Recover and Ünteks Forge Strategic Alliance to Elevate Circular Knitwear with Recycled Cotton
Madrid, Spain – July 20, 2026 – In a significant move to bolster the sustainable textile landscape, Recover, a global leader in recycled cotton, has announced a pivotal partnership with Ünteks, a prominent Turkish textile manufacturer. This collaboration aims to introduce a new generation of circular knit fabrics and garments, consciously incorporating a minimum of 20% Recover recycled cotton. This initiative is poised to address the growing demand for high-volume, everyday apparel that prioritizes both performance and environmental responsibility.
A New Era for Circular Knits
The newly developed collection spans a versatile array of circular knit constructions, including foundational styles such as single jersey, fleece, interlock, terry, rib 2×1, and pique. This initial offering is designed to cater to the diverse needs of global brands seeking to integrate sustainable materials into their core product lines. Ünteks, with its extensive experience and integrated production capabilities, is strategically positioned to deliver these materials at scale. The partnership emphasizes a commitment to providing fabrics that offer a compelling balance of technical performance, unwavering consistency, a demonstrably reduced environmental footprint, and enhanced transparency throughout the entire value chain.
The integration of Recover’s recycled cotton is a cornerstone of this alliance. Recover has pioneered a proprietary process that transforms textile waste into high-quality recycled cotton fiber, significantly diverting pre- and post-consumer cotton waste from landfills and reducing the need for virgin cotton cultivation. Virgin cotton production is notoriously water-intensive and often relies on significant pesticide use. For instance, it is estimated that producing one kilogram of conventional cotton can require up to 20,000 liters of water. By utilizing Recover’s recycled cotton, the environmental burden associated with raw material sourcing is substantially lessened.
Ünteks: A Powerhouse of Textile Manufacturing
Ünteks Group brings over three decades of dedicated textile manufacturing expertise to this collaboration. Their integrated production model is a key differentiator, enabling them to ensure reliable quality and efficient scaling of operations. With a monthly production capacity reaching up to 1.5 thousand tons of fabric and an impressive 1 million garments, Ünteks is equipped to meet the demands of major global brands. This substantial capacity not only facilitates efficient execution but also significantly shortens the time-to-market for new collections, a critical factor in the fast-paced fashion industry.
Furthermore, Ünteks’ manufacturing footprint, strategically located in Turkey, offers a significant geographical advantage. Proximity to the European market translates into enhanced flexibility and responsiveness to the region’s evolving needs and sustainability mandates. This allows for quicker logistics, reduced transportation emissions, and a more agile supply chain, all contributing to a more sustainable and efficient operational model.
Strategic Synergies and Industry Impact
Matthew Neville, Chief Commercial Officer at Recover, highlighted the strategic alignment of the partnership. "One of the key strengths of Ünteks is the company’s ability to take circular knit fabrics through to finished garments with a high level of consistency," Neville stated. "That makes it a strong partner for our collection, where the focus is on translating recycled cotton into everyday products that brands can rely on at scale." This emphasis on consistency is crucial, particularly when working with recycled materials, ensuring that the end product meets the rigorous standards expected by consumers and brands alike.
Hakan Küçükoğlu, CEO of Ünteks, echoed this sentiment, underscoring the technical intricacies involved. "In circular knits, small variations can impact how a fabric behaves in production," Küçükoğlu explained. "A big part of our work with Recover has been adjusting and refining each step so the material runs consistently, from knitting through to the finished garment." This dedication to meticulous process refinement ensures that the recycled cotton fiber integrates seamlessly into Ünteks’ established manufacturing workflows, preserving the integrity and performance of the final textiles.
Background and Context: The Rise of Sustainable Textiles
The textile industry is under increasing pressure to adopt more sustainable practices. Global awareness of the environmental impact of fashion, from water consumption and chemical usage to waste generation, has spurred innovation and a shift in consumer preferences. Recycled materials, particularly recycled cotton, have emerged as a critical solution. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a leading advocate for the circular economy, has reported that the fashion industry is responsible for significant environmental externalities, including a large portion of global carbon emissions and water pollution. Initiatives like the partnership between Recover and Ünteks are therefore not just business ventures but essential steps towards a more responsible and circular textile ecosystem.
The concept of circular knitting itself contributes to sustainability by minimizing fabric waste during the cutting process, as fabric is produced in a tubular form, reducing or eliminating the need for side seams. When combined with recycled fibers, the environmental benefits are amplified. This collaboration represents a significant step in making these advanced sustainable materials accessible for mass-market applications, moving beyond niche luxury markets.
Timeline and Development
While the specific date of the initial discussions leading to this partnership is not publicly detailed, the announcement on July 20, 2026, marks a significant milestone. The development and refinement of incorporating recycled cotton into circular knits likely involved extensive testing and collaboration between Recover’s material science expertise and Ünteks’ manufacturing prowess. This process would have spanned several months, if not longer, to ensure the material’s performance and consistency across Ünteks’ diverse range of knit constructions. The expansion of the collection with additional knit types suggests an ongoing commitment to innovation and product development within this partnership.
Broader Implications and Future Outlook
The implications of this alliance extend beyond the immediate product offering. It signals a growing trend among established manufacturers to embrace recycled materials and integrate them into their core business models. This partnership can serve as a blueprint for other textile manufacturers looking to enhance their sustainability credentials without compromising on quality or production efficiency.
For global brands, this collaboration offers a reliable source of sustainable circular knit fabrics and garments, enabling them to meet their own corporate sustainability goals and respond to growing consumer demand for eco-conscious products. The ability to source these materials at scale from a trusted partner like Ünteks reduces supply chain risks and facilitates the integration of sustainability into mainstream product lines.
The increased transparency offered by this partnership is also a critical development. Consumers are increasingly demanding to know the origins of their clothing and the environmental impact of its production. By clearly indicating the minimum 20% Recover recycled cotton content, brands can communicate their commitment to sustainability more effectively and build trust with their customer base.
Looking ahead, it is anticipated that the collection will continue to expand, with both partners likely exploring ways to further increase the percentage of recycled content and introduce innovative applications for recycled cotton in other textile categories. The success of this collaboration could spur further investment in recycling technologies and foster greater collaboration across the textile value chain, accelerating the transition towards a more circular and sustainable fashion industry.
About the Partners
Recover™ is a global leader in the textile recycling industry, dedicated to producing high-quality recycled cotton fiber from pre- and post-consumer textile waste. Through its proprietary technology, Recover™ aims to reduce the environmental impact of the fashion industry by diverting waste from landfills and minimizing the need for virgin resources. The company is headquartered in Spain and operates globally.
Ünteks Group is a prominent Turkish textile manufacturer with over 30 years of experience in producing high-quality knitted fabrics and garments. With an integrated production model and significant manufacturing capacity, Ünteks serves a wide range of global brands, emphasizing reliability, quality, and efficient time-to-market.
For further information on Recover’s sustainable fiber solutions, visit: www.recoverfibers.com.
