♻️ Swedish Textile Recycler Syre Joins Forces with Gap and Target

🌿 A Big Step Forward as Demand for Sustainable Clothing Grows

In the fast-changing world of fashion, one thing is clear—sustainability is no longer a trend, it’s a necessity. As consumers, regulators, and brands push for cleaner, greener production, a Swedish textile recycler named Syre is stepping up in a big way. Syre is teaming up with global retail giants Gap Inc. and Target to reshape how clothing is made, recycled, and reused.

This partnership marks a turning point in the fashion industry’s journey toward circularity, where old clothes don’t go to waste but instead become the raw materials for new ones.

 

🧵 Who Is Syre?

Syre is a textile recycling startup based in Sweden with a bold mission:

“To revolutionize the textile supply chain by closing the loop on polyester.”

Polyester is one of the most widely used materials in fashion, but it’s also one of the least recycled. Most polyester garments end up in landfills or incinerators. Syre’s technology changes that.

Using cutting-edge recycling systems, Syre breaks down old polyester textiles into their basic raw materials and rebuilds them into high-quality, virgin-grade polyester fibers. These can then be used to create new clothes—without relying on fossil fuels.

What makes Syre’s process so exciting is that:

• It’s low-energy and low-emission
• It maintains fiber quality
• It creates a closed-loop recycling system

 

🤝 Why Gap and Target Are Partnering with Syre

For major brands like Gap and Target, sustainability is now a strategic priority. Both companies have set bold climate and waste reduction goals. But to truly make fashion circular, they need scalable, reliable recycling solutions.

That’s where Syre comes in.

By partnering with Syre, Gap and Target are:

• Investing in the future of circular textiles
• Securing access to sustainably recycled polyester
• Helping scale recycling infrastructure that could serve the entire industry

Gap’s sustainability team said they see this as a step to "build a future where clothes never go to waste.” For Target, this aligns with their goals to reduce plastic use and increase recycled content in their products.

The collaboration isn’t just about buying recycled fibers—it’s about building a better system for how clothes are made and reused across the entire supply chain.

 

🌍 Why This Matters

This partnership arrives at a time when the fashion world is under intense pressure to clean up its act:

• Textile waste is rising: Globally, over 92 million tonnes of clothing waste is generated every year.
• Recycling rates are low: Less than 1% of textiles are recycled into new garments.
• Consumer demand is changing: Shoppers are more eco-conscious and want brands to take responsibility.
• Governments are acting: The EU and others are introducing strict rules on textile waste and circular production.

The success of Syre’s model could be a blueprint for how fashion brands reduce their environmental footprint while still delivering high-quality products.

 

📈 A Growing Market for Circular Polyester

Polyester is used in about 60% of all garments made today. But most polyester is made from virgin plastic, which requires oil extraction and leads to massive carbon emissions.

Syre’s recycled polyester:

• Reduces reliance on fossil fuels
• Cuts greenhouse gas emissions
• Matches the quality of virgin fibers
• Can be recycled over and over again

This makes it ideal for everything from t-shirts to outerwear, activewear, and even home textiles.

As more brands commit to 100% recycled content goals, the demand for recycled polyester is skyrocketing. Syre is positioning itself to become a leader in this rapidly growing market.

 

🔄 The Future of Fashion: From Waste to Wardrobe

The Syre–Gap–Target partnership is more than just a business deal. It’s a signal to the industry:

It’s time to move from talk to action.

By investing in scalable recycling technology and building long-term supply partnerships, these companies are creating a roadmap for how the fashion world can truly go circular.

For textile professionals, manufacturers, and suppliers, this means exciting opportunities:

• Develop partnerships with recyclers
• Offer sustainable alternatives to synthetic materials
• Stay ahead of changing regulations and buyer expectations

The textile industry is entering a new era—and Syre is helping lead the way.

 

🧵 Final Thoughts

Sustainability in fashion isn't just about switching to organic cotton or reducing water use—it's about rethinking the entire system. The collaboration between Syre, Gap, and Target is proof that large-scale solutions are possible when innovation meets commitment.

For textile companies, garment exporters, and fabric suppliers, this is the time to adapt, align, and grow with the changing world. The future is circular—and it’s already being woven.