Circulose
Circulose (formerly Renewcell) is a Swedish materials company that converts cotton-rich textile waste into CIRCULOSE® dissolving pulp, supplying fiber producers and fashion brands such as H&M, Bestseller, and Mango for man-made cellulosic fiber production.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersSundsvall, Sweden
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Circulose does
Circulose (formerly Renewcell) is a Swedish materials company that operates the Ortviken plant in Sundsvall, Sweden, described as the world's first commercial-scale chemical textile-to-textile recycling facility. The company converts cotton-rich textile waste into CIRCULOSE® dissolving pulp, a drop-in raw material for man-made cellulosic fiber (MMCF) production including viscose staple fiber and lyocell, enabling fashion brands to substitute virgin cellulosic fibers with recycled inputs within existing supply chains without redesign or quality compromise.
The business model is B2B and structured around an exclusive brand partnership model in which Circulose withdraws pulp from the open market and locks in long-term offtake commitments with fashion brands such as H&M, Bestseller, Mango, Marks & Spencer, C&A, Tommy Hilfiger, Reformation, Eileen Fisher, Marimekko, and 10+ other labels. Pulp is supplied to fiber producers—Birla Cellulose (India), Tangshan Sanyou (China), Jilin Chemicals (China), and CTA (China)—who convert it into viscose and lyocell fibers used in brand collections. Revenue combines pulp sales with brand-partnership economics tied to the CIRCULOSE® trademark mark licensed on finished products. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.
Following Renewcell's 2024 bankruptcy, the company was acquired by Altor Equity Partners, rebranded Circulose, and restarted commercial-scale production at Ortviken in February 2026 under CEO Jonatan Janmark and Chairman Helena Helmersson (former H&M CEO). The company employs 11–50 staff, serves fashion and apparel customers across Europe, Asia, and India, and operates an asset-light fiber-conversion model via partner manufacturers. Its near-term trajectory depends on the ramp of the Ortviken facility, the conversion of brand partnership commitments into offtake volumes, and the alignment of EU textile-waste regulation with recycled-fiber demand.
Circulose firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Circulose
- Legal name
- Circulose AB
- Website
- https://circulo.se
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Circulose (formerly Renewcell) is a Swedish materials company that converts cotton-rich textile waste into CIRCULOSE® dissolving pulp, supplying fiber producers and fashion brands such as H&M, Bestseller, and Mango for man-made cellulosic fiber production.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Circulose industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Recycled Textile Materials
- NAICS
- Pulp Mills (32211), Pulp Mills (322110)
- SIC
- Pulp Mills (2611), Textile Mill Products (2200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Dissolving Pulp (Rayon/Cellulose Derivatives Grade) (IMAMADAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fiber Recycling & Pulping (Paper, OCC, Mixed Paper) (BPALADAD), Biobased, Compostable & Low-Impact Material Innovation (Bio-polymers/Dope Dyeing) (IMAOAMAM)
Keywords
Where Circulose is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sundsvall
- HQ country
- Sweden
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Circulose business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Recycled Pulp Sales: Circulose supplies CIRCULOSE® pulp made from 100% recycled textile waste to fiber producers who manufacture viscose staple fiber and lyocell. The company operates an exclusive brand partnership model, withdrawing pulp from the open market to create closed-loop supply chains with long-term commitments from fashion brands.
- Brand Partnership Fees: Circulose brand partners integrate CIRCULOSE® into their collections and sourcing strategies, with H&M becoming the first large-scale partner under a long-term purchase commitment. The CIRCULOSE® branding (CIRCULOSE® dot/mark) provides differentiation in the market.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Circulose product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Circulose operates the world's first commercial-scale chemical textile-to-textile recycling facility at its Ortviken plant in Sundsvall, Sweden, producing CIRCULOSE® dissolving pulp made from 100% recycled cotton textiles. The pulp is supplied to fiber producers (Birla Cellulose, Tangshan Sanyou, Jilin Chemicals, CTA) who convert it into viscose staple fiber and lyocell for use in fashion brand collections. The company sells CIRCULOSE® pulp B2B and licenses the CIRCULOSE® brand mark to fashion brands committed to circular materials integration.
Product overview
Circulose is a Swedish textile innovation company operating the world's first commercial-scale chemical textile-to-textile recycling facility. The company's core product is CIRCULOSE® pulp, a raw material made from 100% recycled cotton textiles. Circulose partners with fashion brands and fiber producers to shift the industry from linear to circular models. The business model integrates the entire value chain, providing recycled pulp to fiber producers who create viscose staple fiber, lyocell, and other man-made cellulosic fibers (MMCF) that brands use in their products. The offering functions as a unified materials platform rather than modular software, delivering a single integrated solution for textile circularity.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CIRCULOSE®: Raw material made from 100% recycled cotton textiles that enables fashion brands to replace virgin fibers within existing supply chains.
Products and services
- CIRCULOSE® Pulp A dissolving pulp raw material produced from 100% recycled cotton textiles through chemical textile-to-textile recycling. CIRCULOSE® pulp is supplied B2B to man-made cellulosic fiber producers (Birla Cellulose, Tangshan Sanyou, Jilin Chemicals, CTA) who convert it into viscose staple fiber and lyocell for use by fashion brands (H&M, Bestseller, Mango, Marks & Spencer, Tommy Hilfiger, and others) in their collections. It enables brand partners to replace virgin cellulosic fibers within existing supply chains without compromising quality or design, reducing CO2 emissions, land use, and water consumption.
- CIRCULOSE® Brand Partnership Program An exclusive brand partnership program through which fashion brands integrate CIRCULOSE® into collections and sourcing strategies under long-term purchase commitments. The program includes the CIRCULOSE® registered trademark and dot mark license for use on products made with the material, enabling brands to signal circularity in fashion retail.
- CIRCULOSE®-Based Lyocell Fibers (via CTA) Lyocell fibers produced using CIRCULOSE® pulp as a renewable input through the CTA partnership, expanding the CIRCULOSE® offering beyond viscose staple fiber into lyocell applications for fashion and textile manufacturers.
Quantifiable outcome
- CO2 emissions reduction
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Circulose
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Circulose technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Circulose partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- Eileen FishercoreBrand partner expanding CIRCULOSE® integration into collections and sourcing strategies.
- MarimekkocoreBrand partner integrating CIRCULOSE® into collections.
- Samsøe SamsøeminorBrand partner integrating CIRCULOSE® into collections.
- King LouieminorBrand partner integrating CIRCULOSE® into collections.
- CTA (China Textile Academy Green Fibre)coreAgreement to offer lyocell fibers produced using CIRCULOSE® pulp. Producing lyocell from recycled pulp at commercial scale is an important step in making textile-to-textile recycled materials available across a wider range of textile applications.
- Cross WrapminorSupplier of automated bale handling solution for Circulose's Ortviken recycling plant in Sweden. System automates bale dewiring and feeding, improving operational efficiency and safety.
- SpinnovacorePartnership to accelerate the commercial scale-up of their joint project for sustainable textile solutions. Goal to advance textile-to-textile recycling commercial viability.
- Tommy HilfigercoreBrand partner integrating CIRCULOSE® into fashion collections.
- Birla CelluloseflagshipStrategic partnership where Circulose supplies CIRCULOSE® pulp made from 100% recycled textile waste to Birla Cellulose, which produces viscose staple fiber using the pulp and makes it available to Circulose's brand partners. Birla Cellulose is recognized as a top-tier company in Canopy's Hot Button Report.
- H&MflagshipFirst large-scale partner under a long-term purchase commitment to integrate CIRCULOSE® into fashion collections. Committed to replacing virgin fibers with recycled materials.
- BestsellercoreBrand partner committed to replacing a meaningful share of man-made cellulosic fibers with recycled materials through CIRCULOSE® integration.
- Marks & SpencercoreBrand partner integrating CIRCULOSE® into collections as part of sustainability commitment.
- C&AcoreBrand partner committed to circular materials through CIRCULOSE® integration.
- ReformationcoreBrand partner integrating CIRCULOSE® into sustainable fashion collections.
- Filippa KcoreBrand partner committed to circular materials integration.
- John LewiscoreBrand partner integrating CIRCULOSE® into collections.
- FahertyminorBrand partner committed to replacing man-made cellulosic fibers with recycled materials.
- Bobo ChosesminorBrand partner committed to circular materials.
- ZerominorGerman brand partner committed to recycled materials integration.
- MangocorePartnership to incorporate recycled textiles into Mango's production chain as part of sustainability strategy until 2030. Enables use of fibers made from recycled cotton-rich textiles.
- Tangshan SanyoucoreFiber partner manufacturing fibers using CIRCULOSE® pulp.
- Jilin ChemicalscoreFiber partner manufacturing fibers using CIRCULOSE® pulp.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Circulose competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Circ: US-based chemical recycling company converting blended textile waste into cellulose and polyester monomers for re-polymerization. Competes directly with Circulose in chemical textile-to-textile recycling and shares fashion brand partnerships and MMCF end-markets.
- Lenzing: Austrian MMCF producer (lyocell, modal, viscose) with Refibra-branded recycled-content fibers. Refibra uses pre-consumer cotton scraps and is a direct competing offering to CIRCULOSE for brands seeking recycled MMCF, sharing target customers and MMCF end-applications.
- Worn Again Technologies: UK-based chemical recycler separating polyester and cotton from textile waste for re-use in new fibers. Closely comparable business model — chemical T2T recycling with brand off-take focus — and direct rival for funding, brand partnerships, and feedstock supply.
- Ambercycle: US chemical recycling startup producing regenerated polyester (cycora) from textile waste. Comparable chemical T2T business model supplying regenerated feedstock to fiber producers and brands; overlaps with Circulose on sustainability positioning and apparel customers.
- Evrnu: US-based chemical recycler using engineered solvents to break down cotton-rich textile waste into cellulosic polymers for re-spinning into new fibers. Closely comparable chemical recycling process and identical target customer base (apparel brands seeking recycled MMCF).
- Infinited Fiber Company: Finnish cellulose-carbamate textile recycler producing regenerated fibers (Infinna) from cotton-rich textile waste. Closest technology competitor to CIRCULOSE in chemical textile-to-textile recycling, targeting the same MMCF and fashion brand customer base.
Broad incumbents
- Eastman (Naia Renew): Global specialty chemicals company with Naia Renew cellulosic fiber made with recycled waste-derived inputs. Broad incumbent in sustainable MMCF and a competitor for brand off-take commitments seeking recycled-cellulosic fibers.
- Sateri: World's largest MMCF (viscose) producer, part of RGE. Sets the commodity benchmark price for dissolving pulp and MMCF that CIRCOLOSE competes against, and represents both a competitive threat and potential off-take/feedstock partner for recycled streams.
- Birla Cellulose (Aditya Birla Group): Largest Indian MMCF producer and Circulose's flagship fiber-producer partner (Liva Reviva). Comparable viscose manufacturer and major customer for Circulose pulp; Liva Reviva competes with CIRCULOSE for recycled-content MMCF share.
Emerging players
- Spinnova: Finnish sustainable fiber company using mechanical pulp and circular feedstock to make textile fiber. Co-development partner with Circulose (announced March 2026) and an emerging player in the recycled-cellulosic fiber space targeting similar fashion customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Circulose social profiles
Digital presenceCirculose financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Circulose leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Circulose funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Circulose M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Circulose
What does Circulose do?
Circulose operates the world's first commercial-scale chemical textile-to-textile recycling facility at its Ortviken plant in Sundsvall, Sweden, producing CIRCULOSE® dissolving pulp made from 100% recycled cotton textiles. The pulp is supplied to fiber producers (Birla Cellulose, Tangshan Sanyou, Jilin Chemicals, CTA) who convert it into viscose staple fiber and lyocell for use in fashion brand collections. The company sells CIRCULOSE® pulp B2B and licenses the CIRCULOSE® brand mark to fashion brands committed to circular materials integration.
Is Circulose a public or private company?
Circulose is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Circulose founded?
Circulose was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Circulose based?
Circulose is headquartered in Sundsvall, Sweden, in the Europe region.
How does Circulose make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Recycled Pulp Sales are the primary driver. The others are brand Partnership Fees.
Who are Circulose's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Circ, Lenzing, Worn Again Technologies, Ambercycle, Evrnu and Infinited Fiber Company. Broad incumbents are Eastman (Naia Renew), Sateri and Birla Cellulose (Aditya Birla Group). Spinnova is listed as an emerging player.
Does Circulose have an API?
No public API is recorded for Circulose.
What industry is Circulose in?
Circulose's product category is Recycled Textile Materials. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMADAC, Dissolving Pulp (Rayon/Cellulose Derivatives Grade), with a secondary code of BPALADAD, Fiber Recycling & Pulping (Paper, OCC, Mixed Paper). Its NAICS code is 32211 and its SIC code is 2611.