STREP PROJECT
Relevant project information
Dates
Project website
Role of CIRCE
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Description and objectives
The project combines sensing and automation technologies with self-learning AI to improve the sorting/classification of textile waste, together with new mechanical and chemical disintegration and recycling routes. It also works on product/waste traceability and eco-design guidelines to facilitate recycling, with the ultimate goal of producing 100% recycled yarn from post-consumer waste and other valorised products (oils/biochar) for fractions not suitable for fibre recovery.
Project objectives (derived from the summary):
- Develop and deploy an advanced textile waste sorting solution based on sensors, automation, and AI.
- Implement innovative mechanical recycling processes to recover usable fibre according to waste composition/condition.
- Develop chemical recycling routes (solvolysis, enzymatic processes, pyrolysis, and hydrothermal conversion) to enable closed-loop circularity.
- Improve product and waste traceability to assign materials to optimal recycling streams.
- Integrate product quality, environmental impact, and cost criteria across the textile value chain.
Value proposition
- Smart, automated sorting of textile waste to increase purity and value of recovered materials.
- Complementary mechanical + chemical recycling to maximise fibre recovery and true circularity.
- 100% post-consumer recycled yarn, balancing sustainability, cost, and industrial-grade quality.
- Eco-design and recyclability by design through guidelines/matrices applied at the product design stage.
- Advanced traceability (supported by digital technologies) to optimise recycling pathways.
Project partners
AALBORG UNIVERSITET (coordinator), CIRCE, HOCHSCHULE REUTLINGEN, Textile Change IP ApS, NEWRETEX AS, Quantox Technology GmbH, Zentrix Lab, UNIVERZITA J. E. PURKYNE, IN-THEBOX CO UK LTD, F6S Network Ireland Limited (+ affiliated F6S UK), CURE TECHNOLOGY BV, TEXTILE4EVER B.V., WONNEBERGER JORN.