PRESS RELEASE

DITF are Partner in EU Horizon 2020 Project HEREWEAR

Contact

    Dipl.-Ing. Dieter Stellmach

    Center of Management Research
    Networked value creation, business models and platforms

    T +49 (0)711 93 40-418
    Dr. rer. nat. Antje Ota

    Deputy Head of Competence Center Biopolymeric Materials

    T +49 (0)711 93 40-173
    Dr. rer. nat. Frank Hermanutz

    Head of Competence Center Biopolymer Materials

    T +49 (0)711 93 40-140
    Dipl.-Inform. Guido Grau

    Center of Management Research

    T +49 (0)711 93 40-159

DITF, German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf, is part of the newly approved Horizon 2020 project HEREWEAR. Within this innovation project, DITF will, as part of a European consortium, aim to develop biobased circular textiles.

Today, a large amount of clothing are produced in low cost countries, sometimes far away from the brands creating them, under poor labour conditions and with few concerns for the environmental impact. The vast majority of clothing is made of two types of fibres; polyester and cotton. These, however, have considerable disadvantages and shortcomings. Polyester is oil-based and mainly sourced in the Middle East, whilst cotton is mostly grown in e.g. India, with a large environmental impact because of pesticides and huge water consumption. Moreover, small fibre fractions are released from the garments, especially from polyester fibres, during washing and wearing. These microplastics end up and accumulate in soil and water, and thus contribute to the well-known plastic soup. The textile sector is considered the second largest contributor of microplastics.

The HEREWEAR project aims at the creation of an EU economy for locally-produced circular textiles and clothing made from bio-based resources. This will be realised by a holistic approach covering all necessary levels. On the technical side, emerging sustainable technologies for wet and melt spinning of cellulose and bio-based polyesters, for yarn and fabric production and for coating and colouring will be developed and piloted at semi-industrial scale. Further, we aim to significantly reduce the microfibre release via measures along the textile manufacturing process.

Further, we will maximise the sustainability and circularity of our clothing via connecting regional microfactories and by platform-supported, networked production resources. Guidelines will be provided to support the design of fashion goods; with focus on bio-based materials and reuse/recycling.

Garment prototypes for streetwear and corporate clothing will demonstrate the HEREWEAR circular bio-based concept.

DITF is responsible for the wet spinning of cellulosic filaments from bio-based waste streams and marine waste using its patented HighPerCell® technology and for establishing the textile circular economy based on the DITF Digital Textile Microfactory structure for new local/regional circular value creation.

The HEREWEAR consortium is strongly SME driven, including 8 SMEs and 1 large enterprise. These are completed with 6 research organisations. This way HEREWEAR covers all required expertise and infrastructure from academic, applied research and industry from 9 different EU countries, complemented with the support of a US SME.

HEREWEAR is a Horizon 2020 project and is co-funded by the European Union. It will last 48 months and started on October 1st, 2020. It is coordinated by Centexbel, the Belgian research centre for textiles and plastics.