Imagine clothes that repel water and oil without using harsh chemicals that pollute the planet. Instead of plastic, these fabrics are made from plant-based materials like wood pulp and corn starch. They use lasers to create tiny patterns on the surface that mimic nature to keep the fabric clean and antibacterial.
The textile industry relies on non-recyclable chemicals for smart functions, creating regulatory risks and environmental waste. Companies struggle to find bio-based alternatives that maintain high performance in outdoor and workwear sectors.
Bio-based functional textiles made from lignin, cellulose, and PLA. This includes laser-based surface structures and thermoplastic coatings for hydrophobicity and antibacterial properties.
If you are a sportswear brand dealing with the environmental impact of PFAS and toxic water-repellents — this project developed bio-based textiles that provide hydrophobicity and oil repellence. This allows you to offer high-performance gear that is fully recyclable.
If you are a protective clothing manufacturer dealing with strict chemical regulations and waste — this project developed antibacterial and self-cleaning fabrics using lignin and PLA. These materials can be thermomechanically recycled into secondary raw materials.
If you are a fabric mill dealing with the transition to net-zero emissions — this project developed a laser-based functionalization process and Digital Twins. This enables the production of smart textiles at TRL 7 with near zero waste.
The project aims for 20% of the textile industry to adopt the solution by 2035, which is estimated to boost approximately 950 Mio. € in additional revenues.
The technology is being proven at large scale at 3 industrial demo sites located in Italy, Germany, and Austria to reach TRL 7.
The project objective states that a patented circular, sustainable, and safe process will be validated and demonstrated by the end of the project.
The project period runs from 2024-06-01 to 2027-11-30.
The process focuses on zero use of hazardous chemicals and near zero waste through biomimetic functionalization, though specific price-per-unit data is not provided.
The consortium is heavily weighted toward research and specialized SMEs, consisting of 13 partners across 9 countries. With 8 research institutes and 5 industry partners (including 6 SMEs), the group maintains a 38% industry ratio, suggesting a strong bridge between lab-scale innovation and industrial application.
Contact the Deutsche Institute fur Textil- und Faserforschung Denkendorf
Contact us to connect with the BioFibreLoop consortium for licensing and pilot opportunities.
