Recyc'Elit

Recyc'Elit operates within the chemical recycling sector, focusing on transforming the textile industry from a linear to a circular model. The company was founded in 2019 in the Lyon region of France by brothers Dr. Karim Medimagh and Dr. Raouf Medimagh. Both founders are doctors in chemistry; Karim has an entrepreneurial background as CEO of an air and gas analysis laboratory, while Raouf has a history as a university professor and researcher. Their shared concern over plastic pollution led them to establish Recyc'Elit to address the recycling challenges of complex textiles.

The company has developed a patented, low-carbon chemical recycling process that breaks down polyester-based materials. This technology selectively depolymerizes PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) back into its original monomers, terephthalate (DMT) and monoethylene glycol (MEG). A key feature of this process is its ability to operate at moderate temperatures (around 60°C) and atmospheric pressure, reducing energy consumption compared to traditional chemical recycling methods. The process is effective on complex, multi-material textiles, such as polyester mixed with elastane, cotton, or polyamide, which are typically landfilled or incinerated. It separates the polyester without damaging the co-materials, allowing both to be recovered and re-valorized.

Recyc'Elit's business model involves providing recycling services and selling the resulting high-quality raw materials. The primary output is recycled PET (rPET) pellets, which can be used to manufacture new textiles, offering an alternative to virgin polyester or rPET from plastic bottles. The company targets clients in the textile industry and has established strategic partnerships, notably with sporting goods retailer Decathlon. The company has secured significant funding, including a €3.2 million round in October 2023 from investors like Demeter, UI Investissement, and Banque des Territoires. Recyc'Elit is scaling up its operations, moving from laboratory-scale pilots to a pre-industrial demonstrator with a planned capacity of 10 to 30 tons per year by 2025, and aims to have its first full factory operational by 2028.

Keywords: chemical recycling, textile recycling, polyester, PET depolymerization, circular economy, sustainable textiles, cleantech, material science, rPET, multi-fiber textiles, polyester-cotton recycling, polyester-elastane separation, solvolysis, low-carbon process, industrial waste valorization, sustainable raw materials, green chemistry, French tech, textile-to-textile recycling, waste management