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The TexMaTer consortium, focused on developing new textile solutions from marine and terrestrial biomass, has already started work. In all, 16 partners from six different nationalities are involved in working to minimize the environmental impact of the textile and clothing industry.
BlueBioAlliance, A4F, JF Almeida, HeiQ Iberia, Inovafil, Confetil, Mi Casa es tu Casa, CITEVE and the Municipality of Famalicão are all involved. ‘We’re going to work on different fronts to improve sustainability in textile processes. We want to tackle the excess of synthetic fibres and fibres like cotton that use a lot of water,’ sums up Ana Gonçalves, from CITEVE.
The new cellulose fibres will be created from agricultural waste, algae and post-consumer textiles. ‘Algae and agricultural waste are sources of biomass, not only important for producing cellulose, but also a source of compounds with bioactivity that can be used to functionalize our textiles and colour them,’ says Ana Gonçalves.
CITEVE is the leader and coordinator of the project. Within the nine workpackages outlined, the Technological Centre is responsible for developing the formulations with HeiQ Iberia and the demonstrators. ‘But we’re going to be involved in all areas. We have the capacity in-house to work on all areas of innovation, from pilot recycling lines, spinning, production of structures to a pilot textile dyeing and functionalization unit,’ she adds.
‘This is another high-profile participation in a European project in which we will have the opportunity to develop and test new materials with national and international partners,’ Rui Martins, Inovafil’s director, told T Jornal. The spinning company will provide technical support in the production of new fibres, as well as in the prototyping and production of yarns. ‘In addition to the project itself, networking with all the consortium partners will continue,’ he emphasises.
JF Almeida is equally enthusiastic about starting the project. ‘It’s a new opportunity for us to get out of our comfort zone and interact with renowned companies and institutes in different geographical and sectoral contexts,’ says Mariana Gomes, energy manager.
The ‘House of Home Textiles’ will be contributing to WP5 as industrial demonstrators for the home textiles sector, in the areas of spinning, weaving and finishing. ‘However, our R&D teams will be active in all the work packages: post-consumer textile fibre processing (WP2), laboratory-scale trials and tests of fibres and yarns in our spinning unit (WP3) and the new bio-formulations developed by partners in the dyeing and finishing unit (WP4).
Mi Casa es tu Casa is also in more than one workpackage: ‘with our growing commitment and focus on certified and more sustainable raw materials, we have embraced the TexMater project to obtain new textile solutions from marine and terrestrial biomass,’ Vanessa Silva, head of product development, told T Jornal.
The Moreira de Cónegos company’s work focuses include: collecting textile waste from the production process and defective products, defining a value chain for textile flows and designing final demonstrators for home textiles. The latter includes designing demonstrators for home textile markets in the light of eco-design, developing fabrics and evaluating them in relevant environments.
The agenda also includes market studies, an analysis of the safety and sustainability of the alternatives found and the dissemination of ongoing activities. The expected completion date is August 2028.