#Recycling / Circular Economy

2022-09-08

First 10 speakers from leading and emerging companies confirmed for Advanced Recycling Conference

22-09-05 Graphic Overview Diversity of Advanced Recycling Technologies Source: nova-Institute GmbH

Everything you ever want to know about advanced recycling technologies and renewable chemicals, building-blocks, monomers, and polymers based on recycling: Hear about it at the Advanced Recycling Conference (ARC) 14-15 November 2022, Cologne, Germany (hybrid event).

The unique concept of presenting a variety of advanced recycling solutions and related topics at one event guarantees a comprehensive and exciting conference experience, including technologies such as extrusion, dissolution, solvolysis, enzymolysis, pyrolysis, thermal depolymerisation, gasification, and incineration with Carbon Capture Utilisation (CCU).

The conference gained momentum with an increasing number of submitted abstracts and the first 10 speakers are already confirmed while the program is steadily shaped and expanded through ongoing evaluation of further exiting contributions.

The selected contributions illustrate the dynamic development of the plastics recycling sector

Recent developments in markets and policy indicate a clear transformation and long-lasting change in the circular economy of plastics. While the European Green Deal has set the overarching aim for the European Union, markets and big industrial players as well as emerging start-ups worldwide have set off on a journey to implement and establish advanced recycling solutions. Still, some milestones in this quest can only be achieved through co-operation, partnerships, acquisitions, or fusions which could be observed throughout many announcements of past year. Especially the most recent developments point towards strategies that build bridges between conventional mechanical recycling and advanced recycling technologies in which both elements complement each other.

Versatile and innovative landscape of advances recycling technologies

The current landscape offers a versatile set of different technologies that serve as an interface between a wide range of different waste streams and products to further improve existing or establish new value chains. These technologies are based on mechanical, physical, biochemical, chemical, and thermochemical processes whereby the borders of some processes may be floating. Not all pathways could be ecologically or economically meaningful which is currently extensively evaluated and discussed. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is the most widely recognised and accepted methodology for analysing potential environmental impacts to assess environmental sustainability. Several LCAs on different recycling technologies and value chains are already published. However, critical aspects remain to be discussed and clarified, for instance on how to conduct such assessment in detail and which parameters to consider in order to compare the different technologies, feedstocks, and products with each other to draw meaningful conclusions.

Besides the recycling technologies, pre- and post-processing as well as upgrading technologies represent important pillars for the establishment of meaningful value chains and together contribute to the evolution of the circular economy.

With the first confirmed speakers the attendees of ARC already offer deep insights into those developments including exchange and networking opportunities with a variety of stakeholders along the entire plastics value chain.

The following companies and speakers are participatings:

BASF (DE), Carolin Deregowski – LCA of chemical recycling of mixed plastic waste

Carbios (FR), Martin Stephan – Recycling any kind of PET wastes into any kind of PET products: the power of biology

DSD – Duales System (DE), Michael Wiener – Closed loop recycling – building bridges between chemical and mechanical recycling

Interzero (DE), Richard von Goetze – Enabling Chemical Recycling in Germany – What feedstock can actually be used for Chemical Recycling

KPMG (NL), Tom Hesselink – The green deal: a game changer for the waste management and plastics industries

Krauss Maffei Extrusion (DE), Franz-Xaver Keilbach – Solvent-based and chemical recycling with single and twin-screw extrusion

Plastic Energy (UK), Carlos Monreal – Closed-loop recycling: building bridges between chemical and mechanical recycling

Rittec Umwelttechnik (DE), Mathias Kirstein – Innovative back-to-monomer recycling – solution for mixed PET/Polyester waste

Shell (DE), N.N. – Shell’s Plastic Circular Economy ambitions

Sulzer Chemtech (CH), Luis Hoffmann – Overcoming the challenge of purification in chemical recycling.

Participation in the Advanced Recycling Conference?

Interested individuals and companies can still participate in the conference with presentations, posters or an exhibition stand until 30 September. Sponsors are also welcome. Further information at:

http://www.advanced-recycling.eu

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

ReHubs elects new Board of Directors to lead the next phase of ReHubs’ strategy to recycle 2.7 million tonnes of textile waste annually by 2035

ReHubs has elected its new Board of Directors, marking an important milestone as the industry alliance continues to accelerate the industrial scale-up of textile-to-textile recycling across Europe. The election took place during the ReHubs Annual Event in Brussels on June 23rd, held alongside the Textile Recycling Expo and Future Fabrics Expo. The newly elected Board combines expertise from across the textile value chain, reflecting ReHubs' collaborative approach to solving the industry’s textile waste crises.

Reju opens its first R&D Center in the U.S. in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Reju, the company specializing in textile regeneration, today announced the opening of a Research and Development (R&D) Center in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, the company's first proprietary research center in North America. Located within Technip Energies' existing Advanced Materials and Catalysts research center, the lab will allow Reju to accelerate the rollout of its recycling technologies and develop its next-generation circular solutions.

New skills for a circular textile economy

Based on the results of a comprehensive analysis, the Erasmus+ project Skills4Circularity is developing three practical training modules covering recycling technologies, eco-design for the circular economy and sustainable manufacturing. The content of the first module, Recycling Technologies, has now been developed and validated together with industry representatives. The module provides participants with knowledge of regulatory requirements, material sorting and the preparation of textile waste for recycling.

A Penteadora starts up ANDRITZ textile recycling and needlepunch nonwoven lines in Portugal

A Penteadora SA has successfully started up a complete mechanical textile recycling line and a needlepunch nonwoven line supplied by ANDRITZ at its production site in Unhais da Serra, Portugal. This investment enables A Penteadora to expand its industrial capabilities and develop a new generation of solutions based on pre- and post-consumer recycled textiles. The input materials originate from its own production waste and other textile waste streams. Both lines are fully operational, and the first products are expected to reach the market in July.

Itema reaffirms its commitment to the Syrian textile industry at NasTex 2026

From July 18th to 21st, Itema will exhibit at NasTex at the Damascus Fairground (Hall 11 – Stand C02), marking its return to one of the Middle East’s historically significant textile markets. Itema will showcase advanced weaving technology designed to support the competitiveness and technological evolution of Syrian manufacturers and announces a new partnership with Growfast Agency as the sole agent of Itema in Syria.

KARL MAYER's HKS 2-SE Expands Possibilities for Premium Stretch WARP KNITS

Warp knitted fabrics with a woven look are more in demand than ever in the fashion and apparel industries. Stretch WARP KNITS, in particular, impress with their freedom of movement, breathability, and virtually wrinkle-free wear – thereby opening up new style worlds such as smart casual or business casual. When it comes to the highly efficient production of premium-quality stretch WARP KNITS, the HKS 2-SE has long been the machine of choice. KARL MAYER’s best-selling tricot machine produces standard elastic fabrics characterized by high gauges, smooth, delicate surfaces, and a soft hand feel.