Innovative eco-friendly crosslinker for leather and textile finishing

Project Information

Green-linker

Grant agreement ID: 775400

DOI

10.3030/775400

Project closed

EC signature date 30 April 2017

Start date 1 May 2017

End date 31 August 2017

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Climate action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

ITALKEM SRL
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Green-linker (Innovative eco-friendly crosslinker for leather and textile finishing)

Reporting period: 2017-05-01 to 2017-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Tanneries and textile dyers require chemicals during their manufacturing processes. In the EU, REACH regulation, mandatory as of May 2018, is reshaping the sector including cross-linkers used in these sectors. Companies need solutions to remain competitive on a global scale and comply with growing stringent regulations on harmful chemicals.
Green-Linker is the novel solution proposed by Italkem capable of substituting current chemicals at a competitive price while maintaining performance and being environmentally friendly.
Overall objectives of the Green-Linker project are: finalize Green-Linker formulation for leather and textile including testing and validation by end users, prepare industrial-scale production, carry out the legal registration and implement a commercialization strategy into national (Italy) and International markets.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Technical: A Green-Linker molecule has been successfully validated for both leather and textile applications after standardized analyses and comparison with the current products available in the market.
Legal: An analysis of the registration process and legal issues necessary to market Green-Linker has been made, checking all necessary steps for Green-Linker registration process in ECHA.
The FtO analysis confirmed there is no impediment related to intellectual property that prevents the commercialization of Green-Linker at an international level.
Commercial: A market analysis of the leather and textiles sectors has been completed, including international markets status and competition. The commercial strategy of Green-Linker has been designed in a staggered way including risk assessment and planning actions for the next two years of activity.
Financial: The costs structure has been revised and financial projections revealed the economic viability of the project for Italkem with Green-Linker commercialization starting in 2020.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

With some 25% of the world's leather production and one of the largest and most dynamic consumer markets, Europe stands out as the leading force in international business circles in relation to leather and tanning. In addition, textiles and clothing market plays an important role in the European manufacturing industry, employing 1.7 million people and generating a turnover of EUR 166 billion. With the implementation of Green-Linker, Italkem aims to boost European competitiveness in both sectors by contributing to a greener, more sustainable economy and the generation of new employments.

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