#Research & Development

2020-11-19

Light experiences light as paper

Design approaches. Photos: quintessence design

A feel-good atmosphere with luminaires made of paper yarn - ecological and sustainable

Paper is a renewable resource, is available almost everywhere and can be recycled. The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF), together with their project partners, have processed this natural material in the form of paper yarns and developed shapely luminaires from it. The results of the "Paper Light" research project are sustainable products with an appealing design that can be manufactured at low cost. The luminaires are fully recyclable.

Climate protection and the environmental pollution caused by microplastics require new ideas on how renewable resources can be used sensibly. The researchers at the DITF have processed paper yarn into very light structural bodies using structure winding technology. The manufacturing process is so flexible that many different shapes are possible and light can be directed differently depending on the area of application. The corresponding photometric characteristics were determined at the DITF.

Production of a lampshade: Structure winding process. Photo: DITF

Demonstration luminaire „FIVE STEMS“. Photo: DITF

Three-dimensional bodies are manufactured from the paper yarns using a novel method. The yarns are fixed with an adhesive, which also consists of renewable and degradable raw materials. The conventional metal supporting structure can be dispensed with. This has several advantages for the environment: Due to the omission of wire, less carbon dioxide is produced during manufacture. The THIRTY-ONE luminaire developed by the DITF saves more than two kilograms of CO2 equivalents - per piece!

Demonstration luminaire "THIRTY-ONE". Photo: DITF

Without a metal structure, the paper lamps also weigh significantly less and are easier to transport. After use, the luminaires can be introduced into the circulation system.

The research team has built three demonstrator luminaires that show the possibilities opened up by different yarn thicknesses, colors and the various wound structures. In addition, the mechanical parameters determined already show a great potential for use in other fields of application such as construction components. For this purpose, the DITF have many functional samples available.

The research project "Development of recyclable luminaires made of paper composites" with the short title "Paper Light" was sponsored by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt.

Stylish design made from sustainable materials – two DITF research projects receive Techtextil Innovation Awards

Materials made from domestic, renewable raw materials reduce CO₂ emissions, prevent microplastics from entering the environment, and close the material cycle. The German Institutes for Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) are developing nature-based alternatives to synthetically produced and predominantly petroleum-based materials. Two research projects have received a prestigious Techtextil Innovation Award. NUO Flexholz and the lignin-coated material FormLig demonstrate that sustainable concepts can meet high standards of functionality and design. Both projects were carried out in close collaboration with industry.

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

More safety and comfort for protective clothing thanks to auxetic fabrics

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.

Hohenstein publishes 2025 Sustainability Report

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ITM presents cutting-edge textile research at Techtextil

From April 21 to 24, 2026, the Chair of Textile Machinery and High Performance Material Technology (ITM) at TUD Dresden University of Technology will be presenting its current research at Techtextil, the leading international trade fair for technical textiles and nonwovens. In Hall 12.0, Stand D41, the team will be demonstrating how it combines high-performance fibers, AI-supported digital development tools and innovative machine technologies to develop textile solutions for lightweight construction, construction, medical technology and sustainable production from atom to product.

Fraunhofer IAP paves the way for "Green" carbon fibers

A new pilot plant in Guben is set to enable the production of bio-based carbon fibers. The plant is part of the Carbon Lab Factory Lausitz and will make an important contribution to the transformation of the Lausitz region—from a traditionally raw material- and basic industry-oriented region to a hub for innovative high-performance materials. The German federal government and the state of Brandenburg are providing the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP with 53.3 million euros for this purpose.

Hof University develops sustainable textile coating for the fashion of tomorrow from mushrooms

Clothing is often treated as disposable: T-shirts for events, general merchandise, or short-term campaigns frequently end up in the trash after only a few uses. This is particularly problematic given that their production still largely relies on fossil-based materials. This is precisely where a new research project at Hof University of Applied Sciences comes in.

Techtextil 2026 recognition for the UK’s FET

Fibre Extrusion Technology (FET) will receive the Techtextil 2026 New Production Technology Innovation Award at next week’s Techtextil in Frankfurt (April 21-24). The Leeds-based member of the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) has developed the FET-500, a new toxic solvent-free gel small scale system for the production of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE).

Lower CO2, stronger bonds: Indorama Ventures enables customers’ performance at Techtextil

At Techtextil 2026 in Frankfurt am Main, Indorama Ventures presents its latest material innovations aimed at supporting customers in achieving both performance and sustainability targets. The company highlights solutions based on recycled and bio-based raw materials as well as advanced binder fibers, addressing current market demands for lower CO₂ emissions, improved efficiency, and reliable supply.