What Recyc'Elit does

Recyc'Elit is a French deeptech company founded in 2019 by brothers Karim and Raouf Medimagh and headquartered in Vénissieux (Lyon metropolitan area), that has developed a patented chemical recycling process for complex polyester-based textile waste. The company's core technology is a selective solvolysis operating under mild temperature conditions and atmospheric pressure, which depolymerises polyester into its constituent monomers (DMT and MEG) while leaving co-materials — elastane, polyamide, cotton, TPU — intact and recoverable at high purity. Inputs into the process are post-production and post-consumer textiles dominated by polyester, including multi-material fabrics that mechanical recycling cannot handle.

The company's commercial outputs are rPET pellets compatible with textile-grade applications and eligible for the "Incorporation de matières premières issues du recyclage" premium operated by eco-organisms such as Refashion, the recovered monomers themselves, and separated co-materials that can be independently valorized. The closed-loop logic (textile → monomers → rPET pellets → yarn → new textile) has been validated end-to-end: 15 kg of polyester clothing was converted into 6 kg of rPET pellets and then spun into 6 spools of textile-grade yarn on the first attempt. The pre-industrial demonstrator inaugurated in October 2025 has a stated capacity of "several tens of tons per year," with full industrial scale yet to be determined.

The go-to-market is B2B enterprise sales aimed at textile brands, retailers, and apparel manufacturers (Decathlon is the flagship commercial and strategic partner, with NOLT also named as a customer on "The Infinity Jersey"), supported by industry cluster networks (TECHTERA, AXELERA) and a heavy conference presence across Techtextil, Textile Exchange, ChangeNOW, POLLUTEC, Dornbirn GFC, and circular-economy summits. Revenue mechanics combine direct rPET pellet sales with technology deployment fees and supply agreements, supplemented by non-dilutive grant income from European programs — SOLSTICE (€11M budget), SORT4CIRC (€5.097M), CASTTOR, and REGIOGREENTEX — alongside French state support via the France 2030 programme. To date, Recyc'Elit has raised €3.2M in equity (Oct 2023, led by Demeter) and received a strategic investment from Decathlon in 2024.

Name

Recyc'Elit

Legal name

SAS RECYC'ELIT

Website

https://recyc-elit.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Recyc'Elit is a French deeptech company that uses patented selective solvolysis to chemically recycle complex polyester-based textiles into textile-grade rPET pellets, monomers (DMT and MEG), and separated co-materials, serving European textile brands including its flagship partner Decathlon.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chemical Textile Recycling

NAICS

Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing (325211), Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing (3252)

SIC

Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821)

akta.pro primary industry

Chemical Recycling & Depolymerization (e.g., PET/Polyamide/Cellulosics) (IMAOAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Chemical/Advanced Plastics Recycling (Depolymerization, Pyrolysis, Solvolysis) (IMANAMAD), Blended-Fiber Separation & Material Recovery (Cotton-Poly/Elastane Blends) (IMAOAMAF)

Keywords

• Chemical textile recycling
• Polyester depolymerization process
• Recycled PET pellets
• Textile waste valorization
• Circular textile economy

Headquarters

HQ city

Chasse-sur-rhône

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Recycled rPET Pellets Sales: Production and sale of recycled PET (rPET) pellets derived from complex textile waste. These pellets are compatible with textile-grade applications and can be spun into yarn for new textile products. The pellets are compatible with the 'Incorporation of recycled raw materials' premium offered by eco-organisms like Refashion.
2. Technology Licensing and Partnership Revenue: Long-term supply agreements and technology deployment partnerships with major brands like Decathlon. Revenue includes technology deployment fees and supply of recycled polyester for partner products.
3. Grant and Project Funding: Significant non-dilutive funding through European research programs including SOLSTICE (11M€ budget), SORT4CIRC (5.097M€ budget), CASTTOR, and REGIOGREENTEX. Additional support from France 2030 and regional innovation programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Recyc'Elit operates a patented selective solvolysis chemical recycling process that depolymerizes complex polyester-based textiles (including mixed-fiber fabrics) into high-purity monomers (DMT and MEG) and textile-grade rPET pellets under mild conditions (moderate temperature, atmospheric pressure). The process separates and preserves co-materials (elastane, polyamide, cotton, TPU) in pure form for independent valorization, enabling a textile-to-textile closed loop. Recyc'Elit sells rPET pellets, monomers, and recovered co-materials, and licenses its technology to enterprise customers through partnerships such as its long-term collaboration with Decathlon.

Product overview

Recyc'Elit offers a patented chemical recycling technology platform for complex polyester-based textiles that would otherwise be landfilled or incinerated. The core offering consists of a selective solvolysis process that breaks down polyester textiles into recycled monomers (DMT and MEG) and rPET pellets, while simultaneously separating co-materials like elastane, polyamide, and cotton for independent valorization. The company operates across multiple European research projects (CASTTOR, SOLSTICE, SORT4CIRC) to scale from pilot to pre-industrial demonstrator scale, targeting both post-production and post-consumer textile waste streams.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• rPET Pellets Recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) pellets produced from complex polyester-based textile waste through Recyc'Elit's selective solvolysis process. Compatible with textile-grade applications and eligible for the 'Incorporation de matières premières issues du recyclage' premium from eco-organisms such as Refashion. Sold to textile brands and manufacturers as a sustainable alternative to virgin polyester or bottle-derived rPET.
• Recycled Monomers (DMT and MEG) Dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) and monoethylene glycol (MEG) monomers recovered through Recyc'Elit's selective solvolysis process. Identical in quality to virgin monomers and suitable for repolymerization into rPET. Sold to chemical and polymer producers as drop-in inputs for recycled polyester manufacturing.
• Separated Co-materials High-purity co-materials (elastane, polyamide, cotton, polyurethane/TPU) separated during the recycling process as a byproduct of the selective solvolysis chemistry. These co-materials are sold or valorized through appropriate downstream recycling channels, supporting a 100% circular process with additional revenue streams.
• Chemical Recycling Process (Selective Solvolysis Technology) Patented selective solvolysis chemical recycling technology that operates under mild temperature and atmospheric pressure conditions, enabling depolymerization of complex polyester textiles while separating co-materials (elastane, polyamide, cotton, TPU) at high purity for separate valorization. Licensed and deployed to enterprise customers through strategic partnerships such as the long-term agreement with Decathlon.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15 kg of polyester clothing transformed into 6 kg of rPET pellets, which produced 6 spools of textile-grade yarn on first attempt
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• SORT4CIRC ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025European project (HORIZON-CL6-2024-CircBio) with €5.097M budget over 36 months focused on textile identification and sorting for better recycling. Recyc'Elit coordinates the project. Partners include Textile House, CEA, CITEX.
• DecathlonflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Strategic partnership and joint investment to develop textile recycling technologies. Decathlon invested in Recyc'Elit to support the deployment of recycling technology and accelerate Decathlon's decarbonization roadmap. Includes long-term supply agreement for recycled polyester and creation of capsule collections. First recycled T-shirt from complex textile waste produced through this collaboration. Demonstrator planned for 2025.
• SOLSTICE ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024European project (HORIZON EUROPE CCRI) with €11M budget over 42 months demonstrating chemical recycling technologies for textiles. Recyc'Elit leads polyester recycling work package. Partners include TECHTERA, Leitat, CITEX, Next Technology, Pellenc ST, IFTH.
• REGIOGREENTEX ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023European interregional innovation project bringing together 43 partners from 11 European regions to map and reduce difficulties in implementing circular economy in textiles. Led by EURATEX. Recyc'Elit contributes innovative recycling technology. Part of the I3 instrument under ERDF.
• ReHubscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to promote textile-to-textile recycling at European scale. Recyc'Elit participates in ReHubs initiative to build European value chains for textile recycling.
• RefashioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEco-organism partner providing support for textile recycling innovation. Recyc'Elit's rPET pellets are compatible with Refashion's 'Incorporation of recycled raw materials' premium. Winner of Refashion Innovation Challenge for AURAreFIL project.
• TECHTERAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes textile and composite materials cluster. Partner in multiple European projects (SOLSTICE, CASTTOR) and awarded Recyc'Elit the 'Collaborative Project of the Year'. Cluster organized visits including Belgian President-Minister delegation.
• AXELERAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChemistry and environment cluster for Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Organized AXELERA Day where Recyc'Elit won the 'Relation Grand Compte / PME' trophy. Co-organized visits including Belgian delegation.
• NOLTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports equipment manufacturer collaboration on 'The Infinity Jersey' featuring recycled materials. Recyc'Elit presented testimonial alongside NOLT at Refashion Recycle Summit 2026.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Circ: US-based textile-to-textile recycler using hydrothermal processing to recover polyester and cellulose from blended fabrics. Comparable in targeting mixed-fiber textile waste and producing virgin-quality inputs for brands.
• Ambercycle: US-based chemical recycler using a proprietary process to depolymerize polyester textile waste into virgin-quality regenerated polyester. Comparable in producing textile-grade outputs from complex textile feedstock and similar brand-partnership GTM.
• Carbios: French biotech company using enzymatic depolymerization to recycle PET into monomers for textile applications. Most direct comparable: same geography (France), same polyester chemical recycling focus, same early commercialization stage, and serves overlapping textile brand customers.
• Worn Again Technologies: UK-based company developing chemical recycling to separate and recover polyester and cellulose from mixed textile waste. Closely comparable technology approach (PET/cellulose separation from complex textiles) and similar B2B sales motion to textile brands.
• Re&Up (SANKO): Turkey-based subsidiary of SANKO operating industrial-scale chemical recycling of textile waste into recycled polyester fibers. Comparable in polyester-focused textile recycling but at significantly larger industrial scale.
• Infinited Fiber Company: Finnish company that regenerates cellulose-rich textile waste into new fibers. Comparable in cellulose recovery from mixed textiles, B2B sales to apparel brands, and European regulatory tailwinds.

Broad incumbents

• Eastman (Naia Renew): US-listed specialty chemicals company whose Naia Renew offering includes polyester recycling from textile waste via methanolysis. Comparable in producing rPET monomers from complex textiles, but operates as a broad incumbent chemicals platform with much larger scale and capital base.

Emerging players

• Syre: Recently launched textile-to-textile polyester recycling venture backed by H&M and Vargas, operating in Vietnam. Comparable focus on circular polyester for apparel brands, but earlier-stage commercial deployment.
• Syngas/Saentis Textiles (Saentis): Emerging European textile recycling company focused on textile-to-textile fiber recovery. Comparable as a peer in the European chemical/textile recycling startup ecosystem, though with different technology focus.

Others

• Refashion (Eco-organism): French eco-organism managing EPR funding for textile waste. Recyc'Elit partners with Refashion and is eligible for its recycled-content premium. Listed as an ecosystem enabler rather than a competitor — Refashion channels feedstock and financial incentives to recyclers like Recyc'Elit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/recyc-elit

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 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 Recyc'Elit