Source: Fortune
Summary
DataBeyond, a Chinese AI recycling company, has created the Fastsort-Textile machine, which uses artificial intelligence to sort used clothes by composition at high speed. The machine can process two tons of clothes per hour and is being used in one location in China. Synthetic textiles account for around 70% of global textile production and are a major contributor to textile waste. The machine has reduced the amount of unrecyclable textiles from 50% to 30%.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story. DataBeyond’s Fastsort-Textile machine can sort 220 pounds of clothes in 2-3 minutes, compared to 4 hours for a human worker. The machine’s AI scanner reads the composition of textiles in under one second. The company claims the machine can reduce labor costs and increase accuracy. Sales Director Li Bin says the ultimate goal is a “dark factory” with robots running 24 hours a day.
The announcement sounds familiar. DataBeyond’s CEO Mo Zhuoya says the machine can help reduce the amount of textile waste incinerated. The company’s goal is to make full use of textile waste and reduce the amount of pollution.
Fastsort-Textile is one of Time magazine’s Best Inventions of 2025. The machine is being used in only one location in China, but the company hopes to expand its use.
The strategy enters a familiar phase. DataBeyond is not the only company working on textile recycling technology. The use of AI in recycling is becoming increasingly popular.
One original observation: The true test of the Fastsort-Textile machine’s success will be its ability to scale and reduce costs, not just increase efficiency.
Author: Evan Null
