A new recycling concept for textiles made out of pre-consumer-waste
Our concept is a recycling system that allows the useful recycling of pre-consumer waste. Depending on the category of waste, textiles of different qualities can be created. ReWoven is the first prototype developed from this system: a high-quality textile made of 100% recycled natural fibers that can be used, for example, in interiors. The aspired business model is based on linking aesthetic research with all stakeholders along the textile value chain.
Local
Germany
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It addresses urban-rural linkages
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
No
No
Yes
2022-05-31
As an individual in partnership with other persons
First name: Anne Last name: Richter Gender: Female Nationality: Germany If relevant, please select your other nationality: Germany Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Arthur-Hoffmann-Straße 139 Town: Leipzig Postal code: 04277 Country: Germany Direct Tel:+49 179 1083533 E-mail:anne_richter@posteo.de
First name: Kristin Last name: Nebauer Gender: Female Nationality: Germany If relevant, please select your other nationality: Germany Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Lößniger Straße 71 Town: Leipzig Postal code: 04275 Country: Germany Direct Tel:+49 1590 5415449 E-mail:nebauer@burg-halle.de
The concept is intended to find a local application and is based on a close cooperation between design, technical institutes and producing industry. The textile ReWoven was created in exchange with textile producers and with the support of the Saxon Textile Research Institute Chemnitz e.V.. Therefore textile production waste from the natural fibers linen and cotton was collected and sorted. The material was then processed using the technical equipment at the Saxon Textile Research Institute Chemnitz (STFI) and used to produce a high-quality fabric. The waste produced in textile production is consequently saved from disposal and burning. Due to its fine aesthetics and its attractive touch, the recycled textile can be used in a variety of ways. This innovative solution means that natural fibers are used entirely and transferred into a closed loop. Through this collaboration, we promote the dynamic networking and cooperation of various stakeholders. In addition, the appreciation of recycled products is increased due to the great aesthetic quality. In the long term, the establishment of our concept model should become a sustainable principle and foundation to promote a sustainable transformation of the textile infrastructure.
material circularity
zero-waste
recycled fibers
resource efficiency
circular economy
The potential to reduce the environmental impact plays a key role in our project: by using textile production waste, the burning and waste of energy-rich textiles and expensively extracted raw materials can be avoided. Consequently, environmental impacts such as increased CO2 emissions are reduced. Using existing raw materials also reduces water and energy consumption by avoiding the cultivation of new fibers. This expands the use of textile raw materials and minimizes the waste of resources. Our textile prototype ReWoven is designed to be environmentally friendly through the use of materials and the manufacturing process: the textile is made of 100% recycled natural fibers and completely eliminates the addition of chemicals or other additives. Our concept helps to extend the life of valuable resources, improve the life cycle assessment of textile waste and make the textile circular economy more sustainable. The project idea thereby supports the following goals (Sustainable Development Goals-SDG) of the United Nations: Goal 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth: maintain regional textile production to secure jobs and know-how. Goal 9 - Industry, innovation and infrastructure: regional waste recycling contributes to the development of a sustainable textile value chain. Goal 12 - Sustainable consumption and production: the sustainable production and aesthetic quality of ReWoven promote conscious consumption and appreciation of recycled textiles. Goal 13 - Climate action: see above. Goal 15 - Living on land: finite resources are conserved, water consumption is reduced compared to growing new fibers, and soil degradation is minimized.
ReWoven allows recycled natural fibers to be used in the visible area with timeless aesthetics.The design plays a subordinate role in the currently common textile recycling products. ReWoven makes specific use of the material- and process-related aesthetics and enables an emotional connection to the product with high demands on design, quality and function. The creative use of recycled materials emphasizes the value of the material and highlights the special product quality. Basically, the use of existing materials means that a new form of design solution must be found. Above all, this significantly influences the design possibilities with color: if the waste consists only of white materials, the surface structure and consequently the haptics can be influenced exclusively by the type of waste and the processing method. The textile properties look, feel, touch are explicitly communicated with ReWoven - the origin of the material is visible. In this way, appreciation towards materiality and resources gains relevance. With our concept, the aesthetics of existing textile waste were explored to show their special value.
With our concept: 1. we increase the appreciation of resources and material, 2. we network regionally, 3. we are committed to the preservation and growth of regional companies, and 4. we show possibilities for a more sustainable future. With the solution path, we strive to set new impulses in the textile industry and to build a strong network by working together for a long-term change. In this process, we see all participants as valuable and equal partners. By incorporating the different perspectives of all parties involved, we have already been able to jointly achieve a promising result with ReWoven. This empowers us in expanding the interdisciplinary approach of our business model. With regional production, we want to show a new way of the textile chain, thereby boosting the region of Central Germany and enabling local companies to find a way into the future of the textile industry. The developed concept as well as the resulting textile ReWoven is the start into a more sustainable future, where we can contribute as female textile designers and future founders on an innovative textile market.
Recycled textiles are often considered to be of lower quality and are used in a hidden way because of their appearance. There is a growing demand for sustainable textiles in the textile industry. This change in values and the desire for more authenticity is also noticeable in civil society. An authentic and attractive product that tells a story has the ability not only to inspire people, but also to draw their attention to backgrounds and contexts. Our project therefore explores the handling of textile waste materials and the aesthetics of circularly used materials. ReWoven analyzes whether waste is perceived as high-quality and can be seen as a starting point for a new product life. During the development process, we surveyed different age groups in civil society about the aesthetics of ReWoven. The positive feedback reinforced our belief that material aesthetics have a relevant impact on product perception. With our textile ReWoven, we hope that the visible origin of the materials will help to highlight the existing waste and environmental issues and stimulate sustainable discourse. In addition, the use of waste materials as recyclable materials should cause a rethinking in civil society and make consumer mentality more conscious.
We aim to establish a long-term solution for dealing with high-quality textile waste through innovative material design. Within our conception we received technical support from the Saxon Textile Research Institute Chemnitz (STFI) and were in close exchange with different regional textile companies.
In order to gain insight into how much textile production waste is generated in German-speaking countries, we conducted a data collection. Because there is no database yet, we surveyed German textile producing companies of weaving, spinning, knitting and garments. The results indicate that there are considerable amounts of pre-consumer waste e.g. selvedges which are generated on a regular basis. In addition, a holistic recycling strategy based on cooperation between manufacturers and the waste management industry is insufficiently developed in Germany. The answers also make clear that there is a lack of attractive recycling options that would force a sustainable handling of the production waste. This is where our idea starts: we want to build up the textile value chain locally and improve the local network.
A well-functioning closed-loop system requires a close cooperation between different stakeholders and the "view from the outside" is often missing. With the involvement of the creative industry, we combine design research and technical know-how in this cooperation in an innovative process to offer solutions to a problem that affects the entire textile industry. We had a constant exchange with textile institutes and textile manufacturers. Together with local associations we took a look at the existing problems and so we were able to identify new solutions. By visiting the factories and production sites, we were able to gain a detailed insight into which waste materials are produced in which areas. Furthermore, we exchanged information with business schools and textile distributors about the market situation and demand for recycled products. All these meetings contributed to our conviction that change within the textile industry can only be achieved collaboratively. Therefore, we consider close networking and collaboration between design, research and industry as a forward-looking perspective. As a result, we have already been able to build up a wide-ranging network, which would like to support us on our way to continue the idea of our business model.
The common goal to establish a sustainable structure in textile recycling led us to the conception of this model in the past years: "We see material-oriented design processes and design as a chance to eliminate the problems within the textile industry." Our idea supports industrial ecosystems on their way to a circular approach.
Our solution includes a reasonable recycling strategy for textile pre-consumer waste. These serve as input material for the production of a new textile material. This can be used to create a circular and marketable product for a variety of areas, such as fashion or interiors. The design of the recycled textile aims at the longest possible use and includes resource efficiency considering the entire life cycle (design for recycling).
Our concept is based on these elements:
1. Cooperative innovation: With the interdisciplinary and cooperative approach, it is possible to produce high quality textiles from 100% recycled natural fibers.
2. Aesthetic innovation: Aesthetics are given a special added value and are important for the quality by using textile recycled material in the visible area.
3. Technical innovation: The used technologies help to produce a new and high quality fabric.
4. Application-oriented innovation: New application possibilities are created through research that is open to the industry, so that ReWoven can be used in a variety of ways.
Our approach is that the recycling of textile raw materials from the pre-consumer sector must become better. The following approaches are used for this purpose:
1. For the production of ReWoven, only production waste from renewable raw materials is used, as they can be returned to the biological cycle or recycled again at the end of their life cycle.
2. The focus is on the reuse of natural plant fibers such as cotton and linen, because their fiber length is comparatively long and they have valuable properties.
3. The textile is manufactured without any foreign materials or additives, using so-called mono-materials.
4. The implementation is carried out by a process that offers different possibilities in terms of function and design.
With these criteria, it can be guaranteed that only high-quality materials are brought into the loop. This has a positive effect on the quality of the recycled fibers and consequently on the useful life of the recycled product.
We as initiators will continue the results of this concept and strive to found a start-up in the field of Circular/Green Economy. The infrastructure built up in the project, as well as the strong network, serve as a valuable basis for further cross-disciplinary cooperation. We want to extend the concept to other regions and countries. By using existing technologies, the ReWoven process enables the transfer from the current small-scale to large-scale production. The project structure allows the implementation at different locations and scales. The economic opportunities are further demonstrated by the fact that the solution has the potential to be extended to other raw materials and application areas, such as the automotive industry or in the field of technical textiles.
High amounts of textile waste are already generated during production, so-called pre-consumer waste: of the 53 million tons of apparel textiles produced globally, 12% of the raw materials are already lost during production (see LABFRESH: Fashion Waste Index, 2020). Additionally, only about one percent of production waste is recycled into a closed loop to be remanufactured into new textiles (see Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Textile Economy rather than Textile Recycling, 2018). The small-scale model of our concept looks at these global challenges at a regional level. Waste reduction is enabled and textile producers can transfer their waste into a meaningful reuse in a short way. The physical closeness to all stakeholders makes an intensive exchange and short, flexible communication possible. This strengthens the interdisciplinary community and the network. Furthermore, our innovative concept brings new growth opportunities for the increasingly shrinking textile industry in Germany. In addition, short transport routes are possible, which improves the ecological footprint. So with regard to the challenging climate change CO2 emissions are reduced. By applying the resource-minimizing recycling process of ReWoven, we want to promote the utilization intensity of valuable textile waste. In this way we support the expansion of the textile circular economy on a regional level consequently.
