Decathlon, a major sports goods retailer, has announced an investment in the start-up Recyc'Elit through its Decathlon Alliances structure. The investment amount has not been disclosed. Recyc'Elit, founded in 2019 in the Lyon region of France Karim and Raouf Medimagh, has developed a process to recycle complex polyester-based materials by separating the fibers. Their next goal is to bring this innovation to an industrial scale.

Recyc'Elit plans to build its first prototype by 2025. Decathlon emphasizes the importance of recycling complex textiles like polyester mixed with other fibers, and sees Recyc'Elit as a reliable partner in creating recycled products from textile waste.

Decathlon aims to source recycled polyester from Recyc'Elit in the long term to "maintain its competitive edge while participating in the textile recycling value chain." The partnership will include creating capsule collections and establishing a value chain with Recyc'Elit and other committed partners.