Upparel’s new 10,500 m² facility signals a step-change in the country’s onshore recycling capacity and its push for circular fashion systems.
Australia has taken a significant stride toward closing the loop on fashion waste. Upparel, a leading textile recycler, has opened a 10,500-square-metre facility in Cranbourne West, Victoria — now believed to be the country’s highest-capacity textile recycling site, capable of processing more than 10,000 tonnes of material annually.
At the core of the plant is Upparel’s fully automated textile-to-fibre recycling line. The 30-metre system can process any textile in roughly three minutes, removing hardware such as buttons and zippers, and converting garments into “Uptex,” a fibre suitable for use in construction materials, signage and packaging. The line also handles diverse blends, from under 10% to more than 70% polyester content, with a recovery rate of around 90%.
The facility is built on a “farm to fibre to future” model, providing end-to-end traceability of materials — a feature increasingly demanded by brands and retailers under tightening circularity and waste-reduction expectations.
Upparel co-founder and CEO Michael Elias called the plant an “engineering marvel,” highlighting its ability to manage the entire recycling process onshore. The site will also function as an education centre, with viewing windows designed to give students and visitors a first-hand look at textile recycling in action.
As Australia prepares for stricter waste-management rules and rising volumes of discarded clothing, the facility strengthens domestic processing capacity and signals the growing commercial viability of fibre-to-fibre recycling.
