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Green chemicals and technologies for the wood-to-textile value chain

Project description

Turning trees into textiles

The need to create garments that are sustainable is at the heart of an eco-fashion movement. There is a growing demand for alternatives to fossil-based fibres and cotton that require the use of toxic chemicals. In response, the EU-funded GRETE project aims to improve the wood-to-textile value chain, which is currently limited to highly processed dissolving grade pulps. The project will develop technologies whereby paper grade pulps from softwood and hardwood sources are used as raw material for man-made textile fibres. GRETE’s aim is to enable increased production of man-made cellulose fibres in Europe. The project will also design safe and sustainable solvent systems for the production of regenerated cellulose fibres.

Objective

The GRETE project will tackle the challenges caused by increased global demand for sustainable textile fibres by offering new breakthroughs in the wood-to-textile value chain. The substitution of cotton by man-made cellulose fibres is also necessary because of sustainability issues. Currently the raw material base for the production of man-made cellulose fibres from wood is limited, as only highly processed dissolving grade pulps are used industrially. GRETE will introduce technologies by which paper grade pulps from softwood and hardwood sources can be used as raw material for man-made textile fibres. GRETE will also offer safe and sustainable solvent systems for the production of regenerated cellulose fibres, instead of the present ones which are based on toxic or explosive chemicals. The developed novel solvents are ionic liquids (IL’s), which will be non-toxic, recyclable and synthesized from low-cost industrially available chemicals. GRETE will also develop innovative technologies for chemical modification and enzymatic pre-treatment of pulps prior to cellulose dissolution. Chemical modification carried out either before or after dissolution and regeneration of pulps will bring chemical functionalities to fibres. The modifications either directly improve fiber properties (e.g. decreased fibrillation, improved fire resistance) or offer an easy route to further fibre processing. Improved dye adsorption and chemical reactivity will offer new options for dyeing and finishing treatments of the fibres, enabling e.g. the creation of a water-scarce end to the textile manufacturing value chain as well as open up the possibility for other targeted and water-scarce finishing treatments.

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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RIA - Research and Innovation action

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) H2020-BBI-JTI-2018

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Coordinator

TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 1 115 096,66
Address
TEKNIIKANTIE 21
02150 Espoo
Finland

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Region
Manner-Suomi Helsinki-Uusimaa Helsinki-Uusimaa
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 1 115 096,66

Participants (9)

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