Wolkat
Wolkat is a fourth-generation Dutch family-owned circular textile recycler that mechanically transforms post-consumer clothing into recycled yarns, fabrics, and finished products for global brands, retailers, and municipalities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1948
- HeadquartersTilburg, Netherlands
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Wolkat does
Wolkat Fibre B.V. is a fourth-generation, family-owned circular textile processor headquartered in Tilburg, Netherlands, with manufacturing operations in Tangier, Morocco (since 1995). The company runs a fully integrated mechanical recycling chain — collection, sorting across approximately 250 categories and 45 colors, fiberization, spinning, and weaving — under a single roof, without the use of water, chemicals, or dyes in the conversion stage. Of incoming textiles, Wolkat diverts 94-96% from disposal (only 4% residual waste), with 77% recoverable as reusable clothing (50%), resellable shoes (12%), material reuse such as cleaning cloths and bedding stuffing (15%), or feed for new recycled products (19%).\n\nThe commercial model is B2B and multi-revenue-stream. Wolkat generates revenue by paying municipalities for collected textiles and then reselling or reprocessing them, by selling recycled yarns, woven fabrics, and non-wovens (felt) as industrial inputs (notably to automotive, furniture, and mattress markets via subsidiary Conedmar), and by selling finished B2B products through five consumer-facing collections (Living, Bags, Clothing, Kitchen, Accessories) at quote-based pricing with minimum order quantities ranging from 50 to 1,000 pieces per color per product. A wholly-owned subsidiary, Drop & Loop, operates a retail-textile collection network installed at partner stores (HEMA, Omoda, Garcia, Suitable, Albert Heijn, Jumbo) that pays customers discounts in exchange for returned clothing, locking in feedstock supply at the front end. A D2C clearance store in Tilburg opened in December 2023 to sell leftover products to consumers.\n\nWolkat serves three primary customer segments: Dutch/Belgian/Danish municipalities and waste companies (via the Midwaste cooperative of 14 regional firms); global clothing brands such as Nike, Filippa K, and Scotch & Soda seeking circular raw materials and EPR compliance support; and retailers (HEMA, Zeeman, Omoda, Garcia, Suitable) using Drop & Loop for in-store take-back. The company states an ambition to be the leading circular textile processor in Europe by 2025, expanding collection across multiple European points. No external investors, parent company, acquisitions, or funding rounds are disclosed.
Wolkat firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wolkat
- Legal name
- Wolkat Fibre B.V.
- Website
- https://wolkat.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1948
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Wolkat is a fourth-generation Dutch family-owned circular textile recycler that mechanically transforms post-consumer clothing into recycled yarns, fabrics, and finished products for global brands, retailers, and municipalities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wolkat industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Recycled Textiles
- NAICS
- Broadwoven Fabric Mills (313210), Textile Mills (313), Fabric Mills (3132), Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills (31311), All Other Textile Product Mills (31499)
- SIC
- Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Textile Mill Products (2200), Broadwoven Fabric Mills, Man Made Fiber & Silk (2221), Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Textile & Apparel Recycling and Sorting (Non-E-waste) (BPALADAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Textile-to-Textile Feedstock Preparation (De-trimming/De-buttoning/De-zipping/Contaminant Removal) (IMAOAMAE), Repair, Refurbishment & Upcycling Services (Industrial Scale) (IMAOAMAK), Recycled Textile Compounding & Nonwoven Reprocessing (Insulation/Felts/Geotextiles) (IMAOAMAH), Textile & Apparel Sorting/Recovery Facilities (EUAIADAJ), Post-Consumer Textile Collection & Sorting (Take-Back/Charity/Reverse Logistics) (IMAOAMAA)
Keywords
Where Wolkat is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tilburg
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Wolkat business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Textile Collection Services: Wolkat collects discarded textiles from municipalities and retail stores, paying municipalities for the textiles collected. Revenue is generated through the subsequent processing and sale of sorted textiles (for reuse) and recycled products.
- Recycled Product Sales: Sale of recycled yarns, fabrics, and end products (bags, clothing, kitchen items, accessories, living products) to brands, retailers, and other businesses. Wolkat sells B2B, with products assembled as textile products or in some cases as yarn or fabric.
- Drop & Loop Retail Collection: Drop & Loop is part of the Wolkat group and handles collection of discarded textiles in retail stores, earning revenue through retailer partnerships and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) compliance services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Basic Colors - Standard minimum order quantity |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Limited Colors - Higher minimum order quantity |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Clothing items - Custom minimum order |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Wolkat product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wolkat operates a fully circular textile recycling process that combines collection, sorting, recycling, spinning, and weaving under one roof. The company transforms post-consumer textile waste into recycled yarns, fabrics, non-wovens (felt), and finished consumer products such as bags, clothing, kitchen, and living accessories for B2B customers.
Product overview
Wolkat is a circular textile recycling company offering a portfolio of products and services built around its fully integrated recycling process. The core offering consists of mechanically recycled yarns, fabrics, and non-wovens (felt), which serve as raw materials for finished products. Wolkat's product portfolio includes five main consumer-facing collections available through its B2B sales: Living (pillows, baskets), Bags (various bag types), Clothing (apparel), Kitchen (textiles), and Accessories. The company also offers Drop & Loop, a retail textile collection service. All products are made from post-consumer textiles that cannot be reused, sorted by color, mechanically fiberized, and spun into new yarns without using water, chemicals, or dyes. Wolkat operates as the only textile processor in the world with a fully circular process, controlling collection, sorting, recycling, spinning, and weaving under one roof.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Living Collection
Quantifiable outcome
- 94-96% of textiles received get a new life as second-hand textiles or recycled end-products
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Wolkat
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Wolkat technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Wolkat partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and secondary.
- ZeemancoreCollaboration to introduce circular textiles to the widest possible public. Zeeman has 1,300+ stores in 8 countries. Wolkat products available in Zeeman stores. Royal visit by Queen Máxima and State Secretary to highlight circularity efforts.
- WitloftminorPartnership to create circular schorts/aprons from recycled textiles. Witloft is a cooking and craftsmanship company with passion for high quality.
- HEMAcoreCircular partnership where HEMA installed Drop & Loop collection points at 120 stores. Textiles returned are used to manufacture new products for HEMA collections. HEMA provides a 10% discount incentive for textile returns.
- Filippa KcoreCreated 100% post-consumer recycled bags for Filippa K stores. Both companies share the vision of circular fashion and sustainable industry development.
- NikecoreNike sent unsaleable stock for Wolkat to transform into circular products, resulting in the 'recycled Nike gift bag'. Nike now uses Wolkat's recycled fabric in several products including a shoe designed by Nike.
- OmodasecondaryDrop & Loop collection points available in Omoda retail stores.
- Drop & LoopcoreSubsidiary of Wolkat Group that operates collection machines in retail stores. Handles logistics, collection, sorting, repurposing and recycling for retailers. Rewards customers with discounts for textile returns.
- MidwastecoreCooperative of 14 regional waste and cleaning companies. Wolkat provides full transparency in sorting, reuse, and recycling processes. Midwaste members include Saver, Breda, 's Hertogenbosch, Dar, and Irado.
- Saxion University of Applied SciencessecondaryLectureship Sustainable & Functional Textiles collaborates with Wolkat on researching new markets for recycled yarns.
- TextielMuseumminorCommissioned research and development of new circular fashion pieces using yarns developed by Wolkat. Design collaboration with Stina Randestad.
- RehubsminorEuropean collaboration initiative where the entire textile industry chain is represented to research and promote circularity.
- ACPEminorEuropean collaboration initiative participating in international textile circularity research and promotion.
- Be the fibreminorBe the fibre buys products from Wolkat and sells them in their own webshop. Organization focuses on socially responsible business and sustainable development projects.
- Scotch & SodaminorCreated a bag from recycled textiles, supporting Scotch & Soda's goal to reduce waste and make more responsible choices for the planet.
- Albert HeijnsecondaryDrop & Loop collection points in several Albert Heijn supermarkets.
- JumbosecondaryDrop & Loop collection points in several Jumbo supermarkets.
- GarciasecondaryDrop & Loop collection points available in Garcia retail stores.
- SuitablesecondaryDrop & Loop collection points available in Suitable retail stores.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Wolkat competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Renewcell (Circulose): Swedish chemical recycler of post-consumer textiles into Circulose dissolving pulp, the most direct competitor to Wolkat's recycled fiber output, using a different (chemical) technology route to the same end market.
- Re&Up (Sanko): Turkey-based recycler (part of Sanko) producing recycled cotton and polyester fibers from post-consumer textiles, competing directly with Wolkat for European brand supply contracts.
- Worn Again Technologies: UK-based polymer regeneration company recovering polyester and cellulose from textiles; competes with Wolkat for brand take-back partnerships and offers a chemical-recycling alternative to mechanical processes.
- Recover Brands: Spain-based recycler producing recycled cotton fiber from post-industrial and post-consumer textile waste; comparable vertically-integrated mechanical recycler serving global apparel brands.
- Infinited Fiber Company: Finland-based fiber regeneration company turning textile waste into virgin-quality cellulose fibers; targets the same fashion and textile brands as Wolkat but via chemical regeneration rather than mechanical recycling.
Broad incumbents
- Lenzing AG: Austrian large-scale sustainable fiber producer (Tencel, Refibra with recycled content) competing with Wolkat in the recycled-fiber supply market for fashion and home textiles, though via cellulosic rather than post-consumer textile recycling.
- Patagonia (Worn Wear / recycled products): US outdoor apparel brand operating extensive take-back and circular product programs; comparable enterprise customer archetype for Wolkat and an indirect competitor in circular apparel supply chains.
Emerging players
- Matoha Instrumentation: UK-based NIR-based textile sorting technology provider enabling automated fiber composition sorting; partial overlap with Wolkat's manual 250-category sorting and a potential automation partner or competitor.
- Sonovia: Israeli textile technology company developing recycled and functional fabric solutions; an emerging adjacent player in circular textile materials with overlapping brand customers in Europe.
- Ambercycle: US-based chemical recycler using molecular regeneration to produce polyester from end-of-life textiles; emerging player pursuing the same circular-fiber value proposition as Wolkat for global apparel brands.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Wolkat social profiles
Digital presenceWolkat financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wolkat leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Wolkat subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries10 records
Wolkat funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wolkat 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 Wolkat
What does Wolkat do?
Wolkat operates a fully circular textile recycling process that combines collection, sorting, recycling, spinning, and weaving under one roof. The company transforms post-consumer textile waste into recycled yarns, fabrics, non-wovens (felt), and finished consumer products such as bags, clothing, kitchen, and living accessories for B2B customers.
Is Wolkat a public or private company?
Wolkat is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Wolkat founded?
Wolkat was founded in 1948. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Wolkat based?
Wolkat is headquartered in Tilburg, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Wolkat make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Textile Collection Services are the primary driver. The others are recycled Product Sales and drop & Loop Retail Collection.
Who are Wolkat's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Renewcell (Circulose), Re&Up (Sanko), Worn Again Technologies, Recover Brands and Infinited Fiber Company. Broad incumbents are Lenzing AG and Patagonia (Worn Wear / recycled products). Emerging players are Matoha Instrumentation, Sonovia and Ambercycle.
Does Wolkat have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wolkat.
What industry is Wolkat in?
Wolkat's product category is Recycled Textiles. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPALADAL, Textile & Apparel Recycling and Sorting (Non-E-waste), with a secondary code of IMAOAMAE, Textile-to-Textile Feedstock Preparation (De-trimming/De-buttoning/De-zipping/Contaminant Removal). Its NAICS code is 313210 and its SIC code is 2300.