CelluTex stimulates European research on sustainable cellulose-based textiles

Type of organisation or company
Country
Sweden
City
Stockholm
Language for original content
Start/End date
to
Ongoing
Yes
Expected end date
09/2018
Type of funding
Description

A way to stimulate the growth of the bio-economy in Europe is to offer new sustainable ways to produce textiles. The potential to utilise forest resources and recycled cellulosic textiles, including cotton, as raw materials is great. Actions are needed within the whole circular value chain "Tree to Textile and Textile to Textile". This involves collaborative research, development and innovation actions as well as demonstrations.

CelluTex will ensure that cellulose-based textiles is a visible research area in Horizon 2020. It communicates actions to selected organisations that work as channels to the European Commission.

Production of cellulose-based textiles in Europe, utilising forest resources and recycled textiles as raw materials, fits the clear and important vision of Horizon 2020 to transform Europe into a bio-based economy by stimulating the use of renewable bio-based materials and development of sustainable production processes with low, or negligible, environmental impact. In addition, by broadening the business models for the forest, recycling and textile industries, work opportunities can be kept in Europe and the future textile fibre supply will be secured.

Main results

CelluTex is leading on the development of a new closed-cycle process, integrated in to pulp mills, that produces cellulose which can be used as raw material for textile fibre. This process could replace the current carbon disulfide based viscose manufacturing process, hereby greatly reducing the environmental impact of regenerated cellulose-based fibre production; Other results to date include:

  • a paper machine at Innventia that produces textile like paper
  • a solution spinning machine at Swerea that can produce cellulose filaments
  • RFID-tagging technology demonstrable for use in retail