ABB and Swedish textile impact company Syre have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore how automation, electrification and digital technologies could support the development of Syre’s first industrial-scale textile-to-textile polyester recycling plant in Vietnam. The collaboration aims to help advance circular polyester production while improving resource efficiency and reducing textile waste.
Textile Recycling Partnership Supports Circular Economy Goals
ABB and Syre will investigate how automation, electrification and digital technologies can support the development of Syre’s first textile-to-textile recycling facility in Gia Lai province, Vietnam.
The MoU provides a framework for assessing how ABB’s technologies could contribute to safe, efficient and scalable operations. The companies will also examine how process optimisation and quality control could support Syre’s ambition to produce circular polyester at industrial scale.
The proposed facility is designed to recycle polyester from used textiles and industrial waste into new recycled polyester material. Recycling polyester reduces reliance on virgin fossil-based inputs, lowers climate impact and keeps materials in circulation, supporting the transition to a more circular textile industry.
Under the agreement, ABB and Syre will assess how ABB’s distributed control systems, digital industrial software and electrification portfolio could be adapted to the specific requirements of textile-to-textile polyester recycling.
The work is expected to take place alongside the detailed engineering phase of Syre’s first production plant.
“This agreement reflects ABB’s role in supporting emerging industrial applications where automation and electrification can enable greater resource efficiency,” said Wilson Monteiro, Global Business Line Manager for Pulp, Paper and Fiber, ABB Process Industries. “Together with Syre, we will explore how our experience in fibre processing, chemicals and advanced process industries can be applied to polyester recycling. We’re excited to discover what’s possible as we embark on this new technological collaboration.”
Syre says industrial partnerships will play an important role as it moves from technology development to commercial-scale production.
“As we now move into full industrial deployment, partnerships like this become critical,” said Dennis Nobelius, CEO of Syre. “Industrialising textile-to-textile recycling is a complex undertaking, and while strong customer demand is essential, it must be matched with best-in-class industrial partners. ABB brings exactly the depth of expertise and execution capability needed, they are a cornerstone of the industrial ecosystem we are building.”
Since launching publicly two years ago, Syre has established a research and development facility and pilot production line in Mebane, North Carolina.
In 2025, the company progressed to multi-ton production of circular polyethylene terephthalate (PET) chips, demonstrating the viability of its textile-to-textile recycling process.
Syre is now advancing plans for its first large-scale production facility in Vietnam, with construction targeted to begin in 2027.
Although the collaboration is exploratory, ABB said the agreement reflects its commitment to supporting emerging fibre-based industries through automation, electrification and digital technologies.
As circular materials move towards industrial-scale production, the partnership aims to explore how these technologies can help enable efficient, scalable manufacturing while supporting the growth of circular polyester production.
