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Circular biobased technical textiles with innovative bio-inspired non-toxic functionalisation

Project description

Recyclable materials for a sustainable textile industry

The European textile industry is transitioning towards sustainable production while rapidly adapting to consumer demands for smart functionalities. The EU-funded BioFibreLoop project will revolutionise textile functionalisation and dramatically reduce the use of hazardous chemicals. Natural morphologies will be mimicked by using laser technology to achieve textiles with functionalities such as hydrophobicity, oil repellence, self-cleaning, and antibacterial activity. BioFibreLoop will create affordable, eco-friendly textiles from renewable sources like lignin, cellulose, and polylactic acid by 2027, targeting outdoor, active, and workwear markets. All processes aim to enable effective near-zero waste circularity, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 % by 2035. The technology for functionalisation and recycling of bio-based materials will be shown at three industrial demonstrations in Austria, Czech Republic, and Germany.

Objective

EU’s industry is pushed by EC‘s green deal to convert into a net-zero industry, accelerate the transEU’s industry is pushed by EC‘s green deal to convert into a net-zero industry, accelerate the transition to climate neutrality and drive its resilience. As an important part of the EU manufacturing industry, the EU’s textile sector is thus called to action and to reach the next level of disruptive innovations in sustainable textiles.

BioFibreLoop is a business-driven consortium of 12 partners from small to large industry and scientific institutes and will meet these challenges by deploying a new generation of renewable, recyclable, bio-inspired materials made of lignin, cellulosic and polylactic acid at TRL 7 by 2027.

The innovation addresses the outdoor/active/workwear industry and will result in circular, technical textiles made from biopolymers with innovative bio-inspired non-toxic functionalisation. BioFibreLoop will demonstrate breakthrough technologies and pave the way for market entry:
(i) near to zero waste biomimetic functionalization through circularity,
(ii) zero use of hazardous chemicals,
(iii) satisfied consumer needs through smart functionality for hydrophobicity, oil repellency, self-cleaning, and antibacteriality.

In 3 industrial demo sites (IT, DE, AT) biomimetic functionalisation and recycling of the bio-based materials will be proven at large at TRL7. These are based on processes owned by partners and brought in at TRL4 e.g. lignin-based thermoplastic coating, laser-based technology for surface structures in bio-based textiles, thermomechanical recycling of PLA and lignin-based textile materials to serve as valuable secondary raw materials.

At the project’s end, a patented circular, sustainable and safe process will be validated and demonstrated at a large scale to generate brand-new renewable, recyclable and functionalised materials. By 2035, 20% of the textile industry will adopt our solution boosting ~ 950 Mio. € additional revenues.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation Actions

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL4-2023-RESILIENCE-01-TWO-STAGE

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Coordinator

DEUTSCHE INSTITUTE FUR TEXTIL- UND FASERFORSCHUNG DENKENDORF
Net EU contribution
€ 1 480 428,38
Address
KORSCHTALSTRASSE 26
73770 Denkendorf
Germany
Region
Baden-Württemberg Stuttgart Esslingen
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost
€ 1 480 428,38

Participants (12)