A French materials company has chosen Rochester, New York for a project that is unusual in the manufacturing world: a large-scale industrial facility whose entire purpose is to keep textiles out of landfills. On January 20, 2026, Reju announced it had selected an 18.9-acre vacant lot at Eastman Business Park for its first North American regeneration hub — a $390 million facility that will recycle post-consumer polyester textiles back into industrial-grade raw materials.

The announcement, made alongside Governor Kathy Hochul, positions Rochester as the U.S. anchor for a company that is building a global circular textile supply chain. According to Reju's official press release, the company expects to be operational at the Rochester site by the end of 2029. The project is subject to final investment decision by the board of Technip Energies, Reju's parent company.

What Reju Does

Reju is owned by Technip Energies, a global engineering and technology firm with more than 17,000 employees across 34 countries and revenues of approximately €6.9 billion in 2024. The company uses proprietary recycling technology co-developed with IBM Research to break down polyester textile waste — primarily recovered from discarded clothing — and regenerate it into high-quality Reju Polyester that can be spun into new yarns and fabrics.

The regenerated material carries a 50 percent lower carbon footprint than virgin polyester and is engineered to be recyclable multiple times, reducing the apparel industry's reliance on petroleum-based inputs. According to Reju's announcement, the Rochester facility will regenerate the equivalent of 300 million articles of clothing annually that would otherwise end up in landfills or incinerators.

The process produces rBHET — recycled bis-hydroxyethyl terephthalate — which is then repolymerized into Reju PET for use in new fabric production. Through partnerships with global apparel brands, mills, and waste aggregators, Reju aims to create a fully traceable textile-to-textile supply chain that keeps polyester material circulating in the economy rather than accumulating in landfills.

Reju currently operates a pilot facility in Frankfurt, Germany, which has been running since October 2024. In May 2025, the company announced the site selection for its first full-scale European facility at the Chemelot Industrial Park in Sittard, Netherlands. Rochester will serve as the company's first full-scale North American operation, according to Rochester Business Journal reporting.

Why Eastman Business Park

Eastman Business Park — a 1,200-acre mixed-use industrial campus in Rochester owned by Kodak — provides the industrial infrastructure, available land, and specialized utility systems that a facility of Reju's scale requires. Kodak President of EBP Jim Moran welcomed the announcement, noting that the park's "unique infrastructure and capabilities" directly support Reju's goals of building a system where textile waste does not exist.

The site spans 18.9 acres. Following environmental remediation of the local site — a standard step for legacy industrial land at Eastman Business Park, which was once part of Kodak's massive manufacturing footprint — Reju will construct a 145,000-square-foot facility. The facility's specialized nature requires both conventional industrial building systems and highly specific process equipment installations for chemical depolymerization and repolymerization of textile waste.

The Rochester Business Journal and Rochester Beacon both reported that remediation is expected to precede construction, with the facility targeting a 2029 operational date.

State and Local Support

Empire State Development is assisting the project through a $4 million capital grant and up to $1 million in Excelsior Jobs Tax Credits, tied to job creation commitments. Monroe County, the City of Rochester, and Greater Rochester Enterprise are also providing support through incentive packages and site assistance.

The company projects approximately 70 new jobs, including engineers, technicians, machinists, and production roles. Governor Hochul called the project an example of how "smart investments can turn waste into opportunity," citing it as part of the state's broader green economy agenda alongside other recent Rochester-area investments.

"As our first Regeneration Hub in the United States, this site selection is a major leap forward in building a truly global circular system," said Patrik Frisk, CEO of Reju. "We are proud to bring Reju's sustainable manufacturing and jobs to the Rochester community. We are investing in a future where post-consumer textile waste becomes a resource, not a liability."

Construction and Development Outlook

The path from announcement to operational facility involves multiple phases: site remediation, final investment decision by Technip Energies' board, facility design and permitting, and construction. Once approved and remediation is complete, the 145,000-square-foot facility will require significant civil, structural, mechanical, and process engineering work. Specialty construction for chemical processing facilities of this type involves process piping, containment systems, advanced HVAC and emissions controls, and equipment installation that goes well beyond standard industrial construction.

For Rochester's construction and development sector, the Reju project represents the kind of advanced manufacturing investment that generates sustained multi-year construction activity across multiple trades. The broader Eastman Business Park has seen renewed momentum in recent years — Reju's announcement followed other advanced manufacturing investments at the campus — and the park's management has positioned it as a hub for companies at the intersection of industrial scale and sustainability.

Rochester's selection over competing U.S. sites reflects the city's industrial infrastructure advantages, available workforce, and the engagement of local economic development partners in building a compelling package. It also adds a dimension of genuine industrial innovation to a regional economy that has historically excelled at manufacturing and precision technology.

Sources

Reju Announces Site Selection for First U.S. Industrial-Sized Facility — PR Newswire, January 20, 2026
Reju Plans $390M Circular Textile Hub in Rochester — Rochester Business Journal, January 20, 2026
French Company Reju to Build $390 Million Facility Here — Rochester Beacon, January 21, 2026