, LED lighting, presence sensor, active ventilation, and smart power hub.
• SMART-UP™ Enzymatic Technology Platform Proprietary enzymatic biotechnology platform that transforms discarded textiles into high-quality raw materials, preserving fiber integrity. Licensed to third parties via the SMART-UP™ microfactory model for global deployment of circular textile recycling.
• Woven Fabric from 100% Textile Waste World's first woven fabric made entirely from mixed-fiber textile waste using proprietary SMART-UP™ enzymatic technology; transforms discarded textiles into high-quality yarn, preserving fiber integrity and ensuring 100% sanitized fibers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% smaller carbon footprint than conventional nanocellulose production
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SOEX Textile Recycling CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to establish the first complete textile waste recycling circuit for the Volkswagen Group. SOEX handles textile waste collection while Re-Fresh Global provides processing technology, creating an end-to-end circular solution.
• Volkswagen GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic collaboration to manufacture sustainable automotive interior components including shelf trunk covers from Re-SanPulp™. First complete textile waste recycling circuit established for VW Group through SOEX partnership.
• MEAVOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to develop the world's first office phone booth (Re-Fresh SOHO) made from 100% recycled textiles. MEAVO produces soundproof office phone booths using Re-SanPulp™ acoustic material.
• Michigan Israel Business Accelerator (MIBA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Women in Mobility delegation to Michigan, enabling international business development and networking in automotive sector.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Worn Again Technologies: UK-based recycler using a chemical process to separate and recover polyester (PET) and cellulose from end-of-life textiles — competing with Re-Fresh Global in the mixed-fiber textile-to-textile recycling category for apparel and packaging feedstocks.
• Circ: US-based recycler using hydrothermal processes to separate and recover polyester and cellulose from blended textile waste — directly comparable to Re-Fresh Global's enzymatic approach to mixed-fiber processing without depolymerization.
• Recover Brands: Spain-based recycler producing recycled cotton fiber (RECOVER™) from post-industrial and post-consumer textile waste using mechanical processes — competing with Re-Fresh Global in the cotton-rich textile-to-fiber recycling space, particularly for apparel and home textile applications.
• Renewcell: Swedish textile-to-textile recycler producing Circulose®, a regenerated dissolving pulp from 100% cotton-rich textile waste — directly overlapping with Re-Fresh Global's Re-Celloop™ microfibrillated cellulose and its enzymatic chemical recycling approach. Both target apparel and packaging customers with cellulose-based outputs.
• Infinited Fiber Company: Finland-based textile-to-textile recycler producing Infinna™ regenerated cellulose fiber from cotton-rich textile waste via a chemical process. Targets apparel brands with drop-in fiber, mirroring Re-Fresh Global's positioning as a regenerated cellulose supplier to multiple downstream industries.
• Spinnova: Finnish producer of textile fiber from wood and waste streams (including textile waste) using a mechanical process without dissolving chemicals. Targets apparel brands as a sustainable fiber supplier, comparable to Re-Fresh Global's regenerated fiber offering.

Broad incumbents

• Eastman (Naia Renew): US specialty chemical incumbent producing Naia Renew™, a cellulosic fiber made with 60% recycled content including textile waste. A broad incumbent in sustainable regenerated cellulosic fibers, comparable to Re-Fresh Global's Re-Celloop™ but with significantly greater scale and capital.
• Birla Cellulose (Liva Reviva): Indian viscose staple fiber major offering Liva Reviva, a fiber with up to 30% pre-consumer recycled cotton content — an incumbent player in regenerated cellulose fibers from textile waste streams, comparable in end-market (apparel, home textiles) to Re-Fresh Global's Re-Celloop™.
• Södra: Swedish forest-industry cooperative producing OnceMore®, a dissolving pulp made from recycled cotton textiles blended with wood pulp — a direct cellulose-regeneration competitor to Re-Fresh Global's Re-Celloop™, but backed by a much larger incumbent with established pulp infrastructure.
• Aquafil (Econyl): Italian nylon producer with Econyl®, a regenerated nylon from pre- and post-consumer waste including textile carpets and fishing nets. A broader incumbent in textile-to-fiber recycling whose product mix overlaps with Re-Fresh Global's circular raw materials thesis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCz1UNKlnpxozy3dcl9oL-Fg
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/re-fresh-global
• Instagraminstagram.com/re.fresh.global/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Re-Fresh Global