Circulose, a global leader in textile recycling, has entered into a strategic partnership with Jilin Chemical Fiber to market and sell viscose filament yarn made with CIRCULOSE® exclusively for the global market between 2026 and 2028. This collaboration is aimed at scaling the adoption of next-generation circular textile fibers.
Jilin’s viscose filament yarn, branded as JIRECELL®, currently consists of 30% CIRCULOSE® blended with 70% certified wood pulp, with the long-term goal of raising the recycled content to 50%. After years of testing and market validation, Circulose and Jilin are now moving to large-scale production to meet rising international demand for sustainable viscose filament yarn.
“Our partnership with Jilin is another cornerstone in Circulose’s mission to accelerate fashion’s transition to circularity,” stated Jonatan Janmark, CEO of Circulose. “JIRECELL® demonstrates both technical excellence and market readiness. With Jilin’s leadership and global reach, this collaboration paves the way for an ambitious scale-up of viscose filament yarn made with CIRCULOSE®, while also ensuring volume for our factory.”
Jilin has committed to purchasing annually increasing volumes of CIRCULOSE® pulp. Any pulp not used directly in JIRECELL® production will be incorporated into Jilin’s broader fiber portfolio in smaller concentrations. This move aligns with Jilin’s collaboration with Canopy, a sustainability-focused non-profit, to phase out the use of raw material inputs from Ancient and Endangered Forests and shift towards circular cellulose. As the first global fiber producer to pursue this strategy, Jilin is setting new standards for circularity, ensuring demand security for recyclers like Circulose, while driving investment, scaling efficiency, and enabling cost reduction for next-gen fibers.
Jin Dong-Jie, General Manager of Jilin Chemical Fiber, added: “We have been working with CIRCULOSE® for many years and we have full confidence in its performance and market potential. With this commitment, we are proud to set a global benchmark for textile circularity. Together with Circulose, we will lead the industry toward a future where recycled fibers are the norm.”
This partnership is a milestone in Circulose’s strategy to relaunch large-scale production, combining its patented recycling technology with Jilin’s expertise in viscose innovation. JIRECELL® aims to accelerate the mainstream adoption of circular and renewable textiles worldwide.
