HEREWEAR · Project

Clothing from Farm Waste: Bio-Based Circular Textiles Ready for Manufacturers

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Imagine turning seaweed, manure, and straw — stuff farmers usually throw away — into the fibres that make your clothes. That's what HEREWEAR figured out. They developed new ways to spin these waste materials into yarn and fabric, tested everything at semi-industrial scale, and even produced real streetwear and corporate clothing prototypes. They also tackled microfibre pollution (those tiny plastic bits that wash off synthetic clothes) by reducing fibre shedding throughout the entire manufacturing process.

By the numbers

€300 million

Targeted bio-based circular textile market segment

~1,200

Textile manufacturing jobs in EU aimed to maintain

Novel waste streams developed (seaweed, manure, straw)

€6,158,830

EU funding invested in development

240+

Sustainable textile businesses in TCBL network

25,000+

Organisations on SOURCEBOOK platform for uptake

Consortium partners across 10 countries

The business problem

What needed solving

The textile industry is under mounting pressure to move away from petroleum-based synthetic fibres that shed harmful microfibres and don't biodegrade. But viable bio-based alternatives that actually work at production scale have been scarce, leaving manufacturers stuck between tightening regulations and limited material options. Companies need circular textile solutions that use sustainable inputs, reduce pollution, and still perform well enough for real-world clothing.

The solution

What was built

HEREWEAR produced garment prototypes for streetwear and corporate clothing made from bio-based materials derived from 3 waste streams (seaweed, manure, straw), with spinning and fabric processes validated at semi-industrial scale. They also developed bio-based coating and colouring agents, blockchain-enabled transparency labelling, a digital twin with LCA data, and a design database and guidelines for the fashion industry — 16 deliverables in total.

Audience

Who needs this

Textile fibre and yarn manufacturers seeking bio-based alternatives to syntheticsFashion brands and clothing companies with circular economy commitmentsCorporate uniform and workwear suppliers under sustainability mandatesBiorefinery operators looking for high-value applications for agricultural wasteTextile finishing companies needing bio-based coating and colouring solutions

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Textile Manufacturing

mid-size

Target: Textile fibre and yarn manufacturers looking to replace petroleum-based synthetics

If you are a textile manufacturer dealing with rising demand for sustainable fibres and tightening EU regulations on synthetic microfibre pollution — HEREWEAR developed bio-based polyester and cellulose fibres from 3 novel waste streams (seaweed, manure, straw) with spinning and fabric-making processes tested at semi-industrial scale. Their results could help you diversify your fibre sourcing while cutting microfibre release across your production line.

Fashion & Apparel

any

Target: Fashion brands and corporate clothing suppliers under sustainability pressure

If you are a fashion brand struggling to meet circular economy commitments and consumer demand for eco-friendly garments — HEREWEAR produced garment prototypes for both streetwear and corporate clothing using entirely bio-based materials. Their microfactory production model and blockchain-enabled labelling give you full supply chain transparency and a credible sustainability story backed by EUR 6,158,830 in EU-funded R&D.

Biorefinery & Agricultural Waste Processing

SME

Target: Biorefinery operators and agricultural waste processors seeking new revenue streams

If you are a biorefinery or waste processor sitting on seaweed, manure, or straw residues with limited commercial outlets — HEREWEAR developed processes to convert these 3 waste streams into cellulosic textile fibres. With the project targeting a bio-based circular textile market of approximately EUR 300 million, this represents a high-value application for materials you may currently dispose of at cost.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to adopt these bio-based textile materials?

The project data does not disclose specific per-unit material costs. However, HEREWEAR was funded as an Innovation Action with EUR 6,158,830 in EU support and involved 8 industry partners, suggesting the economics were viable enough for commercial players to invest their time. Pricing would depend on your production volume and which waste stream (seaweed, manure, or straw) suits your supply chain.

Can these bio-based fibres be produced at industrial scale?

HEREWEAR piloted wet and melt spinning, yarn-making, and fabric finishing at semi-industrial scale. They also designed a microfactory production model with networked regional production resources. Full industrial scale-up would be the next step, but the semi-industrial validation significantly de-risks that transition.

How does IP and licensing work for these technologies?

The project consortium of 16 partners across 10 countries jointly developed these technologies under EU Horizon 2020 rules. IP is typically shared among consortium members. Licensing arrangements would need to be negotiated with the coordinator (Centre Scientifique et Technique de l'Industrie Textile Belge) and relevant partners. SciTransfer can facilitate these conversations.

How does this help with EU textile sustainability regulations?

HEREWEAR directly addresses microfibre release reduction across the entire textile manufacturing process, which aligns with the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles. Their blockchain-enabled labelling and digital twin with LCA information provide the transparency and traceability that upcoming EU regulations will require.

What exactly was produced and demonstrated?

The project produced garment prototypes for streetwear and corporate clothing (deliverable D5.3), developed bio-based coating and colouring agents for finishing, and created a database and guidelines for designing fashion goods with bio-based materials. They delivered 16 deliverables in total over the 4-year project period.

Can these materials integrate with existing textile manufacturing equipment?

HEREWEAR developed both wet and melt spinning processes, which are standard textile production methods. The microfactory model and networked production approach were specifically designed to work with existing regional manufacturing infrastructure. Integration feasibility was validated through the semi-industrial piloting.

What support networks exist for companies adopting this?

HEREWEAR built on the TCBL community of over 240 sustainable textile businesses and the SOURCEBOOK platform connecting over 25,000 organisations. These networks provide blueprints for transitioning to bio-based circular textiles, giving adopters access to proven implementation guides and peer support.

Consortium

Who built it

The HEREWEAR consortium is unusually well-balanced for commercial follow-through: 16 partners across 10 countries with a 50% industry ratio (8 industry players, 6 of them SMEs). The coordinator is the Belgian textile research centre Centexbel, itself classified as an SME, which signals practical industry orientation rather than purely academic focus. With 6 dedicated research organisations providing the science and 8 industry partners ensuring manufacturability, the EUR 6.16 million project was designed to bridge lab results to factory floors. The built-in access to over 240 businesses via TCBL and over 25,000 organisations via SOURCEBOOK gives any company exploring these technologies a ready-made network of potential partners and early adopters.

CENTRE SCIENTIFIQUE ET TECHNIQUE DE L INDUSTRIE TEXTILE BELGECoordinator · BE
RISE IVF ABparticipant · SE
CEDECS-TCBLparticipant · FR
CIRCULAR.FASHION GMBHparticipant · DE
NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNOparticipant · NL
ANONYMI ETAIREIA VIOMICHANIKIS EREUNAS, TECHNOLOGIKIS ANAPTYXIS KAI ERGASTIRIAKON DOKIMON, PISTOPOIISIS KAI POIOTITASparticipant · EL
RISE RESEARCH INSTITUTES OF SWEDEN ABparticipant · SE
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS LONDONparticipant · UK
SOURCEBOOK GMBHparticipant · DE
FUNDACIO EURECATparticipant · ES
DEUTSCHE INSTITUTE FUR TEXTIL- UND FASERFORSCHUNG DENKENDORFparticipant · DE
ASOCIATIA MAI BINEparticipant · RO

How to reach the team

The coordinator is Centre Scientifique et Technique de l'Industrie Textile Belge (Centexbel) in Belgium. SciTransfer can facilitate a direct introduction to the project team.

Order a report on this consortium See CENTRE SCIENTIFIQUE ET TECHNIQUE DE L INDUSTRIE TEXTILE BELGE profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Interested in bio-based textile fibres, circular clothing production, or reducing microfibre pollution in your manufacturing? Contact SciTransfer to get connected with the HEREWEAR consortium and explore licensing or partnership opportunities.

Order a report on this topic More in Manufacturing & Industry 4.0