eeden is a Münster-based startup that has developed a chemical upcycling process for textile recycling. Its technology recovers cellulose from cotton and breaks polyester into basic building blocks that can be reprocessed into high-quality fibers such as lyocell, viscose, and polyester. The process targets cotton–polyester blends and aims to avoid downcycling by enabling the production of fibers suitable for new textiles. eeden plans to use new funding to build a demonstration plant in Münster, optimize large-scale processing, and establish commercial projects with industry partners. The company is involved in the ReCircleTex project to promote a circular textile economy through technological and logistical optimizations. With rising textile waste and EU rules requiring separate collection of used textiles from January 2025, eeden’s technology aligns with regulatory drivers for circularity. EEDEN has developed a chemical upcycling process that converts used cotton and other cellulosic textiles into cellulose pulp for production of high-quality fibers like viscose and lyocell. The process tolerates higher proportions of foreign fibres, uses significantly fewer chemicals, and reduces by-products such as salt loads compared with competing methods. EEDEN positions its technology as true upcycling, turning inferior textile waste into high-value material rather than downcycling into low-quality products. With the new financing the company plans to expand R&D activities and build initial production capacities for its technology. The founding team is led by Steffen Gerlach (CEO) and Reiner Mantsch (CTO) and includes specialists in marketing, process engineering and chemical engineering. EEDEN is based in Mönchengladbach, Germany, and targets a large market where demand for recycled fibres already outstrips supply.

Total raised

$21M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Series A

Latest activity

Apr 2025