What Accelerating Circularity does

Accelerating Circularity (ACP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2019 that operates as a multi-stakeholder convenor to build textile-to-textile (T2T) circular systems. The organization coordinates brands, manufacturers, collectors, sorters, recyclers, and innovators through a portfolio of programs including the Alliance for Chemical Textile Recyclers (ACTR), Circular Systems for Trims and Ignored Materials (CSTIM), Building Circular Systems (BCS) regional demonstrations, and the NU Network digital platform co-developed with Dhana Inc. By 2023, ACP had conducted 28 trials involving 74 participants across 21 countries, utilizing over 50 tons of recycled feedstocks, and has secured a Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to keep 325 tons of used textiles in circular motion by 2026.

ACP's core capabilities center on stakeholder coordination, pilot trial design, supply chain modeling, and industry knowledge production rather than direct technology development. The organization has produced an extensive public library of publications (Tipping the Scale: Mass Balance, CSTIM Report, Rags to Revenue, Global Cotton/Polyester Reports, Playbook) and practical tools (Stakeholder Maps, Spent Textile Guidelines, Recycling Matrices) that have established it as a credible resource — surveys indicate ~95% stakeholder trust and 90%+ confidence in ACP for T2T recycling guidance. The NU Network represents its most significant technology initiative: a database and platform co-developed with Dhana Inc. to connect textile ecosystem stakeholders and streamline the movement of unwanted textiles into circular streams.

The organization's revenue model is grant-funded, with the Walmart Foundation providing $2.7 million in disclosed programmatic grants ($1.2M in 2020, $1.5M in 2023) and Laudes Foundation supporting EU operations. ACP supplements grant funding through workshop fees for its Textile-to-Textile Circularity Foundations program, pilot project sponsorships, general donations, and endowment giving. It operates through two legal entities — Accelerating Circularity Inc. (US, EIN 84-3906295) and Stichting Accelerating Circularity Europe (Netherlands, KvK 42055935) — and is governed by a board chaired by founder Karla Magruder, with Edd Denes appointed CEO in March 2026.

Name

Accelerating Circularity

Legal name

Accelerating Circularity Inc.

Website

https://acceleratingcircularity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Accelerating Circularity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that convenes brands, recyclers, sorters, and innovators to build textile-to-textile circular systems through pilot trials, working groups (ACTR, CSTIM, BCS), and the NU Network digital platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Textile Circularity and Sustainability Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (813990), Publishing Industries (513)

SIC

Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)

akta.pro primary industry

Circularity Consulting & Program Management (EPR, Design-for-Circularity, LCA) (EUAIANAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Circular Economy & Sustainable Products (Reuse, Repair, Upcycling) (BPAGALAF), Circular Economy & Waste/Materials Reporting (Zero waste, packaging) (EUAHAJAL), Reuse & Resale / Recommerce Operations (EUAIANAC)

Keywords

• Textile circularity
• Circular economy services
• Textile-to-textile recycling
• Sustainability consulting
• Post-consumer textile programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Donations: Accelerating Circularity operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. It is funded primarily through grants from foundations and corporations. Key funders include the Walmart Foundation (US) and Laudes Foundation (EU). The organization also accepts general donations to support operations and initiatives.
2. Program Fees and Workshop Revenue: Revenue is generated through program participation fees, workshop fees for the Textile-to-Textile Circularity Foundations program, and PC Program sponsorships where brands and organizations sponsor pilot projects aligned with their sustainability goals.
3. Endowment and Legacy Giving: Long-term funding through endowment gifts and legacy giving options for donors seeking to invest in the organization's future.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Accelerating Circularity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit convenor that builds textile-to-textile circular systems by coordinating brands, manufacturers, collectors, sorters, recyclers, and innovators through multi-stakeholder pilot programs, working groups, and research. It delivers this through its ACTR and CSTIM working groups, BCS regional programs, the NU Network digital platform co-developed with Dhana Inc., industry workshops, and an extensive library of reports, frameworks, and practical tools.

Product overview

Accelerating Circularity is a global nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization operating through two entities (Accelerating Circularity Inc. in the US and Stichting Accelerating Circularity Europe in the Netherlands). The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected programs, platforms, and resources focused on building textile-to-textile circular systems. Core programs include ACTR (Alliance of Chemical Recycling) for chemical recycler collaboration, CSTIM (Circular Systems for Trims and Ignored Materials) addressing recycling contaminants, BCS (Building Circular Systems) demonstrating T2T systems in Americas/EU, and NU Network digital platform co-developed with Dhana Inc. for material tracking and stakeholder connection. Supporting offerings include educational workshops (Textile-to-Textile Circularity Foundations), comprehensive reports (Mass Balance Paper, CSTIM Report, Rags to Revenue, Playbook), practical tools/templates, webinars, and the Clinton Global Initiative commitment to process 325 tons of textiles by 2026. The organization does not offer a public API product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 28 trials across 21 countries involving 74 participants demonstrating textile-to-textile circular systems are commercially feasible
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Dhana Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2025Accelerating Circularity and Dhana Inc. (Certified B Corporation, fashion technology company) partnered to co-develop the Next Use Network (NU Network), a digital platform and database that connects stakeholders across the textile ecosystem and streamlines the movement of unwanted textiles into the right circular streams. The co-developed application aims to empower brands, manufacturers, resellers, sorters, and recyclers to make data-driven sustainable decisions. Launch planned for 2025.
• Wrangler (Kontoor Brands)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccelerating Circularity collaborated with Wrangler (Kontoor Brands), waste collectors, yarn spinners, and denim makers to build a circular manufacturing system. The collaboration produced circular jeans for Walmart containing 26% recycled cotton sourced from used clothes and factory discards, priced at $39.99 — demonstrating technical feasibility for scaling sustainable fashion to the mass market.
• TargetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTarget participated in Accelerating Circularity's Post-Consumer Programs and launched a denim skirt with 40% recycled fiber content fabric from an ACP program in 2024, demonstrating commercial application of circular textiles. Target also serves on the Americas Steering Committee.
• NikecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNike participates on the Accelerating Circularity Americas Steering Committee, contributing industry leadership, strategic guidance, and expertise to shape ACP's initiatives and drive collective action toward textile circularity.
• PumacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPuma participates on the Accelerating Circularity European Steering Committee, contributing strategic guidance and industry expertise to shape ACP's European initiatives and drive circular textile systems across the EU.
• TOMRAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTOMRA participates on the Accelerating Circularity Americas Steering Committee and is involved in the CSTIM Working Group. TOMRA's sorting technology expertise supports the development of automated sorting systems essential for textile-to-textile recycling infrastructure.
• YKKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYKK participates in the CSTIM (Circular Systems for Trims and Ignored Materials) Working Group, contributing expertise on trims and fasteners which are among the leading contaminants in textile-to-textile recycling. YKK is actively working on circular design for trims to enable recyclability.
• Kolon IndustriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKolon Industries participates on the Accelerating Circularity European Steering Committee, contributing strategic guidance on circular textile systems development in the EU market.
• RejucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReju participates on the Accelerating Circularity European Steering Committee, contributing expertise in textile recycling and circular economy solutions for the European textile industry.
• WWF (World Wildlife Fund)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWWF co-leads the Mapping Secondhand Material Flows project with Accelerating Circularity and BSR. The project maps how used textiles move from high-income to low-income regions, assessing social, environmental, and economic impacts to inform circular policy, EPR, and infrastructure planning.
• Dhana Inc. (D/Sphere Platform)coreTechnology or IntegrationDhana Inc.'s D/Sphere AI-powered fashion platform and expertise in data integration complements ACP's industry knowledge. The partnership co-develops a digital application for the Next Use Network, making circularity more actionable for brands, manufacturers, resellers, sorters, and recyclers.
• WalmartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWalmart served as the retail channel for Wrangler's circular jeans developed through Accelerating Circularity's program. Walmart Foundation also provides major grant funding to ACP. Walmart participates through its Textile Lighthouse Advisory Board (Karla Magruder serves on the board).
• Clinton Global InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACP's commitment to keep 325 tons of used textiles in circular motion by 2026 was accepted as a Commitment to Action under the Clinton Global Initiative framework. CGI provides a platform for ACP to engage with a broad cross-section of society and demonstrate measurable impact.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Worn Again Technologies: A UK-based polymer recycling company that separates and recycles polyester and cellulose from end-of-life textiles. Comparable as a chemical recycler that ACP's programs aim to integrate into commercial T2T value chains; Worn Again is technology-operator while ACP plays the convening role.
• Reju: A technology company developing chemical recycling processes for polyester textile-to-textile recycling. Both sit on ACP's European Steering Committee and operate in the same T2T recycling ecosystem; however Reju is a technology operator building commercial recycling infrastructure whereas ACP is the convenor that brings recyclers like Reju to the table with brands.
• Renewcell: A Swedish pulp and chemical recycler (Circulose product) that processes cellulose-rich textiles into dissolving pulp for new fiber production. Highly comparable as one of the leading chemical cellulose recyclers whose commercial scale-up is a key enabler of the T2T ecosystem ACP is building.
• Circ: A for-profit chemical recycling company that recovers and separates cellulose and polyester from blended textiles for re-use in new fibers. Comparable as a key chemical-recycling participant in the T2T ecosystem that ACP's ACTR working group convenes; Circ is technology-operator while ACP is ecosystem-builder.

Direct peers

• BSR (Business for Social Responsibility): A global nonprofit consultancy that works with brands on sustainability strategy, supply chain due diligence, and circular economy initiatives. ACP co-leads the Mapping Secondhand Material Flows project with BSR and WWF, and BSR serves a comparable enterprise-customer base of brands seeking to operationalize circularity commitments.
• Reverse Resources: A technology platform that connects textile waste suppliers with recyclers and tracks material flows for circularity. Directly comparable to ACP's NU Network digital platform offering — both enable data-driven circular material flows, though Reverse Resources is for-profit while ACP is nonprofit.
• Textile Exchange: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit that develops standards and drives adoption of preferred fibers and materials across the textile industry. Highly comparable to ACP as a mission-aligned nonprofit convenor that publishes widely-adopted standards (e.g., the Global Recycled Standard, recycled-content certifications) and convenes brands, suppliers, and recyclers — though Textile Exchange is more standards-focused while ACP is more supply-chain-trial-focused.

Others

• Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute: A nonprofit that operates the Cradle to Cradle Certified product standard across multiple material flows, including textiles and apparel. Comparable as a nonprofit certifier and convening body for circular materials, but covers multiple product categories and emphasizes material-health certification rather than T2T supply-chain trials.
• ZDHC Foundation: A nonprofit foundation driving zero discharge of hazardous chemicals in the textile and footwear industry. Adjacent to ACP as a textile-focused nonprofit that publishes standards and convenes brands and suppliers on industry transformation; comparable governance model and stakeholder convening approach though focused on chemical management rather than circularity.

Broad incumbents

• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: A globally recognized nonprofit foundation driving the transition to a circular economy across multiple material flows (plastics, fashion, food). Comparable to ACP as a circular-economy advocacy and convening body, but operating at much broader scope and scale across industries rather than specializing in textile-to-textile systems.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AccCircularity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Accelerating Circularity