Imagine if your old clothes didn't just sit in a landfill but could be broken down into their original building blocks to make new high-quality fabrics. This project creates a smart system to sort clothes by color and material using light sensors, then uses a gentle chemical process to melt down tough plastics. It's like a high-tech recycling center that turns old polyester and nylon back into raw materials for the fashion industry.
The textile industry produces 62 million tonnes of clothing annually, but 70% of wardrobes are underutilized and most waste ends up in landfills due to a lack of precise sorting and recycling technologies for complex polymers.
["Online spectroscopy sorting system for precise fabric and color identification.", "Mild-condition chemical recycling technology for PET, elastane, polyamide, and polyurethane.", "Digital Product Passport (DPP) based on the Mineral Textile Profile (MTP)."]
If you are a clothing brand dealing with unsustainable production and high waste—this project developed a Digital Product Passport and 5R strategy that helps you shift from fast fashion to a circular model. This can help reduce the 62 million tonnes of clothing produced annually.
If you are a sorting facility operator dealing with complex mixed-fiber garments—this project developed an online spectroscopy analysis method that sorts waste by color, composition, and fabric type. This optimizes the feed for chemical recycling and minimizes landfill disposal.
If you are a polymer processor dealing with non-recyclable elastane or polyurethane—this project developed eco-efficient chemical recycling technologies that work under mild conditions. This allows you to turn complex textile waste back into high-value coatings or plastics.
Based on available project data, specific pricing or implementation costs are not provided, though the project aims for 'cost-efficient' chemical recycling.
Yes, the project is demonstrating four scalable systemic solutions in four EU cities and regions to serve as living laboratories for territorial deployment.
Based on available project data, there is no specific information regarding IP or licensing agreements for the spectroscopy or recycling technologies.
The project develops a traceability system based on the Mineral Textile Profile (MTP) to provide the basis for the Digital Product Passport (DPP).
The project runs from May 1, 2024, to October 31, 2027.
The consortium is heavily weighted toward practical application, featuring 25 partners with a 36% industry ratio (9 industrial partners). The presence of 6 SMEs and 10 'other' entities (likely local authorities for the 4 city demonstrations) suggests a strong focus on territorial deployment and commercial viability rather than pure academic research, which is supported by only 1 university partner.
Contact AXEL'ONE in France for details on the chemical recycling pilots.
Contact us to find a partner for the 4 EU city living laboratories.
