Market demonstration and validation of FIBERSORT technology

Programme 2014 - 2020 INTERREG VB North West Europe

Date of latest update: 2023-03-03

Description

Description (EN):

In NWE ±4650 Kt of textiles are discarded every year, of which only ±30% is collected. Of these collected textiles ±40% is not suitable for re-wear and these recyclable textiles are currently being down cycled. Of these, at least 50% could be regenerated into new textiles through high value (textile to textile) recycling routes. The FIBERSORT project addresses two main challenges: - Environmental: reduce need for and impact of virgin textile materials by enabling high value (textile to textile) recycling, - Market failure: develop new business models and open markets for the growing fraction of recyclable textiles based on high value recycling instead of down cycling. FIBERSORT is an automated sorting technology able to sort large volumes of mixed post-consumer textiles based on material composition. We will demonstrate this technology to the market in a demo plant to validate this as the key value adding innovation to enable the shift to high value recycling for recyclable textiles. The objective is to realize widespread implementation of the technology. Currently, almost all of the collected recyclable textiles in target NWE countries (±560Kt/yr) is for low value down cycling applications at ± €0,08/kg, while at least 50% is suitable for thigh value recycling at ±€0.15-0.60/kg. When the projects ends and at 5 and 10 years after the project, we aim to achieve high value recycling of Kt/yr 12.9, 80,4 and 136 of recyclable textiles respectively, also with economic return. Within the consortium, partners from NL, UKand BE are cooperating, with intended long term effects extended to DE & FR. The 3 domains needed to achieve this objective and outputs are represented in the core consortium: textile recycling value chain, technology providers, market uptake & implementation. Long term effects will be warranted by setting up powerful associate partnerships with local platforms (e.g. TRA, WRAP, Euratex).

Description (DE):

In NWE werden ±4650 Kt Textilien jedes Jahr entsorgt. Nur ±30% davon werden wieder eingesammelt. Von diesen Textilien sind ±40% nicht dazu geeignet wieder getragen zu werden und werden daher down cycled. Davon könnten mind. 50% durch hochwertige (Textil zu Textil) Recyclingrouten in neue Textilien wiederverwertet werden. Das FIBERSORT Projekt befasst sich mit den zwei größten Herausforderungen: - Umwelt: Reduzierung des Bedarfs an und die Auswirkung von neuen Textilstoffen durch die Nutzung von hochwertigen Recyclingrouten. - Marktversagen: Entwicklung von neuen Geschäftsmodellen und Märkten für den wachsenden Anteil von recycelten Textilien die auf hochwertigem Recycling anstatt down cycling basieren. FIBERSORT ist eine automatische Sortierungstechnologie, die in der Lage ist große Mengen von gemischten getragenen Textilien basierend auf der Materialkomposition zu sortieren. Diese Technologie wird in einer Demo Fabrik vorgestellt, um sie als eine wertschöpfende Innovation zu bestätigen, die den Schritt zu einem hochwertigen Recycling von Textilien ermöglicht. Das Ziel ist eine weitreichende Implementierung der Technologie.
Im Moment werden fast alle in NWE (±560Kt/Jahr) gesammelten recycelbaren Textilien für down cycling Verfahren zu im Durchschnitt €0.08/kg verwendet, obwohl mind. 50% für hochwertiges Recycling zu ±€0.15-0.60/kg geeignet wäre. Bei Ende des Projekts, sowie 5 und 10 Jahren nach Projektende, erwarten wir das 12,9 Kt/Jahr bzw. 80,4 Kt/Jahr und 136 Kt/Jahr an Textilien hochwertiges Recycling durchlaufen, was einer Rendite entspricht. Im Projekt arbeiten Partner aus NL, UK &BE zusammen, mit vorgesehenen Langzeiteffekten für DE & FR. Die folgenden Bereiche sind im Konsortium repräsentiert: Textilrecycling Wertschöpfungskette, Technologieanbieter, Marktakzeptanz und Implementierung. Die Langzeiteffekte werden sichergestellt durch Partnerschaften mit lokalen Plattformen (z.B. TRA, WRAP, Euratex) in den NWE Ländern.

Description (FR):

Dans les pays Interreg ENO, ±4650 Kt de textile est jeté chaque année, dont seulement ±30% est récupéré. De ce textile, ±40% n’est pas adapté pour être réutilisé en tant qu’habits et ce textile recyclable est actuellement dé cyclé. De ceci, au moins 50% pourrait être régénéré en nouveau textile grâce aux voies de recyclage à haute valeur (de textile à textile). Le projet FIBERSORT s’adresse à deux défis: - L´environnement: réduire la demande et l’impact des textiles vierges en permettant le recyclage à haute valeur; - Défaillance du marché: développement de nouveaux modèles d’entreprise et de marchés pour la croissance de la fraction de textiles recyclables à haute valeur au lieu du décyclage; FIBERSORT est une technologie de triage automatique capable de trier de grandes quantités de textiles usagés basé sur la composition matérielle. Cette technologie sera présentée au marché dans une usine de démonstration pour valider celle-ci comme innovation d’ajout de valeur clé afin d’activer la transition au recyclage à haute valeur. Actuellement, presque tous les textiles recyclables récupérés, visés par les pays ENO (±560Kt/an) sont destinés aux applications de décyclage de ±€ 0,08/kg lorsque au moins 50% est utiles pour le recyclage à haute valeur de ±€ 0,15-0,60/kg. Quand le projet touche à sa fin, 5, 10 ans après le projet, on vise à atteindre le recyclage à haute valeur de 12.9, 80,4 et 136 Kt/an de textile, avec rendement. Dans le consortium, les partenaires des PB, GB et BE coopèrent dans l’intention d’atteindre des résultats à long terme, aussi en Allemagne & FR. Les 3 domaines nécessaires pour atteindre ces objectifs sont représentés dans le cœur du consortium: la chaine de recyclage de valeur de textile, les fournisseurs de technologie et la commercialisation. Les effets à long terme seront garantis par l’installation de partenariats forts avec des plateformes locales (e.g. TRA, WRAP, Euratex).

Achievements (EN):

The Fibersort Journey: The Fibersort technology has been under development throughout the last decade. The Fibersort Interreg NWE project (2016-2020) has allowed for it to be optimised and validated for commercialisation. After this long journey, the partners that initiated the concept and development of this innovation, Smart Fibersorting and Valvan Baling Systems, reflect on the road travelled as well as the one that still remains ahead to ensure the successful implementation of the technology in the long-term. "Throughout the Fibersort NWE Interreg project we have learned a lot, made a lot of mistakes and developed the machine further. Today I am happy to say that the Fibersort technology is working very well. As a company specialised in developing machinery for making bales and sorting textiles, Valvan has had the responsibility throughout the project to produce the technology of the machine and ensure that it is accurately sorting on fibre composition and colour. Further, we started the project with a manual feed-in system which we were now able to update to an automated feed-in system powered by robot arms that has enabled the machine to improve its productivity levels. Nevertheless, sorting textiles in an automated manner is not an easy endeavour. After all of these years, we can assure that we have developed a complex technology that caters to a wide variety of textiles that come in multiple shapes, colours, compositions and material blends. In this regard, continuous improvement will be constantly required and we are determined to continue the journey to make the Fibersort better and better each day." Maurits Vandeputte, Project Engineer, Valvan Baling Systems

Website: http://www.nweurope.eu/

Expected Outputs (EN):

40% (560 KT/yr) of collected textiles in NWE are low-value recyclable (LVR) textiles. Today, <1% of this is used for high value recycling (HVR) to make new textiles. At least 50% (280 KT) could be optimized for high value recycling routes. BASELINE STATISTICS: Textiles from LVR to HVR: <1% (4 KT/yr). Decreased virgin materials used: 3,2 KT/yr (based on 80% yield in recycling process). Existing jobs: 10. Environmental Impact: 5,3 kt CO2 + 9,7 bn. Liters of Water + 312 TJ Energy.

Thematic information

Green technologies Waste and pollution

Specific Objective: To optimise (re)use of material and natural resources in NWE

Thematic Objective: (06) preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency by:

Investment Priority: (06f) promoting innovative technologies to improve environmental protection and resource efficiency in the waste sector, water sector and with regard to soil, or to reduce air pollution

Partners (6)

Lead Partner: Circle Economy

Address: Mauritskade 64, 1092 AD Amsterdam, Netherlands

Legal status: private

Website: http://circle-economy.com

Total budget: EUR 548 558.25

ERDF budget: EUR 329 134.95

Stichting Leger des Heils ReShare

Name: Stichting Leger des Heils ReShare

Address: Zeehaenkade 30, 3500 GB Utrecht, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.reshare.nl

Total budget: EUR 213 518.26

ERDF budget: EUR 128 110.96

Valvan Baling Systems

Name: Valvan Baling Systems

Address: Krommebeekstraat 14, 8930 Menen, Belgium

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.valvan.com

Total budget: EUR 989 358.81

ERDF budget: EUR 494 679.40

Smart Fibersorting B.V.

Name: Smart Fibersorting B.V.

Address: Handelskade 8, 1521 NH Wormerveer, Netherlands

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.wielandtextiles.com

Total budget: EUR 1 233 877.06

ERDF budget: EUR 740 326.24

Worn Again Technologies Ltd.

Name: Worn Again Technologies Ltd.

Address: Fieldfisher, Riverbank House, Swan Lane 2, EC4R 3BF London, United Kingdom

Legal status: private

Website: http://wornagain.info/

Total budget: EUR 86 769.78

ERDF budget: EUR 52 061.87

Procotex Corporation S.A.

Name: Procotex Corporation S.A.

Address: Rue Théodor Klüber 8, 7711 Dottignies, Belgium

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.procotex.com

Total budget: EUR 309 912.02

ERDF budget: EUR 154 956.01

Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Market demonstration and validation of FIBERSORT technology

Project acronym: Fibersort

Project start date: 2016-09-15

Project end date: 2020-03-31

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 3 381 994.18

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 899 269.42

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 1 899 269.42.

Documents

Documents on this project are listed below, and organised by category. Please note field "Data source", attached to each document. Keep.eu users are free to use these documents as long as they mention the data source and keep.eu.

Presentations

Fibersort Project Overview

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Presentation

Data source: https://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/funding-ocean-renewable-energy-through-strategic-european-action/

Publication date: 2020-11-24

Document date: 2020-03-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Fibersort Working Group

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Presentation

Data source: https://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/funding-ocean-renewable-energy-through-strategic-european-action/

Publication date: 2020-11-24

Document date: 2020-03-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Fibersort Producer Network

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Presentation

Data source: https://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/funding-ocean-renewable-energy-through-strategic-european-action/

Publication date: 2020-11-24

Document date: 2020-03-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Industry reference Sheet

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Presentation

Data source: https://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/funding-ocean-renewable-energy-through-strategic-european-action/

Publication date: 2020-11-24

Document date: 2018-12-15

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Fibersort Fact Sheet

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Presentation

Data source: https://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/funding-ocean-renewable-energy-through-strategic-european-action/

Publication date: 2020-11-24

Document date: 2020-03-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Texel Island: Solar PV and storage for waste water management installation

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Presentation

Data source: https://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/low-carbon-off-grid-communities-logic/

Publication date: 2020-11-24

Document date: 2020-03-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Flyers

Project Poster

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Flyer

Data source: https://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/funding-ocean-renewable-energy-through-strategic-european-action/

Publication date: 2020-11-24

Document date: 2020-03-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Policy Recommendations towards a zero waste textiles industry

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Flyer

Description: https://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/funding-ocean-renewable-energy-through-strategic-european-action/

Publication date: 2020-11-24

Document date: 2019-10-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Brochures / magazines / manuals

Manual Sort of Post-Consumer Textiles in North-West Europe

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Brochure / magazine / manual

Data source: https://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/funding-ocean-renewable-energy-through-strategic-european-action/

Publication date: 2020-11-24

Document date: 2018-01-15

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Reports

Potential Barriers for long term implementation of the Fibersort

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/funding-ocean-renewable-energy-through-strategic-european-action/

Publication date: 2020-11-24

Document date: 2019-05-20

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Reycled Post-Consumer Textiles: an industry perspective

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/funding-ocean-renewable-energy-through-strategic-european-action/

Publication date: 2020-11-24

Document date: 2020-02-29

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Overcoming barriers for long-term implementation

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/funding-ocean-renewable-energy-through-strategic-european-action/

Publication date: 2020-11-24

Document date: 2020-03-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Videos / films

Video: Fibersort - making closed loop textiles a reality

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/funding-ocean-renewable-energy-through-strategic-european-action/

Publication date: 2020-11-24

Document date: 2018-03-15

Languages: en

Video: Joshua Doherty examines the Fibersort machine, which automatically sorts large volumes of garments and finished products by fibre

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/funding-ocean-renewable-energy-through-strategic-european-action/

Publication date: 2020-11-24

Document date: 2018-04-09

Languages: en

Video: Understanding Interreg North-West Europe

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/funding-ocean-renewable-energy-through-strategic-european-action/

Publication date: 2020-11-24

Document date: 2016-02-04

Languages: en

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 INTERREG VB North West Europe

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2022-05-02

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

102 / 102 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

1 142 / 1 142 (100%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme. Achievements were retrieved by Interact from the Programme website (http://www.nweurope.eu/), or a website directly linked from it, on 2021-12-12 and 2023-01-03.

The financial data featured in keep.eu for this programme, it's projects and its partners is not exact and should be taken as a reference only.

Languages

Contact Form

Market demonstration and validation of FIBERSORT technology

Description

Thematic information

Partners (6)

Partners map

Summary

Documents

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Disclaimer