Aimplas, a plastics technology centre in Spain, has announced its participation in the Threading-CO2 project, an innovative European project that aims to bring high-quality polyester textile products to the market using CO2 waste streams. The project aims to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the textile industry and promote a circular manufacturing approach running on renewable energy sources.
Threading-CO2 is a first-of-its-kind technology that produces high-quality, commercially viable sustainable PET textile products from CO2 waste streams at an industrial scale, Aimplas said.
Aimplas will focus on the preparation of innovative catalysts for the reactions involved in the synthesis process, collaborate in the set-up of a pre-industrial pilot for operations in the continuous, large size reactor of the pilot plant, and aim for a fully circular manufacturing process by optimising the reuse and recycling of all catalysts, solvents, and additives used in the process. Aimplas will also collaborate with Fair to optimise the preparation methodology in relation to the use of industrial procedures.
The Threading-CO2 consortium has been selected to bring together the skills and expertise necessary to realise this first-in-class technology capable of using CO2 as a feedstock to produce polyester. The partnership is built to have all required skills, complementary experimental facilities, and collaborative networks to connect with stakeholder groups essential to the project. Leaders in the textile industry have also been identified and involved in the project to guarantee product quality at the final stage of the value chain.
Thirteen partners from seven EU countries, including Fairbrics, University of Antwerp, Tecnalia, Lut University, CiaoTech, Deutsche Institute fur Textil- und Faserforschung denkendorf, City of Lappeenranta, Digiotouch, Faurecia, Naldeo, SurePure, Les Tissages de Charlieu, and Aimplas, are involved in this project.
