#Recycling / Circular Economy

2022-01-06

Teijin Aramid and Clariter develop a carbon neutral solution for recycling of Endumax®

For over twenty years, Teijin Aramid has been recycling Twaron® fibres in its own recycling facilities. In her quest to zero emission Teijin Aramid joined forces with Clariter and pioneered a sustainable solution in chemical advanced recycling for Endumax® an Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMW-PE). Together these environmental conscious companies are developing a sustainable disposal method for highly valuable, post-production and end of life material that is hard to recycle mechanically.

As a future-oriented enterprise, Teijin Aramid has been looking for a sustainable solution for recycling end-products. Clariter’s innovative technology transforms potential plastic waste into high-value, pure industrial products with a net negative carbon footprint, which means it cleans the environment rather than pollutes it.

Successful upcycling

Tests of Teijin Aramid’s Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (Endumax®), feedstock were carried out at Clariter’s operational Pilot Plant in Gliwice, Poland. The results determined that samples of fishing nets, ropes and air cargo containers are indeed suitable for chemical recycling. High resistance UHMW-PE, which was once problematic to recycle, has been now successfully upcycled into feedstock as pure, crude-free industrial products with thousands of applications such as cleaning agents, degreasers, paints, and speciality wax. For some markets, like fishing nets this results in full circularity as the wax can be used to coat fishing nets again, in other markets this open loop recycling leads to valuable products that can either serve in production processes or in other applications.

Recycling solutions

Jasper Munier, Clariter Business Development Manager for North-West Europe, said: “Working with a partner like Teijin Aramid and proving that chemical recycling is the solution for the plastic waste epidemic, brought us again a bit closer to the cleaner and more sustainable future. As a next step, we want to process samples of much larger quantities and types at our 15,000m² Industrial-scale Plant in East London, South Africa. We look forward to working with Teijin Aramid team of experts and together positioning chemical recycling as an irreplaceable recycling solution“.

Hendrik de Zeeuw, Director Marketing & Sales Teijin Aramid: ”Via this partnership with Clariter, Teijin Aramid has set a next step in the recyclability of Endumax®. That means Endumax is now in the same league as the other products of Teijin Aramid, which is overall a great achievement. Together with Clariter, we will be able to help customers in the offshore to take back their Endumax® ropes, nets and cables to extend the end of life. In the aerospace business, from now on, we will devotely comply with end-user requirements, that after use, the full air cargo containers, including the panels, can be recycled. In collaboration with Clariter, we come again a step closer towards our ambition to be the best high performance fiber company for the world”.

Teijin announces availability of DPP-compliant products aligned with Europe’s ESPR Environmental Regulation

Teijin Limited announced today that it has started rolling out initiatives to enable aramid fibers and carbon fibers to be accompanied by Digital Product Passport (DPP) technology, which enhances supply chain transparency by verifying the origins of materials and supporting sustainability claims. The company is using the supply chain traceability system from Netherlands-based Circularise B.V., in which Teijin has invested since November 2024, to develop DPPs for each product.

Teijin Carbon showcases new eco-friendly Tenax Next™ R2S 513 6mm short carbon fiber at JEC World 2025

Teijin Carbon, a leading manufacturer of carbon fiber products, is presenting its latest development in sustainable materials at JEC World 2025 (hall 6, G22). New Tenax Next™ R2S 513 6mm is a short carbon fiber product in rice-shaped form for reinforcing thermoplastic compounds that not only offers exceptional performance characteristics but also reinforces the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility and circularity.

Teijin to invest in Circularise B.V. and adopt its supply chain traceability platform to promote the Circular Economy

Teijin Limited announced today that it will invest in Circularise B.V., a company based in The Hague, Netherlands, which develops product traceability management systems using blockchain technology. Teijin will also implement Circularise’s software to improve visibility into its global supply chain. Circularise’s proprietary “Smart Questioning”(*) solution, which utilizes Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) technology, provides both anonymity and transparency to ensure a highly reliable product traceability system.

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.