CirclE Project

Resource scarcity, climate targets, and new EU regulations are increasing the pressure on SMEs in the technical textiles and textile machinery sectors. The “CirclE” research project (IGF Project 01|F23239N) demonstrates in a practical way how to successfully transition to a circular economy. The goal is to support companies in developing and implementing circular strategies.

To date, the industry has been strongly characterized by linear value creation: high resource consumption, short product lifespans, and low recycling rates. At the same time, the pressure to act is growing due to regulatory requirements and rising customer expectations. A transition to the circular economy offers significant potential for reducing CO₂ emissions and increasing competitiveness.

CirclE, conducted by the DITF and the International Performance Research Institute (IPRI), addresses precisely this issue. It is based on a structured approach aligned with the 10R strategies, supplemented by an analysis of relevant influencing factors. From this, industry-specific measures were derived for manufacturers, recyclers, and the textile machinery sector.

The key result is the CirclE Circularity Index, which quantifies a company’s circularity. Building on this, the free online tool “Circletool” was developed. Through a self-assessment covering resources, products, business models, collaboration, waste management, and public perception, companies receive a comprehensive evaluation of their current status.

Based on this, individually tailored measures, concrete implementation steps, and training content are provided. These facilitate the initial steps and promote the integration of the topic within the company. CirclE thus provides important impetus for the transformation of the industry and supports SMEs in becoming more sustainable, innovative, and competitive.