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On March 17, the facilities of Polopiqué hosted the presentation of the results of the Lusitano Project, an innovative initiative funded by the PRR – Recovery and Resilience Plan. This project aims to equip Portugal with the capability to produce yarns from recycled and natural fibers, fostering a more sustainable and higher value-added textile industry.
During the event, significant advances were revealed in the creation of differentiated textile products, with a strong focus on circularity and resource optimization. Additionally, the Lusitano Project aligns with a broader strategy for the reindustrialization of the textile and apparel sector in Europe, based on investment in research and development, productive innovation, capacity building, and internationalization.
Cidália Neto, CEO of Polopiqué, highlighted the relevance of this initiative for the industry’s future: “The Lusitano Project was born to prepare the sector for the future. More than just a response to the present, it is a model for the evolution of the textile and clothing industry. Portuguese companies have the talent and capacity to compete at the highest level.”
Over the next five years, this initiative is expected to contribute to the creation of 350 new jobs and an increase in business volume of approximately €77.8 billion, driven by the commercialization of newly developed products.
Among the announced advancements, the development of innovative solutions in recycled and natural fibers and yarns, such as linen and hemp, stands out. This effort is led by the University of Minho and Fibrenamics, which have been working on reducing the rigidity of these raw materials, achieving improvements of between 50% and 60%.
At the same time, smart labels are being developed to monitor the use of chemicals, water, and energy throughout the production process, as well as an integrated system for data management and processing. The implementation of this system will be carried out at the companies Paulo de Oliveira and Riopele, which will scale the initiative to an industrial level.
In the field of environmental sustainability, progress is being made in the reuse of wastewater. The University of Beira Interior, in partnership with Polyanswer and Ventilaqua, has developed innovative technologies based on electrochemical processes and membranes for the treatment of industrial effluents.
The event also included a visit to Polopiqué’s spinning unit, where participants had the opportunity to see firsthand an exhibition of products already developed within the scope of the project.