How Recover Is Scaling Sustainable Fabrics in Fashion

Overview
Recover leads the way in textile recycling. The company has 75 years of work. They make recycled cotton fibres. Now, Recover offers a new range of recycled fabrics. These fabrics help fashion brands use sustainable, high-quality, and fast solutions.

The Environmental Imperative

• Fashion Impact: The fashion industry makes 100–150 billion garments each year. This work puts 1.2 billion tonnes of CO₂ into the air. It also sends about 500,000 tonnes of microplastics to the oceans (Science Direct).
• Waste Challenge: The world makes around 92 million tonnes of textile waste each year. Much of this waste goes to landfills or is burned (UN Environment Programme).
• Regulatory Push: Governments in the EU, China, and parts of the US (like California) now set strong rules. They ask for reports on unsold textiles. They ban the destruction of unsold products by 2026 (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation).

Recover’s Sustainability Legacy and Expansion

Recover has long processed textile waste from factories and consumers. They work in many places like Spain, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and El Salvador. The firm works with over 150 partners. This work cuts waste, water use, and eutrophication by 99.9%. It also uses 96% less energy and lowers CO₂ emissions by 93%.
Under CEO Anders Sjöblom (appointed 2024 and formerly at H&M), Recover moved past fibres. They now produce finished recycled fabrics. They help brands without in-house sustainability skills.

Innovations and Product Range

• Recover Fabrics: The new fabric collections mix recycled cotton with lyocell, elastane, and conventional cotton that is sourced responsibly. They cut land use, greenhouse gases, and water use by about one-third.
• The designs fit well in existing supply chains. They keep design quality high.
• Collections Include:
  • Elite Collection (from Portuguese mill TMG): These premium, woven fabrics work well for suiting and outerwear.
  • Premier Collection (from Spanish mill Textil Santanderina): These woven fabrics work well for essentials like chinos.
  • Core Collection: These cost-friendly jersey fabrics work well for t-shirts, hoodies, and fleeces.
  • Essential Denim Collection: This denim strikes a balance between sustainability, style, and performance.
• Recover Blanks: These ready-made products, such as t-shirts and joggers, help brands that want pre-designed basics.

CEO Anders Sjöblom on Market Drivers and Challenges

Anders Sjöblom speaks in simple terms.

• Drivers: Consumers now want clear facts and care for the Earth. Regulations help set fair rules for all.
• Risks for Brands: Brands risk losing trust if they do not meet true sustainability goals. Many have weak supply chain checks. Fake cotton certifications add to the risk.
• Misconceptions: Some think that recycled fabrics must be low quality or too costly. Recover shows that these ideas are wrong. Their work brings high-quality textiles at fair prices.
• Traceability: Recover makes details clear. They use certifications, blockchain scans, and small markers inside fibres. This work lets brands check recycled content with ease.

Implications for Fashion Brands

Recover’s recycled fabrics make a clear path. They help brands reach sustainable goals. They also follow government rules. These fabrics mix good design with clear tracking. With Recover’s help, brands can:

• Cut water, land, and carbon impacts.
• Add recycled materials to their supply chains with ease.
• Keep quality high for both creative and business needs.
• Build true sustainability with tech-based proofs.

Conclusion
Recover shows how textile recycling moves from making fibres to making complete, recycled fabrics. Their work offers a powerful tool. Fashion brands can meet high sustainability goals without losing quality or speed.

Sources:

• Business of Fashion (BoF) interview with Recover CEO Anders Sjöblom, November 2025
• United Nations Environment Programme
• Science Direct
• EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation

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