#Research & Development

2025-08-14

Cooperation on the circular textile economy

International cooperation for a circular textile economy: Circular Textile Days, the leading international B2B event for sustainable textiles based in the Netherlands, is entering into a strategic partnership with the DATIpilot Innovation Community Circular Textiles at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences (THA). The aim of the collaboration is to strengthen European innovation in the circular textile economy and create new opportunities for the cross-border exchange of knowledge.

The scientific spokesperson of CirTex: Prof Dr Stefan Schlichter © 2025 THA

Circular Textile Days and DATIpilot Innovation Community Circular Textiles (CirTex) agree on joint activities

Textile circular economy as well as transparency and traceability of used materials are high on the EU's agenda. The long-term partnership with the Circular Textile Days now provides CirTex with a European platform to present solutions, network with relevant stakeholders and drive sustainable change in the textile industry. This gives innovative German projects international visibility.

"Germany has a strong research and innovation base in the field of textile technology. At the same time, there is a clear need to translate this knowledge into circular practical solutions more quickly," says Prof Dr Stefan Schlichter (THA). ‘The Circular Textile Days offer us an excellent platform to present the results of our work, establish partnerships and promote cross-border scientific dialogue.’

CirTex is a German innovation network funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space and coordinated by Augsburg University of Applied Sciences. It brings together over 250 stakeholders from business, science, politics and civil society. By the end of 2028, the network will be actively shaping the textile value chain towards greater resource efficiency, circularity and sustainability in around 20 innovation projects from all over Germany. Through practical results and innovative science communication, CirTex is making an important contribution to the implementation of a circular textile economy in Germany.

As the central European event for circular and sustainable textiles, the Circular Textile Days bring together brands, suppliers, innovators and political decision-makers. The new partnership underlines the core mission of the event: to enable real collaboration and impact - and to translate knowledge into concrete application. The Circular Textile Days trade fair is an international B2B event based in the Netherlands that aims to significantly advance the transformation towards a sustainable and fully circular textile industry. The fifth edition of the trade fair will take place on 10 and 11 September 2025 in s' Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch) in the Netherlands.

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.

Cooperation in the field of meltblown laboratory technology

The Nonwoven Institute (NWI) at North Carolina State University and Oerlikon Nonwoven will be collaborating in the field of meltblown laboratory technology in the future. This was announced by Professor Raoul Farer, Executive Deputy Director of the NWI and Professor at the Wilson College of Textiles at North Carolina State University, and Dr. Ingo Mählmann, Sales Director Nonwoven at Oerlikon Neumag, during this year's ITMA Asia and CITME in Singapore.

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.

Feasibility study shows potential to convert textile waste into PHB bioplastic

Textile waste could serve as a valuable source of raw materials for sustainable plastics in the future, according to the joint TexPHB feasibility study conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP, Beneficial Design Institute GmbH and matterr GmbH. The study will be presented to the public for the first time at a network meeting on 25 November 2025 at the State Chancellery in Potsdam.

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.

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.

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.