Process & Findings
From Research to Infrastructure
Drawing on her expertise in chemistry and systems engineering, Christine began designing a process that would:
• Break textiles down to their original fiber state
• Remove embedded dyes, finishes, and chemical contaminants
• Reduce cross-contamination through source-specific processing lines
• Restore fiber purity suitable for remanufacturing
• Reintegrate clean material directly back into domestic supply chains.
What emerged was not just a recycling concept, but a scalable circular infrastructure model that supports a circular textile economy. SCE Textile Recycling is built on the principle that textile waste is not an end product, but rather a recoverable industrial resource that can contribute to sustainable textile solutions and effective textile waste management.
Engineering a Closed-Loop Ecosystem
The company’s six-step recovery model supports a circular textile economy by integrating:
• Structured intake programs
• Dedicated processing lines by client source
• Mechanical fiber breakdown
• Chemical purification
• Climate-controlled fiber storage
• Redistribution to textile manufacturers
By transforming textile waste into usable, industrial-grade material, this sustainable textile solution reduces landfill dependency, lowers carbon emissions associated with virgin fiber production, and strengthens domestic material security, thereby enhancing effective textile waste management.
Why This Matters Now
Global supply chains are strained, and environmental regulations are tightening as landfill capacity shrinks. The demand for sustainable raw materials is accelerating, highlighting the need for innovative sustainable textile solutions. The textile industry requires robust infrastructure to support a circular textile economy, rather than just incremental solutions.
SCE Textile Recycling is positioning Michigan as a leader in intelligent, contamination-controlled textile waste management designed for multi-line and multi-site expansion.
The Vision
This is not a single-facility initiative. It is the foundation of a scalable, repeatable model capable of supporting a multi-billion-dollar circular textile economy. Through science, technology, and disciplined industrial systems, SCE Textile Recycling is redefining sustainable textile solutions and improving textile waste management by recovering, restoring, and returning textile materials to manufacturing.
SCE Textile Recycling Executive Team
Christine Burkette
Christine Burkette
Christine Burkette
CEO/Founder dedicated to advancing the circular textile economy through innovative sustainable textile solutions and effective textile waste management.
Aaron Rivers
Christine Burkette
Christine Burkette
Manufacturing & Logistics Consultant specializing in the circular textile economy, providing sustainable textile solutions and expertise in textile waste management. CEO of Dakkota Manufacturing.