Textile recycling firm Syre said on Thursday it had raised $100 million to fund the building of its first plant in the United States and preparations for two more, the construction of which will start in 2025.
The funding round was led by founding investor TPG Rise Climate, with investments also from fashion retailer H&M , IMAS Foundation, Volvo Cars and others, Syre said, not specifying how much each had invested, Reuters said.
The Swedish venture said in a statement its US polyester recycling plant would be up and running this year and it had short-listed Vietnam and either Spain or Portugal as sites for two further plants.
"Both regions are strategically positioned within the textile supply chain and have a long history of a vibrant textile industry, with access to know-how, feedstock and logistics, as well as green energy," the company said.
Syre plans to produce more than 3 million metric tons of polyester - enough for two tee-shirts for every person on Earth - in 2032 by recycling used garments.
Around 5.8 million tonnes of textile products are discarded every year in the European Union, equivalent to 11 kg (24 lb) per person.
A truckload of textile products is land-filled or incinerated somewhere in the world every second, according to EU figures.
