Global sportswear giants secure circular polyester capacity ahead of 2028 startup

Commercial adoption of chemical recycling in synthetic textiles is growing as global athletic apparel brands move to lock in low-carbon polyester fiber supplies. A 50:50 joint venture between Ester Industries and Loop Industries, Ester Loop Infinite Technologies (ELITe) has signed a multi-year Letter of Intent with a major global sports brand for up to 15,000 metric tonnes annually of recycled PET fiber-grade resin.

The agreement follows an earlier anchor commitment from Nike, effectively earmarking a significant share of ELITe’s initial 70,000-metric-tons capacity at its upcoming chemical recycling plant in Gujarat, India. The commercial push reflects a broader shift by apparel manufacturers away from traditional bottle-to-textile mechanical recycling toward advanced depolymerization, which breaks down 100 percent polyester fabric waste into virgin-quality monomers. This second commitment from a premier sports brand reaffirms strong market demand for circular, textile-to-textile recycled polyester, states Arvind Singhania, Chairman, Ester Industries.

Operating on roughly 80 percent renewable power and biofuel, the Gujarat plant aims to reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 80 per cent relative to fossil-fuel PET. By securing supply contracts well before its 2028 operational target, the venture highlights how advanced depolymerization is scaling to help athletic wear brands eliminate virgin polyester from their apparel lines.

ELITe is a joint venture that develops advanced chemical recycling facilities to manufacture infinitely recyclable PET resin and polyester fiber from textile waste. Targeting global athletic apparel and packaging markets, it is building a 70,000-tonne flagship plant in Gujarat. The venture leverages Loop’s depolymerization technology and Ester’s 40-year manufacturing expertise.