In Zhangjiagang, an industrial city on China's east coast, a groundbreaking machine named Fastsort-Textile is redefining textile recycling. This innovation, recognized as one of Time magazine’s Best Inventions of 2025, employs artificial intelligence to rapidly sort used clothes by their material composition. Developed by DataBeyond, a Chinese AI recycling company established in 2018, the Fastsort-Textile machine represents a significant advancement in mitigating the environmental impact of synthetic textile waste.

Synthetic textiles, primarily derived from fossil fuels, are a popular and low-cost option for fashion production, accounting for approximately 70% of global textile output. This widespread use contributes substantially to global pollution, with China serving as the leading contributor; according to the World Trade Organization’s 2025 Key Insights and Trends report, China led global textile exports at $142 billion, more than double that of the European Union. The urgent need for efficient recycling solutions is paramount to address the vast quantities of textile waste that are typically incinerated or sent to landfills.

The Fastsort-Textile machine is currently in operation at Shanhesheng Environmental Technology Ltd., a textile recycling facility in Zhangjiagang, where it was installed in 2025. This advanced equipment uses an AI scanner to precisely read the composition of textiles and then sorts them by their specific fibers, preparing them for recycling. The process involves workers loading stacks of textiles onto conveyor belts, which transport the items through the 5-by-2-meter scanner. The scanner emits a sharp hiss as it accurately reads each item's material composition in less than one second, with a live video feed displaying the data according to customer-defined benchmarks.

The efficiency and accuracy of the Fastsort-Textile machine are remarkable, significantly surpassing manual labor capabilities. It can process 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of clothes in just two to three minutes, a task that would require one worker approximately four hours. On a larger scale, the machine handles two tons per hour, whereas two human workers would need two days to process the same volume, and with considerably less accuracy. Shanhesheng Sales Manager Cui Peng underscored the machine's advantages, stating, "This sort of thing saves money on labor costs, it saves time. When people sort materials, they can’t tell accurately if it’s 80 or 90% polyester. This machine rarely makes mistakes."

After scanning, textiles are directed to specific nylon and polyester sorting areas for recycling. Items that fall below predetermined quality benchmarks are separated into a different area, primarily designated for incineration or landfill, where textile pollution causes the most environmental damage. Crucially, the implementation of the Fastsort-Textile machine has led to a substantial reduction in unrecyclable textiles. Previously, up to 50% of processed textiles were deemed unrecyclable; with the new machine, this figure has decreased to 30%. DataBeyond CEO Mo Zhuoya highlighted the broader environmental benefits, noting, "We can make full use of textile waste and reduce the amount that is incinerated which will be a great help to recycling resources." The ultimate vision, as articulated by Sales Director Li Bin, is a "dark factory" where robots operate continuously for 24 hours, overcoming the limitations of human energy and ensuring round-the-clock recycling efficiency.