#Recycling / Circular Economy

2024-11-19

From design to recycling: Navigating ESPR product requirements for a circular economy – policy roundtable

T-REX Project hosted a policy roundtable on the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) in Brussels. The event encouraged an open exchange on key issues between stakeholders including brands, manufacturers, policymakers, and other key players in the textile industry ecosystem.

The event kicked off with opening remarks from Drishti Masand from adidas, and Blanca Saez Lacave, Project Adviser for Horizon Europe at REA, followed by an introduction to the project from Melisa Saygivar from adidas.

Antonio De Sousa Maia, Legal and Policy Officer at the EU Commission, set the policy context with an in-depth overview of ESPR and the Delegated Act for Textiles.

Our consortium partners Anja Kossel-Scharf (adidas) and Doris Hondtong (Arapaha) introduced the T-REX Project Design Guidelines for textile-to-textile recycling which are currently under development within the project.

Three panel discussions then set the scene for in-depth workshops addressing key issues relating to the successful implementation of ESPR.

The first panel discussion centred around defining recyclability with insights shared from Carsten Wentink (EU Commission), Gudrun Messias (adidas), and Marieke Koemans Kokkelink (Erdotex), moderated by Coline Morise (Fashion for Good).

The following panel addressed the challenges associated with setting recycled content targets as Rannveig van Iterson (Ohana Public Affairs, on behalf of Textile Exchange), Daniela Antunes (Fulgar) and Tobias Schwab (BASF), exchanged their views and insights on the topic moderated by Drishti Masandi.

The final panel brought together Katarzyna Sulisz (FESI), Tom Duhoux (VITO), and Hasna Kourda (Save Your Wardrobe) to discuss insights around the issue of product repairability and durability, moderated by Kirsi Niinimäki (Aalto University).

The roundtable participants exchanged insights and brainstormed solutions in interactive workshops on defining recyclability and setting recycled content targets. These discussions touched on topics such as the criteria that make a textile “recyclable”, the challenges of material composition, and various recycling technologies and their different approaches to recycling.

Workshop participants also addressed the challenge of setting ambitious targets for recycled content while considering the limited supply, feedstock traceability, and the pros and cons of setting recycled content targets at the material portfolio level vs product-specific targets.

The roundtable concluded with closing remarks from Lutz Walter, Secretary General at Textile ETP, highlighting the importance of continued collaboration in the space.

Stay tuned for an upcoming white paper Aalto University will shortly release revealing the key insights and takeaways from the workshops.

Pioneering EU funded T-REX Project celebrates completion and Rreveals blueprint for scaling textile-to-textile recycling in Europe

The EU-funded T-REX (Textile Recycling Excellence) Project consortium today announced the successful completion of the project, presenting a blueprint for scaling textile-to-textile recycling, and showcasing demonstrator products produced through the successful implementation of the recycling processes for polyester, polyamide 6, and cellulosic materials within Europe.

Selenis to double capacity in Portugal by Q3 2027 - Accelerating the Global transition to circular and low-carbon polyesters

Selenis, a global leader in high-performance specialty polyesters and part of the IMG Group, has announced a transformational expansion of its industrial headquarters in Portalegre, Portugal. This strategic investment is set to double the site’s production capacity by the third quarter of 2027, significantly accelerating the industrial scale-up of bio-based, medical-grade, and circular co-polyesters.

Pellet press enables thermomechanical textile recycling on a pilot scale at ITA

Since the end of 2025, the technical centre of the Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University has been equipped with a pellet press from the manufacturer Amandus Kahl GmbH & Co. KG, Reinbek, Germany. This press can efficiently compact shredded synthetic textiles at a throughput of up to 25 kg/h and process them into pellets with a diameter of 4 mm.

Fabolose: Fabricating vegan and circular leather alternatives from bio-tech-derived cellulose

Fabulose is an EU funded project coordinated by the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF). Its consortium consists of leading research institutes, biotech innovators, and industry stakeholders who aim to create high-performance, biobased and recyclable leather-like fabrics, using efficient biotech production routes for bacterial cellulose, cyanophycin and bacterial pigments

JEC World 2026 returns with an unprecedented content program

Recognized worldwide as the leading trade exhibition for composite materials and their applications, JEC World returns on March 10-12, 2026, at Paris Nord Villepinte as the most ambitious edition to date, in line with its motto “Pushing the limits”. As the must-attend event for the composites industry, JEC World will offer an unprecedented program, blending conferences, markets insights, technical sessions, awards, and above all, a unique experience and invaluable connections.

Beyond the wardrobe – innovative cotton takes the spotlight

Cotton can do more – a lot more. Cutting-edge textiles and high-tech products made from 100% cotton prove just how powerfully performance and sustainability can come together. That very surge of innovation is front and centre at the 38th Bremen Cotton Conference, taking place March 25–27, 2026, at Bremen’s Parliament on the historic market square – culminating in a bold and dedicated closing session on Friday. In the spotlight: performance upgrades for pure cotton, smart strategies for circular textile waste solutions, and pioneering concepts for demanding technical applications. From natural fibre–reinforced composites to highly effective flame-retardant solutions, cotton steps out of the closet and shows the future potential woven into every fibre.

Keeping print inclusive: Empowering women in the print industry

Across all industries, cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace is increasingly recognised as valuable and essential to long-term success. However, despite the print industry’s significant advancements in technology and innovation, visible representation of women remains limited. As the sector grapples with low recruitment, it’s important to challenge outdated perceptions. Creating real change, however, requires collective effort - no single company can do it alone.