Research project to address PET-based textile waste in Europe
A European research initiative coordinated by Fraunhofer UMSICHT and funded by the EU has been launched to develop integrated solutions for textile waste recycling. Known as Autoloop, it aims to create a system that could process 1.24 million tonnes/ year of textile waste by 2050, whilst potentially creating over 130,000 green jobs across the EU, as well as reducing municipal waste management costs (currently EUR60-110 per tonne) and decreasing the textile industry's reliance on virgin materials.
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.
Europe's textile and clothing industry employs 1.3 million people and generates around EUR170 billion a year. However, it produces 10.9 million tonnes of postconsumer textile waste each year, with less than 1% currently recycled through closed-loop processes back into new textiles.
The project comprises several key technological innovations for the complete recycling of PET-based textiles, which are being further developed and validated by the project partners:
- AI-Powered Sorting: Zoritex's artificial intelligence system identifies over 15 different fibre types and their blends using hyperspectral near-infrared technology. This automated approach could increase sorting throughput tenfold whilst reducing costs by 50-75%.
- Chemical-Free Recycling: Aalto's Ioncell process uses innovative ionic liquid solvents to extract cellulose fibres from textile blends, achieving over 95% recycling rates without harmful chemicals.
- Advanced Synthetic Recovery:The ReSyn technology developed by Fraunhofer UMSICHT and SKZ breaks down synthetic fibres into high-purity building blocks for creating new materials, working efficiently even with contaminated textiles.
- Smart Fibre Tracking: TLX's IntegriTEX technology embeds invisible identifiers in fibres, enabling contactless detection and complete supply chain transparency.
- Digital Integration: Texroad's cloud-based Data Hub standardises information management across the entire recycling process, ensuring compliance with emerging regulations like the Digital Product Passport.
The project brings together 14 partners from seven countries, combining research institutions with industrial partners. Key organisations include Zoritex (UK), Aalto University (Finland), Fraunhofer UMSICHT (Germany), TLX (Germany ), and Texroad (Netherlands). Additional partners include ELT ( U K ), Trasborg (Denmark), VTT (Finland), SKZ ( Germany ), S4L ( U K), LEEDS (UK), Norion (Denmark), Temasol (Switzerland), and LGI (France).
As European regulations on waste management continue to develop and demand for sustainable textiles grows, Autoloop provides a research foundation for advancing circular economy principles within the textile industry.
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