Leading sports brand Decathlon, based in France, is investing in Lyon-based textile fiber regeneration startup Recyc’elit to develop new products from textile waste. Founded in 2020, Recyc’elit has created a technology for material separation to obtain recycled polyester, elastane, and polyamide, and plans to build its first demonstration plant in 2025. The collaboration will involve the creation of capsule collections and the establishment of a new value chain based on recycled textile waste.

“We are very pleased to partner with Recyc’elit, with whom we share common values and a commitment to drive positive change across the textile industry,” said Franck Vigo, chief of alliances and new business at Decathlon. “To truly contribute to decarbonization, we must support and surround ourselves with the brightest minds and the most committed partners. It’s not just about finding solutions, but about nurturing them, refining them, and scaling them for impact.”

Decathlon reduced its absolute CO2 emissions by 10% for the second consecutive year, and 39% of its products sold were classified as ‘ecodesigned,’ up from 23% in 2022. Sales of products classified as ‘circular’ by the company reached €420 million, a 27% increase compared to 2022.