eeden
Overview
Eeden GmbH is a German technology company specializing in textile recycling, with the objective of transforming old textiles into new, high-quality materials. Founded in 2019, Eeden operates from its headquarters in Münster, Germany. By developing innovative chemical processes for textile recycling, Eeden focuses on enhancing circular economy practices within the textile industry. As of 2025, the company has not disclosed cumulative raised funds, but recent financial activities include a cache of €18 million in a Series A financing round. The initial founders include Steffen Gerlach and Dr. Tobias Börnhorst, both crucial in steering the company's strategic direction.
Recent Developments
- April 29, 2025: Eeden announced the closing of its €18 million Series A funding round led by Forbion's BioEconomy Fund, with Henkel Ventures and NRW.Venture as new investors, along with existing supporters like TechVision Funds and High-Tech Gründerfonds. This capital injection is directed towards scaling production capabilities, building a demonstration plant in Münster, and optimizing the recycling of complex textile blends.
- January 2025: In compliance with EU regulations requiring member states to manage textile waste more rigorously, Eeden’s technology now offers processes capable of addressing complex textile blend recycling, aligning with increased regulatory demands for textile waste management.
- 2024: The ReCircleTex project, supported by Eeden alongside institutions like the Center Textile Logistics and Hohenstein Innovations, was initiated to propel fiber-to-fiber recycling methodologies, with backing from the Ministry for the Environment of North Rhine-Westphalia and the EU.
Company Information
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Founding Date | 2019 |
| Headquarters | Münster, Germany |
| Founders | Steffen Gerlach, Dr. Tobias Börnhorst |
| Revenue | Not publicly disclosed |
| Profits | Not publicly disclosed |
| Key Investors | Forbion, Henkel Ventures, NRW.Venture |
| Industry | Textile Manufacturing |
| Number of Employees | 11-50 |
Early History
Eeden GmbH began its journey in 2019 in Münster, Germany, co-founded by Steffen Gerlach and Dr. Tobias Börnhorst. The founders, driven by the challenges posed by the textile industry's environmental impact, focused on engineering a technology that could efficiently recycle textiles, specially targeting cotton-polyester blends. Soon, Eeden caught the attention of early-stage investors and partners, such as TechVision Funds, which helped bolster the company’s initial R&D undertakings. By 2022, the company had established a pilot plant, which served as a precursor to the demonstration facilities slated with the newly raised Series A funds.
Company Profile and Achievements
Eeden has developed a unique chemical recycling process that separates textiles into their building components such as cellulose and PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) monomers. This process enables the efficient production of high-quality fibers like lyocell, viscose, and polyester. These fibers are tailored to meet rising demands for performance and sustainability in the textile sector. Among Eeden's notable achievements is the validation of its pilot plant showcasing its recycling technology, ultimately propelling forward plans for a larger demonstration facility.
- 2019: Founded with a mission to impact sustainable textile manufacturing.
- 2020-2022: Development and initiation of a pilot plant demonstrating textile recycling capabilities.
- 2022: Successfully conducted its first seed funding, facilitating further technological advancements.
- 2025: Achieved significant financial milestones with a Series A funding round, catalyzing growth and operational scaling.
Current Operations and Market Position
Eeden’s operations focus on transforming textile recycling methods to enable circular economy principles. By using its chemical recycling model, Eeden addresses the demand for sustainable textile production, allowing manufacturers to utilize recycled fibers over virgin materials, reducing dependency on finite resources. Their current strategic initiative involves establishing a large-scale demonstration plant designed to showcase the practicality of their chemical processes on an industrial scale. Eeden is positioned to be a key player in materials recovery, addressing industry challenges with increasing regulatory support for recycling solutions.
Conclusion
Eeden represents a transformative force within the textile recycling sector, developing processes that are integral to solving resource scarcity and waste management in the fashion industry. With successful validation of its technology and growing financial backing, Eeden is poised to expand its influence, promoting sustainable textile practices that complement global environmental and circular economy goals.