Recover™ and Intradeco Form Joint Venture to Scale Recycled Cotton Fiber Production in Central America, Driving Regional Sustainability and Nearshoring Efforts
Recover™, a global leader in sustainable recycled cotton fiber production, and Intradeco, a prominent vertical manufacturer of apparel and textiles, have announced a strategic joint venture aimed at revolutionizing textile production in the Western Hemisphere. This partnership marks a pivotal moment for both companies, reinforcing their commitment to environmental stewardship, innovation, and the evolving demands of global supply chains.
Strengthening Circularity in the Americas
The new joint venture will establish a cutting-edge processing facility in El Salvador, strategically positioned to serve as a hub for producing Recover’s proprietary high-quality recycled cotton fiber. This initiative aligns with the growing global emphasis on circular economy principles, aiming to close the loop on textile waste and promote more sustainable production practices.
Recover™, known for its pioneering work in fiber-to-fiber recycling, brings to the partnership its advanced technology and expertise in producing low-impact, high-performance recycled cotton fibers. Intradeco, with its deep-rooted presence in the textile and apparel industry, complements this with extensive manufacturing capabilities, market access, and a strong commitment to responsible production.
Together, the two companies are poised to accelerate the adoption of circular textile systems, fostering a new era of environmentally responsible manufacturing in the Americas.
Strategic Location: Why El Salvador?
Choosing El Salvador as the base of operations is a calculated decision driven by multiple strategic factors. The Central American nation offers a unique convergence of proximity to key textile waste streams, established production infrastructure, and advantageous trade agreements under the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR).
This location allows the joint venture to:
- Reduce Supply Chain Carbon Footprint: By processing post-industrial and post-consumer textile waste locally, the venture will minimize transportation-related emissions.
- Enable Quick Response Manufacturing: The facility’s geographical proximity to major North American markets supports agile, nearshore production models, reducing lead times and increasing supply chain resilience.
- Facilitate Compliance with UFLPA: For U.S. textile and apparel brands, sourcing recycled materials from Central America helps navigate the complexities of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), ensuring more transparent and ethical supply chains.
In a global environment increasingly shaped by geopolitical tensions, trade policy shifts, and heightened environmental expectations, this venture provides brands with a sustainable and secure alternative for sourcing and production.
Addressing the Nearshoring Imperative
The COVID-19 pandemic, combined with ongoing trade disputes and rising logistics costs, has propelled nearshoring to the forefront of supply chain strategies. Brands and retailers are actively seeking ways to diversify their sourcing away from distant regions, particularly Asia, towards locations that offer greater flexibility and reduced geopolitical risk.
Central America, and specifically the CAFTA region, has emerged as a prime destination for this shift. The Recover™-Intradeco joint venture is positioned to capitalize on this trend by offering sustainable recycled materials produced closer to end markets.
For brands, this translates to:
- Faster Production Cycles
- Lower Transportation Costs
- Enhanced Supply Chain Visibility
- Improved Environmental Performance Metrics
By delivering on these critical business needs, the partnership not only supports Recover™ and Intradeco’s sustainability goals but also provides tangible economic advantages to their customers.
Technological Synergy: Marrying Innovation with Scale
Recover™ has built a global reputation for its proprietary process of transforming textile waste into high-quality recycled cotton fiber. This involves advanced mechanical recycling techniques that retain fiber strength and quality while dramatically reducing water, energy, and chemical usage compared to virgin cotton production.
Intradeco’s vertically integrated manufacturing operations span knitting, dyeing, finishing, printing, and garment assembly. By integrating Recover™’s recycled fibers into its production lines, Intradeco enhances its sustainable product offerings while ensuring consistency, scalability, and competitive pricing.
The synergy between Recover’s technological innovation and Intradeco’s manufacturing excellence forms the foundation of this joint venture’s value proposition. Together, they aim to deliver sustainable textile solutions that meet the evolving expectations of both consumers and regulators.
Voices from Leadership: Shared Vision for Sustainable Impact
The leadership of both companies expressed strong enthusiasm for the collaboration, highlighting the strategic and environmental significance of the joint venture.
“We are thrilled to partner with Intradeco to bring our sustainable textile solutions to the Americas and address the increasing demand for nearshoring in the region,” said Anders Sjöblom, CEO of Recover™. “This joint venture is another step in our journey to enable large-scale sustainable change in fashion through business value and inspiration. Together, we aim to support changed trade patterns and drive innovation and sustainability in the textile industry.”
Jaime Miguel, CEO of Intradeco, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Intradeco is excited to partner with Recover™ to enhance our production capabilities and deliver high-quality, recycled products at scale to our customers. This partnership represents a significant step forward in our commitment to sustainability and reflects our dedication to meeting the evolving needs of our clients and the planet.”
Global Expansion: A Network of Sustainability
With operations in Spain, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Pakistan, Recover™ has established a global footprint in key textile manufacturing regions. The addition of El Salvador strengthens this network, enabling the company to serve brands and retailers across the Americas with localized production capabilities.
This expansion aligns with Recover™’s mission to scale sustainable fiber production worldwide, offering cost-competitive solutions that minimize environmental impact. For Intradeco, the partnership enhances its sustainability credentials and broadens its product portfolio, positioning the company as a leader in responsible textile manufacturing in the Western Hemisphere.
Roadmap and Operational Timeline
The joint venture is set to commence operations in 2025. While the new processing facility in El Salvador is being developed, initial fiber shredding activities will be temporarily managed out of Recover™’s factory in Spain. This phased approach ensures continuity of supply and allows both partners to refine operational processes before full-scale production begins locally.
Upon completion, the El Salvador facility is expected to significantly boost production capacity, with the potential to recycle tens of thousands of metric tons of textile waste annually. This will not only support the demands of major global brands but also contribute to the region’s environmental goals by diverting waste from landfills and reducing dependency on virgin cotton.
Implications for the Textile Industry
The Recover™-Intradeco joint venture represents more than a business collaboration; it signals a broader shift in how the textile industry approaches sustainability, regionalization, and innovation.
Key industry implications include:
- Acceleration of Circular Textile Systems: By creating infrastructure for local textile waste recycling, the venture fosters circularity at scale.
- Support for Sustainable Fashion Goals: Brands seeking to meet ambitious sustainability targets gain a reliable source of high-quality recycled materials.
- Strengthening Regional Economies: Investment in Central America supports job creation, skills development, and economic diversification.
- Enhancing Industry Resilience: Localized production mitigates risks associated with global supply chain disruptions and trade volatility.
A Vision for Circular Fashion in the Americas
As the fashion and textile industries grapple with the urgent need for sustainable transformation, partnerships like Recover™ and Intradeco’s joint venture offer a blueprint for responsible growth. By combining technological innovation with strategic regional investment, the collaboration not only addresses immediate market needs but also lays the groundwork for a more resilient and environmentally conscious industry.
The success of this venture could catalyze further investments in circular textile infrastructure across the Americas, encouraging more brands to adopt nearshore production models and prioritize sustainable sourcing.
For Recover™ and Intradeco, this is just the beginning of a shared journey toward a more circular, sustainable, and prosperous future for the textile industry.
