#Recycling / Circular Economy

2024-08-08

ReCircleTex

Transforming old textiles into new, high-quality materials on a large scale – that is the subject of a new innovation project by eeden, the Center Textile LogisticsCenter Textile Logistics (CTL) at the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences and the Fraunhofer IML, and the Hohenstein Innovations gGmbH.

The project aims to promote a circular textile economy through technological and logistical optimizations. eeden's innovative fiber-to-fiber recycling process will be further developed to efficiently process textile waste from laundries. Additionally, logistics will be restructured from collection to recycling to ensure a resource-conserving and efficient supply of this material stream. With a total volume of over 625,000 euros, the project is co-financed by the Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Transport of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the European Union as part of the GreenEconomy.IN.NRW innovation competition.

“We are excited to enable circular laundry textiles with our exceptional partners. By optimizing our processes, we aim to significantly improve the recycling of end-of-life textiles and make the most of this valuable resource,” explains Ida Marie Brieger, Business Development at eeden.

Hohenstein and eeden jointly analyze the used textiles as part of analytical tests to accurately determine the properties of the textile waste after various cleaning cycles. Dr. Timo Hammer, Managing Director of Hohenstein, says: “Working with eeden and the Center Textile Logistics allows us to bring the latest technologies and scientific discoveries into real-world applications. We're excited to be part of this groundbreaking project.”

Subsequently, the Center Textile Logistics (CTL), supported by eeden, will develop a concept for the efficient procurement of raw materials and their integration into a sustainable business structure. Prof. Dr. Markus Muschkiet, Head of CTL, emphasizes: “This project is a fantastic opportunity to rethink logistics and make our supply chains not just more efficient, but also more sustainable. We're excited to leverage our expertise to build this future-proof supply chain.”

Finally, the further developed process will be validated by eeden on a technical scale. By 2026, the close collaboration between eeden, the Center Textile Logistics (CTL), and Hohenstein aims to promote the circular use of textiles and make a significant contribution to reducing textile waste.

ReCircleTex partners © 2024 Hohenstein Institute

A new standard to combat plastic waste in forests

With DIN SPEC 35808 “Tree Shelter for Forestry Applications,” the testing and research service provider Hohenstein, in collaboration with Rottenburg University of Forestry, as well as forestry authorities and industry partners, has established a clear framework for bio-based and fully biodegradable tree shelters. The pre-standard defines requirements and practical testing methods designed to reduce plastic waste in forests and strengthen the long-term protection of soil and the environment.

Hohenstein publishes 2025 Sustainability Report

The testing and research service provider Hohenstein has published its latest sustainability report, outlining key progress and strategic initiatives. The report focuses on ambitious CO₂ reduction targets, the company’s new mission statement and the systematic expansion of sustainable services for customers worldwide.

New DIN SPEC assesses environmental impact of textile fragments in soil

Textile products made from synthetic fibres, finished fabrics or dyed materials release fibre fragments into the environment at every stage of their life cycle. With the new DIN SPEC 19296, Hohenstein has developed a standardised testing method to analyse how these fragments behave in soil under natural conditions. Until now, little was known about their environmental behaviour or potential ecological effects once released.

Reju expands textile-to-textile recycling network with six international fabric manufacturers

Reju, a textile-to-textile regeneration company, is expanding its industrial network through collaborations with six fabric manufacturers in Europe and the Americas. The initiative aims to accelerate the integration of regenerated polyester into textile manufacturing and support the development of finished fabrics for commercial applications.

Trützschler expands technical service capabilities for spinning mills in Pakistan

Faster support, shorter downtime and advanced repair capabilities: customers across Pakistan can now benefit from the Trützschler Service Station at its new location in Lahore. By combining Trützschler service expertise with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, the new facility helps spinning mills resolve technical issues more quickly and maintain reliable production.

Stäubli to introduce new S3292 dobby for high-speed weaving at ITME India 2026

Stäubli will introduce its new S3292 dobby at ITME India 2026, taking place from December 4 to 9 at the India Expo Centre & Mart in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Designed for high-speed air-jet weaving, the new machine will be among the highlights of the company's presentation, which also includes warp preparation systems, cam motions, Jacquard technologies and digital services.

DITF develops bio-based binding fibers for wood-fiber insulation materials

As part of the CelluWoodFlex project, the German Institutes of Textile- and Fiber-Research in Denkendorf (DITF) are developing bio-based cellulose ester fibers as alternative binding fibers for flexible wood fiber insulation materials. In addition to the spinning process and the production of suitable staple fibers, the institute is also investigating how wood and cellulose fibers can be separated and recycled at the end of their useful life.

Magnera highlights HighPleat™ filtration media technology at FiltXPO 2026

At FiltXPO 2026, held on October 28–29 at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Magnera highlighted advances in air filtration media architecture, with a particular focus on its HighPleat™ platform for MERV 8–10 applications. The technology combines a lofted fiber structure with optimized pore architecture to address the challenge of balancing filtration efficiency, airflow resistance and contaminant-holding capacity.

Ahlstrom expands depth filtration media production capacity at US facility

Ahlstrom has completed a major investment in its Kingston manufacturing facility in New York, USA, expanding production capacity for high-performance depth filtration media. The modernization of Line 3 is designed to improve manufacturing efficiency, enhance quality control and increase flexibility in producing different product widths.