EU: RESYNTEX project aims to close textile loop

RESYNTEX, funded by the European Union with 11 million euro and introduced already last October, is a research project that aims to initiate sustainable recycling processes in the textile and apparel industry. Last Friday, the members of its executive board got together for their first meeting in Bled, Slovenia.

The project , which is supported by the European Commission, makes it its core objective to create a new circular economy concept for the textile and chemical industries, placing its focus on materials, production processes as well as the entire value chain. Textile waste is turned into resources and thus reduces its impact on the environment.

RESYNTEX wants to develop textile recycling further

“With RESYNTEX, we want to develop and demonstrate a new strategic design for textile recycling throughout a complete value chain. The focus is on reprocessing blends and pure components of unwearable textile wast,” explained Pailak Mzikian, head of recycling and sustainability at German textile recycling company SOEX Group.

It is divided into ten work packages, each focusing on a specific goal such as improved waste collection approaches, the development of industrial applications for recovered feedstocks or the assessment of the economic and environmental performance of newly developed processes.

“We look forward to bringing the project leaders together for our meeting in Slovenia. Also, we are excited to see the project’s first reports and findings,” said Aleksandra Lobnik, R&D manager at IOS.

RESYNTEX follows into the footsteps of projects such as Worn Again, Re:newcell and Evrnu, which are also dedicated to innovations in textile recycling. Currently, the project has 20 partners from 10 different EU member states, among them industrial associations, businesses, SMEs and research institutes.

Photo: SOEX Group