Reju, an innovative company focused on textile-to-textile regeneration, has secured €135 million in funding through the Netherlands’ Nationale Investeringsregeling Klimaatprojecten Industrie (NIKI) initiative. This investment will help establish its planned large-scale Regeneration Hub at Chemelot Industrial Park in Sittard-Geleen, covering both construction and operational phases, and marks a significant step toward a final investment decision.

Patrik Frisk, CEO of Reju, expressed appreciation for the support from the Dutch government and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate, noting that the funding will enable the expansion of technologies designed to reduce emissions and advance a circular textile economy. He described the award as a strong endorsement of the company’s capabilities, adding that the Chemelot facility will produce circular raw materials at scale, cut emissions across the textile value chain, and serve as a model for similar initiatives across Europe.

NIKI is the Dutch government’s flagship program aimed at driving industrial decarbonization and promoting circular practices, aligned with both national priorities and European Union sustainability goals. Reju’s project directly supports these objectives by scaling a process that transforms hard-to-recycle, polyester-based textiles into high-quality circular inputs for new polyester manufacturing. By diverting textile waste from landfills and incineration, the initiative is expected to significantly lower the environmental footprint of discarded materials.

The upcoming Regeneration Hub will process post-consumer textiles that would otherwise be discarded. The resulting output will be converted into Reju Polyester, which is expected to generate around 50% fewer carbon emissions compared to virgin polyester. This material will then be fed back into supply chains to produce yarns and fabrics for consumer applications.

The project will prioritize strong industrial integration, efficient use of energy and resources, and fully traceable circular supply chains, helping to reduce reliance on fossil-based raw materials.

Chemelot Industrial Park was chosen due to its well-developed industrial ecosystem, shared infrastructure, and access to research and innovation resources. These advantages are expected to facilitate a smooth scale-up, ensure operational efficiency, and support replication of the model at future locations.

Dow, Zermatt, and Nature’s Variety have jointly unveiled a new pet food packaging solution designed with recyclability in mind and made using recycled materials from advanced (chemical) recycling processes. Now available in Spain, France, and Portugal, this breakthrough marks a major advancement in sustainable packaging for the pet food industry by combining several circular economy principles in one product.

This partnership unites three industry leaders—Dow in materials science, Zermatt in sustainable packaging innovation, and Nature’s Variety in premium natural pet food. Dow contributes its expertise in developing materials that enable brands to achieve both performance and sustainability goals. Zermatt brings its experience in producing high-performance, eco-friendly packaging across multiple sectors. Meanwhile, Nature’s Variety continues its mission to deliver wholesome, natural pet foods for dogs and cats.

“This milestone underscores the value of collaboration across the supply chain. By merging our strengths, we’re delivering a packaging solution that anticipates upcoming legislation while promoting sustainability in the pet food market,” said Antonio Barrasus, Commercial Director at Zermatt SA.

A next-generation packaging design for circularity
The new pouch, created specifically for Nature’s Variety products, replaces the previous multi-material structure (PET/PE) with a simplified mono-material polyethylene (PE) film. This design aligns with the anticipated Design for Recyclability (D4R) standards set by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN).

The updated structure also includes recycled content sourced from advanced recycling, verified through the ISCC Plus certified mass balance credit system. This ensures that recycled materials can be safely used in food-contact and other sensitive applications—giving consumers confidence in food safety while reducing dependency on virgin plastics and promoting a circular packaging model.

Currently, the new Nature’s Variety pouch contains 10% recycled material (based on the mass balance approach) and supports compliance with the EU’s 2030 Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) targets for contact-sensitive packaging. The brand aims to increase this figure to 30% by 2030.

“Through our advanced circular materials and technical expertise, we’re helping brands redesign packaging for recyclability while integrating recycled content into sensitive applications. This supports both corporate sustainability goals and evolving regulatory requirements,” explained Marian Gmenta, Marketing Lead for Circular & Renewable Solutions at Dow.

Meeting consumer expectations for sustainable choices
Nature’s Variety has noted a growing consumer demand for eco-friendly and recyclable packaging solutions. This shift reflects a wider consumer awareness of environmental responsibility and the desire for brands to contribute to circularity.

“At Nature’s Variety, we recognize that every decision we make has an environmental impact,” said Ilaria Bianchi, International Marketing Manager at Nature’s Variety. “We’re committed to offering the best for pets while minimizing our footprint. This new recyclable pouch, which incorporates recycled plastics and reduces virgin material use, represents a significant step toward our sustainability goals.”

The new packaging will be showcased at K 2025 in Düsseldorf, Germany, from 8–15 October, at Dow’s Building 04.1, outside Hall 4, alongside other innovative Dow packaging solutions.

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