CircTex - Innovation towards a circular future for NWE textiles

Project Summary

The NWE textiles industry uses 17 mio tonnes of non-renewable input materials per year, making it one of the most polluting industries. As a response, NWE policies focus on the transition to a circular economy in textiles. But, insufficiently 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 as such non-renewable input materials and the ecological impact in NWE textiles.

Workwear is the ideal starting point for an industry-wide innovation, since this sector has a high need of input materials as reuse is not allowed. Thus, many public tenders ask for circular production processes. In addition, higher quality demands are set for workwear, and the user phase severely decreases their recyclability.

The following technologies and processes for circular PET workwear will be developed:

  • 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 technologies and processes will be tested and developed in a closed loop process chain, in which the effects of usage on recyclability are also taken into account. Results of CircTex are actively communicated to the NWE textiles industry to increase knowledge and the number of SMEs and enterprises that will actively engage in working towards circularity in textiles.

To ensure a long-term effect, CircTex will set up an innovation network to actively involving the stakeholders in the entire NWE. Finally, an international standard for circular textiles will be initiated to stimulate the further development of a 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.

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Project Partners

Lead partner

Organisation Address Email Website
MODINT, Ondernemersorganisatie voor mode, interieur, tapijt en textiel 100 Arnhemse Bovenweg
Zeist
3708AG
Netherlands 		koppert@modint.nl https://modint.nl
Name Contact Name Email Country
Groenendijk Bedrijfskleding BV Marien Groenendijk Marien@groenendijkbedrijfskleding.nl Netherlands
Wear2Go John Beelen john.beelen@wear2-go.com Netherlands
Texowear BV Marco Leemhuis marco.leemhuis@hydrowear.nl Netherlands
Centexbel Stijn Devaere sdv@centexbel.be Belgium
C-Tech Innovation Limited Robert Bell rob.bell@ctechinnovation.com United Kingdom
J&A (International) Ltd Adrian Apletree Adrian.apletree@ja-int.co.uk United Kingdom
ANGLES TEXTIL S.A. Carme Noguer carme.noguer@antex.net
Global Technical Fabrics, S.L Francesc Rabasseda Bruguera francesc@ibqfabrics.com
Association UP-tex Pôle de compétitivité Jeanne MEILLIER jeanne.meillier@euramaterials.eu France
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News

Transition to Circular Textiles in the Netherlands

Posted on

Prof. dr. Marko Hekkert, Denise Reike MSc., Dr. Anne Rainville, Dr. Simona Negro of the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development (Utrecht University) published an innovation systems analysis that advises to quickly create demand for recycled fibers by: 1) deals with workwear manufacturers and public procurement of workwear with recycled content, 2) additional deals with fashion brands, 3) color labeling scheme for clothes that indicates circularity to consumer, 4) introduce EPR levies related to the level of circularity, 5) demand minimal percentage of recycled fibers, preferably at EU level, 6) resort to unilateral regulation when deep changes in industry practices do not take place. Read More

Events

Circular Textile Days

, Prodentfabriek |Amersfoort |The Netherlands

The Circular Textile Days is a hybrid event, offering both physical and digital company representation and visitor options. It will be a great opportunity for meeting new partners in the sustainable textile business and for discovering and discussing innovative circular textile solutions. For the whole textile-chain, from recycled yarn to eco-design garments, reusing materials and high-tech recycling.
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Sustainability in PPE

, Online

During the COVID-19 health crisis huge amounts of disposable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are being used, even when reusable solutions are available. At different levels, the realisation that also PPE needs to be more sustainable is growing. The CEN-CENELEC PPE Sector forum would like to support these efforts by facilitating an exchange with all involved stakeholders to discuss ways to include sustainability aspects into standardization.
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