Partners: Roberts Group International, FAB Materials
Location: RGI facilities / UK pilot production
Circular goal: Turn textile waste into usable board material
Textiles repurposed: Non-rewearable textile fibres
Textiles to MDF is a partnership between Roberts Group International and FAB Materials exploring a new material pathway for low-grade, non-rewearable textile waste. The project has progressed from concept into pilot production, with physical MDF-style boards manufactured using fibre from non-rewearable textiles as a substitute for a proportion of virgin timber.
In December 2025, RGI announced that the partnership had produced MDF-style boards using fibre made from 30% non-rewearable textile waste. The pilot involved hands-on testing in a live production environment, assessing material behaviour, performance and real-world application potential.
By February 2026, RGI reported that high-specification boards made with fibre from non-rewearable textiles had arrived, marking a further step in proving that low-grade textile waste can be redirected into high-value manufacturing applications. In April 2026, the project was shown as a prototype coffee table made using 30% recycled textiles, demonstrating the material in a visible real-world product.
Why
Reuse remains the priority for textiles, but a significant proportion of collected material cannot be reworn or resold. This project explores an alternative recovery pathway for difficult textile waste streams, reducing reliance on virgin wood fibre and creating a route into scalable construction and furniture materials.
Outcome
Pilot MDF-style boards have been produced using fibre from non-rewearable textile waste, including a prototype coffee table made using 30% recycled textiles. The next phase is focused on scaling production and working with brands and manufacturers interested in circular material solutions.
Project gallery
Project credits
RGI Project Lead - John Roberts
FAB Materials Project Lead - John Somerville
