The project ran between December 2021 and December 2024.
Swedish innovations can become global solutions for a sustainable textile industry. With three sub-projects and a coordination project, BioInnovation made a major investment. The goal was to contribute to a more sustainable textile industry and increase Sweden’s importance in the area.
The project Circular Textile Innovations (CITEX) was initiated to support the development of a sustainable, circular textile industry in Sweden, focusing on creating a non-toxic and bio-based textile value chain. The project featured three main initiatives. Two focused on advancing textile recycling technologies, while the third explored new fibre blends and innovative yarn-spinning techniques using bio-based raw materials. These efforts contributed to the broader vision of creating a circular bioeconomy for the textile industry.
In addition to the technical work, CITEX included a coordination effort to ensure smooth collaboration between the different initiatives and to share knowledge with other industry stakeholders. This involved organising events, facilitating partnerships, and connecting with related innovation projects to drive progress in sustainable textile solutions.
Participants
Coordination project: RISE and IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute.
Budget
The project’s budget was 22,7 MSEK.
Sub-projects
Chemical recycling of man-made cellulose fibers (MMCF)
The project investigated how MMCF (Man-Made Cellulose Fibers) could be included in circular non-toxic flows. The project will investigate the decolorization and recycling of MMCF through several different recycling routes. The various routes will include recycling to new textile fibres or packaging, but also new routes for recycling MMCF to known chemical building blocks.
Project Manager: Maria Ström, The Loop Factory
Participants: Wargön Innovation, Södra, the Red Cross, RISE, MoRe Research, Imogo, Lund University, Tree To Textile, The Loop Factory, BASF, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Valmet, TEKO, Albany International, and Smart Textiles.
Budget and time plan: The project’s budget is 6 670 000 SEK and the project ran during 2,5 years.
Read more about the sub-project.
Innovative fiber blends and yarn spinning techniques
The project will investigate new fiber blend alternatives for phasing out fossil fibers, develop new fiber blends and new yarn spinning techniques. The project will develop solutions and investigate the possibilities of increasing the use of bio-based and recycled fibers in technical and high-performance textiles in the fashion industry.
Project Manager: Anna Hammarstedt, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute
Participants: IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, The Swedish School of Textiles in Borås, RISE, Tree To Textile, Houdini, Albany International, Peak Performance, Stadium, Trikåby, ICA, and FOV Fabrics.
Budget and time plan: The project’s budget is 9 845 000 SEK and the project ran during 2,5 years.
Read more about the sub-project.
Mechanical textile recycling – Roadmap for Swedish processing capacity
The aim of the project is to develop a roadmap for Swedish process capacity for mechanical textile recycling. This contributes to a circular ecosystem for textile waste with resource-efficient material utilization which will lead to reduced use of fossil raw materials.
Project Manager: Johan Strandberg, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute
Participants: IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, RISE, Elis, Wargön Innovation, The Loop Factory, Sporda Nonwoven, SYSAV, BjörkåFrihet, Houdini, Samhall, ICA, Albany International, Stadium, Trikåby, Human Bridge, and the Red Cross.
Budget and time plan: The project’s budget is 4 360 000 SEK and ran during 2 years.