CircTex - Innovation towards a circular future for NWE textiles

Project Summary

The NWE textiles industry yearly uses 17 mio tonnes non-renewable input materials, making it one of the most polluting industries. As a response NWE policies focus on the transition to a circular economy in textiles. But, insufficient developed technologies make this impossible.

CircTex focuses on the development of recycling and production technologies in a closed-loop process chain for PET workwear, decreasing non-renewable input materials and the ecological impact in NWE textiles.

Workwear is the ideal starting point for industry-wide innovation, this sector has a high need of input materials as reuse is not allowed. Thus, many public tenders ask for circular production Also, higher quality demands are set for workwear, and the use phase severely decreases recyclability. The following techn. and processes for circular PET workwear will be developed to TRL 7:

• Mechanical and chemical recycling;
• Spinning and weaving;
• No-waste production;
• Wear2 yarn and industrial microwave for assembly and disassembly;
• Recyclable laminates, logo’s and accessories;
• Collection and sorting systems;

These will be tested and developed in a closed loop process chain, in which also the effects of usage on recyclability are taken into account. Results of CircTex are actively communicated in the NWE textiles industry to increase knowledge and the amount of SME’s and enterprises that actively work towards circularity in textiles.

To ensure long-term effect, CircTex will set up an innovation network, actively involving stakeholders in the whole NWE. Also, an international standard for circular textiles will be initiated to stimulate further development of the circular process chain for other textiles and textile products.

CircTex will stimulate growth of the NWE textiles industry, creating numerous jobs in the future. As the textiles industry is transnational, territorial cooperation in NWE is crucial for significant impact.