German startup eeden has raised €18 million in Series A funding to push circular textiles closer to the mainstream. The round was led by Dutch venture firm Forbion, through its BioEconomy Fund, which backs bio-based innovations reshaping industries.
Joining the round were Henkel Ventures, bringing deep material science expertise, and NRW.Venture, the investment arm of North Rhine-Westphalia’s development bank. eeden’s early backers — TechVision Fund, High-Tech Gründerfonds, and D11Z. Ventures — also doubled down, showing strong confidence in the company’s growth and potential.
Building a Scalable Future for Circular Textiles
With fresh funding, eeden plans to build a demonstration plant in Münster, Germany. This follows successful pilot tests with industrial partners that proved its recycling process is both technically sound and economically viable.
The new facility will help eeden optimize large-scale processing and launch commercial projects with textile giants. This step is crucial to make recycled materials as affordable as conventional ones — a key hurdle to widespread adoption.
Founded in 2019 by Steffen Gerlach and Dr. Tobias Börnhost, eeden has developed a unique chemical recycling process. It extracts cellulose and PET monomers from blended cotton-polyester fabrics, which make up the bulk of global textile waste. Unlike traditional methods, eeden’s technology separates these fibers cleanly, producing high-quality materials ready to be turned into lyocell, viscose, or polyester fibers — all with far less environmental impact.
As Europe gears up for new regulations requiring separate textile collection by January 2025, solutions like eeden’s have never been more urgent. Its ability to recycle blended materials positions it perfectly to meet these looming demands.
Why eeden’s Solution Could Transform Fashion
Today’s fashion industry faces mounting pressure. Raw material shortages, volatile prices, sustainability demands, and strict regulations are forcing a rethink of old models. eeden offers a real alternative — one that matches virgin materials in quality but slashes resource use.
By enabling true circular reuse of blended textiles, eeden aims to rebuild the textile supply chain from the ground up, without compromising on cost or performance.
CEO Steffen Gerlach said the company is proud to have developed a solution that meets the industry’s long-term need for affordable, high-performing circular materials. With backing from both new and existing investors, eeden is ready to scale and meet the growing demand for sustainable alternatives.
Investors share this optimism. Alex Hoffmann from Forbion praised eeden’s work, noting that it makes large-scale textile recycling not only technically feasible but commercially viable too. Björn Lang from TechVision Fund added that eeden’s journey from vision to reality proves what’s possible when strong science meets real market needs.
As the textile industry shifts toward sustainability, eeden is positioning itself as a vital piece of the new circular economy — one that could reshape fashion for good.
