#Recycling / Circular Economy

2024-11-19

From design to recycling: Navigating ESPR product requirements for a circular economy – policy roundtable

T-REX Project hosted a policy roundtable on the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) in Brussels. The event encouraged an open exchange on key issues between stakeholders including brands, manufacturers, policymakers, and other key players in the textile industry ecosystem.

The event kicked off with opening remarks from Drishti Masand from adidas, and Blanca Saez Lacave, Project Adviser for Horizon Europe at REA, followed by an introduction to the project from Melisa Saygivar from adidas.

Antonio De Sousa Maia, Legal and Policy Officer at the EU Commission, set the policy context with an in-depth overview of ESPR and the Delegated Act for Textiles.

Our consortium partners Anja Kossel-Scharf (adidas) and Doris Hondtong (Arapaha) introduced the T-REX Project Design Guidelines for textile-to-textile recycling which are currently under development within the project.

Three panel discussions then set the scene for in-depth workshops addressing key issues relating to the successful implementation of ESPR.

The first panel discussion centred around defining recyclability with insights shared from Carsten Wentink (EU Commission), Gudrun Messias (adidas), and Marieke Koemans Kokkelink (Erdotex), moderated by Coline Morise (Fashion for Good).

The following panel addressed the challenges associated with setting recycled content targets as Rannveig van Iterson (Ohana Public Affairs, on behalf of Textile Exchange), Daniela Antunes (Fulgar) and Tobias Schwab (BASF), exchanged their views and insights on the topic moderated by Drishti Masandi.

The final panel brought together Katarzyna Sulisz (FESI), Tom Duhoux (VITO), and Hasna Kourda (Save Your Wardrobe) to discuss insights around the issue of product repairability and durability, moderated by Kirsi Niinimäki (Aalto University).

The roundtable participants exchanged insights and brainstormed solutions in interactive workshops on defining recyclability and setting recycled content targets. These discussions touched on topics such as the criteria that make a textile “recyclable”, the challenges of material composition, and various recycling technologies and their different approaches to recycling.

Workshop participants also addressed the challenge of setting ambitious targets for recycled content while considering the limited supply, feedstock traceability, and the pros and cons of setting recycled content targets at the material portfolio level vs product-specific targets.

The roundtable concluded with closing remarks from Lutz Walter, Secretary General at Textile ETP, highlighting the importance of continued collaboration in the space.

Stay tuned for an upcoming white paper Aalto University will shortly release revealing the key insights and takeaways from the workshops.

Pioneering EU funded T-REX Project celebrates completion and Rreveals blueprint for scaling textile-to-textile recycling in Europe

The EU-funded T-REX (Textile Recycling Excellence) Project consortium today announced the successful completion of the project, presenting a blueprint for scaling textile-to-textile recycling, and showcasing demonstrator products produced through the successful implementation of the recycling processes for polyester, polyamide 6, and cellulosic materials within Europe.

ADVANSA launches ADVA®tex: A new step toward textile-to-textile recycling

ADVANSA has introduced ADVA®tex, a new filling fibre made entirely from recycled pre-consumer textile waste, positioning the material as a significant step forward in textile-to-textile (T2T) recycling. The fibre is designed for use in duvets, pillows, mattresses, and furniture applications and is available in three versions.

European research project addresses textile waste through integrated recycling technologies

A major European research initiative coordinated by Fraunhofer UMSICHT has been launched to develop integrated solutions for textile waste recycling. The AUTOLOOP project aims to create a comprehensive system that could process 1.24 million tonnes of textile waste annually by 2050, whilst potentially creating over 130,000 green jobs across the EU. This project aims to develop, test and integrate automated sorting, tracing, and closed-loop recycling technologies for polyester-based textiles (NRT), addressing the pressing challenge of textile waste management.

Navis TubeTex announces U.S. partnership with Icomatex

Navis TubeTex, a global leader in advanced dyeing and finishing machinery solutions, is pleased to announce a new partnership with Icomatex (www.icomatex.com), a respected European manufacturer of high-quality stenters and textile finishing equipment. Under this agreement, Navis TubeTex will exclusively represent the Icomatex stenter line in the United States.

KARL MAYER celebrates 35 years of EL pattern drive

KARL MAYER is celebrating an anniversary this year: on 30 November 1990, the first warp knitting machine with electronic guide bar control, the KS 4 EL, was delivered – another milestone for patterning. As early as 1980, the SU gearbox with the MRS42SU had initiated the transition from mechanical chains to digital data.

The region of renewable raw materials: Central German Alliance for Bioplastics

The development of sustainable plastic solutions is rapidly gaining importance in light of global environ- mental pollution, dwindling fossil resources and ambitious climate protection targets. As part of the re- gional alliance RUBIO, which brings together 18 partners from central Germany and the Berlin-Branden- burg area, the bio-based and biodegradable plastic polybutylene succinate (PBS) was comprehensively investigated, starting with the raw material, through the manufacturing process, to industrial application.

YKK receives ISPO Textrends Awards for circular innovations

YKK Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Koichi Matsushima; hereafter, YKK) is pleased to announce that the ISPO Textrends judges have selected YKK's 3D Composite Puller as the Best Product in the Accessories category. They also selected YKK’s NATULON Plus® Fiber Sourced™ zipper with Recycled PET Open Parts as a Top 5 item in the same category. The competition, held twice a year in conjunction with the ISPO trade show, recognizes the most innovative performance textiles, components, and apparel.