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Based in Münster, Germany, Eeden develops a proprietary chemical recycling process that transforms blended textile waste into high-quality raw fibers for the global fashion industry. The company's technology utilizes green chemistry principles to separate complex cotton-polyester blends into cellulose and PET monomers, which are subsequently reintroduced into the supply chain as virgin-quality lyocell, viscose, and polyester materials. Currently operating with a core team of 5 to 7 employees, the enterprise recently secured €18 million in Series A funding to scale its commercial operations and construct a local demonstration plant. This significant financing round was led by Forbion, with additional equity participation from prominent institutional investors including Henkel Ventures, High-Tech Gründerfonds, TechVision Fund, and NRW.Venture. Eeden was originally founded as a university study project in 2019 by co-founders Steffen Gerlach, Dr. Tobias Börnhost, and Reiner Mantsch.
Eeden has raised $21.0M across 1 funding round.
Eeden has raised $21.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Eeden has raised $21.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $21.0M Series A in April 2025.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2025 | $21M Series A | Alexander Hoffmann | Progression Fund, D11z. Ventures, Henkel Tech Ventures, High Tech Grunderfonds, NRW.Venture, Björn Lang | Announced |
eeden is a German fashiontech startup developing chemical recycling technology that transforms textile waste—particularly cotton-polyester blends—into high-quality cellulose and PET monomers for producing virgin-grade fibers like lyocell, viscose, and polyester.[1][2][5] It serves textile manufacturers, brands, and collectors facing resource scarcity, rising costs, and regulatory pressures by enabling scalable circularity at price parity with virgin materials, reducing water use, avoiding arable land, and minimizing waste.[1][2][5] The company raised €18 million in Series A funding in 2024, led by Forbion's BioEconomy Fund with participation from Henkel Ventures and NRW.Venture, to build a demonstration facility in Münster and launch commercial projects.[1][6] This funding supports rapid growth amid doubling textile production forecasts and EU circularity mandates.[5]
eeden emerged from a student project at Hochschule Niederrhein in Krefeld, Germany, a hub for textile technology.[4] Co-founder Reiner Mantsch, the technological lead, conceived the idea while studying, frustrated by chemical recycling firms recovering only single materials like cotton or polyester—what he saw as greenwashing—and sought a solution for complex blends.[4] Steffen Gerlach, CEO and co-founder handling business, partnered with him to commercialize it.[1][4] Pivotal early moments include validating a pilot plant with industrial partners, winning the 2023 Sustainable Impact Award from WirtschaftsWoche, securing €500,000 in German government research funding in November 2023, and closing the €18M Series A by late 2024 to scale operations.[1][4]
eeden rides the textile circularity megatrend, where 73% of used textiles are landfilled or incinerated globally—equating to €100B+ annual resource loss—while production is projected to double in 20 years amid EU mandates and scarcity.[5] Timing is ideal post-2023 validations and funding, aligning with industry shifts from linear models to closed-loop systems via chemical recycling, which unlocks blends ignored by mechanical processes.[1][2][4] Market tailwinds include regulatory hurdles, cost pressures, and brand demands for sustainable alternatives; eeden influences the ecosystem by partnering across collection, processing, and branding, fostering scalable models like ReCircleTex for waste reduction and supply chain resilience.[3][5]
eeden is poised to deploy its Münster facility in 2025, validate technical-scale processes via ReCircleTex by 2026, and expand globally with adaptable plants for regional fiber mixes.[1][3][4] Rising EU regulations and resource crunches will accelerate adoption, potentially capturing share in a market needing circular solutions for blends. Its influence could evolve from pioneer to infrastructure provider, enabling brands to hit net-zero goals—transforming textile waste from liability to asset, as Gerlach envisions scaling to meet industry-wide needs.[1][5]
Eeden has raised $21.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Eeden's investors include Alexander Hoffmann, Progression Fund, D11Z. Ventures, Henkel Tech Ventures, High-Tech Grunderfonds, NRW.Venture, Björn Lang.