#Recycling / Circular Economy

2023-03-09

Digital solutions for the circular economy

The team of the Mittelstand-Digital Center at DITF: Project Manager Alexander Artschwager, Dr. Heiko Matheis, Christine Schoch, Bastian Baesch, Christoph Riethmüller, Tobias Hecht, Dr. Michael Haupt (left to right). Photo: DITF

Small and medium-sized enterprises are facing big tasks: Production should be sustainable and allow for later recycling, work and qualification are increasingly taking place digitally, and supply chains must be fully traceable. The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF) support companies in the introduction of these future-relevant technologies.

Partners are ITA Institut für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen University, Sächsisches Textilforschungsinstitut in Chemnitz (STFI) and DER MITTELSTANDSVERBUND - ZGV. The Gesamtverband textil+mode management is in charge of management. In Denkendorf at the DITF, showcases about digital engineering with a focus on supply chain, circular economy and artificial intelligence can be experienced by all sectors.

To this end, a demonstrator is being set up to provide transparent proof along the entire supply chain from fiber to end customer. A quick check tool will then support SMEs in quickly assessing their supply chain risks and provide them with an initial overview of their ecological footprint.

The Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Smarte Kreisläufe is part of Mittelstand-Digital.

What is Mittelstand-Digital?

Mittelstand-Digital offers guidance for small and medium-sized enterprises and the skilled crafts as they embrace the digital transformation, informs them about the opportunities and challenges of digitalization and provides financial support for digitalization projects. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action makes it possible for all of these services to be rendered free of charge.

For more information visit http://www.mittelstand-digital.de.

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Fabolose: Fabricating vegan and circular leather alternatives from bio-tech-derived cellulose

Fabulose is an EU funded project coordinated by the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF). Its consortium consists of leading research institutes, biotech innovators, and industry stakeholders who aim to create high-performance, biobased and recyclable leather-like fabrics, using efficient biotech production routes for bacterial cellulose, cyanophycin and bacterial pigments

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When everyday materials are pulled, they stretch or elongate in the direction of the pull and become narrower in cross-section. We can also observe this property in two-dimensional textiles. Auxetic structures behave differently here. They have the striking property of not changing under tensile stress or even increasing their width or thickness. These properties are advantageous, for example, in protective textiles or textile filter media. The DITF are researching auxetic fabrics for various applications.

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Europe’s textile future at a turning point: New 2030 Circularity Blueprint aims to scale recycling and unlock investment opportunities

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Circulose and CTA announce collaboration to enable lyocell fibers using CIRCULOSE® pulp

Circulose has announced an agreement with China Textile Academy Green Fibre (CTA) to offer lyocell fibers produced using CIRCULOSE® pulp. Producing lyocell from recycled pulp at commercial scale is an important step in making textile-to-textile recycled materials available across a wider range of textile applications.

FET’s revolutionary gel spinning system wins Techtextil Innovation Award

FET has received the prestigious Techtextil Innovation Award 2026 in the New Production Technology category. The Techtextil Innovation Award honours outstanding ideas in textile technology, sustainability, AI and the creation of technical textiles, selected by an international jury of experts. Ranging from new materials to new production technologies, this award recognises progressive ideas that are driving forces for numerous industries, such as automotive, medical and construction.

Savio Macchine Tessili will exhibit at ITM Istanbul 2026 presenting its flagship technologies

Savio Macchine Tessili will participate in ITM Istanbul 2026 in a corporate booth of Vandewiele Group, showcasing a selection of its most advanced winding and spinning solutions designed to support textile mills in achieving higher efficiency, flexibility and yarn quality. The company will bring to the show three flagship solutions: Proxima Smartconer®, Lybra Smartspinner® and the Phoenix Assembly Winder.

Rieter at ITM 2026: Spinning Redefined with Automation and Intelligence

Spinning mills need solutions that deliver stability, efficiency and future-proof performance. Rieter has put together a powerful portfolio for ITM 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye. These innovations give customers the tools to enhance cost efficiency, improve responsiveness and actively develop their competitive edge. Step-by-step, Rieter is moving closer to its Vision 2027 – the fully automated spinning mill. With each new technology, Rieter enables spinning mills worldwide to operate with greater precision and reliability, ensuring they remain at the forefront of an increasingly demanding global market.