Meet China's AI-powered recycling robot that sorts 220 pounds of clothes in 2 to 3 minutes | Fortune
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Meet China's AI-powered recycling robot that sorts 220 pounds of clothes in 2 to 3 minutes | Fortune
"The Fastsort-Textile machine, named one of Time magazine's Best Inventions of 2025, was created by DataBeyond, a Chinese AI recycling company founded in 2018. It uses an AI scanner to read the composition of textiles and sorts them by fibers, significantly enhancing recycling efficiency."
"Fastsort-Textile sorts through 100 kilograms of clothes in two to three minutes, compared to around four hours for one worker to do the same thing. The machine can process two tons per hour, showcasing a remarkable improvement in speed and accuracy."
"Synthetic textiles, derived from fossil fuels, account for around 70% of global textile production. This highlights the urgent need for effective recycling solutions to mitigate the environmental impact of textile waste."
The Fastsort-Textile machine in Zhangjiagang uses AI to sort used clothes by composition, enhancing recycling efficiency. Created by DataBeyond, it processes 100 kilograms of textiles in two to three minutes, compared to four hours for manual sorting. This innovation addresses the significant issue of synthetic textile waste, which constitutes 70% of global textile production. The machine operates at Shanhesheng Environmental Technology Ltd., aiming to reduce incineration and improve resource recycling in China, the leading contributor to textile pollution.
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