Primark Commits to Circ Recycled Polyester in Multiyear Supply Pact
Primark has agreed to purchase recycled polyester from textile recycler Circ over multiple years, beginning in 2029. Circ is developing a facility in Saint-Avold, France, expected to cost about $500 million and process 70,000 metric tons of textile waste annually. The supply commitment provides future demand but does not by itself fund the plant, Circ's CEO said.
Primark, an Irish fast-fashion chain, has made its first multiyear supply commitment with a textile-to-textile recycler. The deal covers recycled polyester from Circ beginning in 2029; volumes and financial terms remain undisclosed. Circ plans a commercial plant in Saint-Avold, France, costing roughly $500 million and handling 70,000 metric tons of textile waste yearly.
Primark spent about 18 months reviewing suppliers before choosing Circ, citing its ability to recycle polycotton and the French site's location. In its latest fiscal year, 39 percent of Primark clothing units sold used recycled fibers, up from 32 percent, and the retailer aims to stop using materials it labels conventional by 2030. Circ's process recovers cellulose, PTA and MEG from polycotton.
If realized, the agreement could shift more clothing toward recycled polyester, affecting Primark shoppers, textile waste collectors, and communities near the planned French plant. It may reduce demand for virgin materials and support recycling infrastructure, though the facility's financing and feedstock requirements remain hurdles. Workers and local residents could see industrial investment, while apparel suppliers may need to adapt to new material streams. The scale of social benefit depends on whether commercial operations proceed as planned.