RePLAy

Recycled PLA yarns and textiles for cleaning applications

Motivation

The motivation behind the RePLAy project lies in the transformation of the textile industry. A forward-looking trend is the shift from petroleum-based to bio-based products, with a particular focus on PLA (polylactic acid) textiles, which are expected to play a key role in this development. Particularly in the textile industry.

A key motivation in the application is research in the area of recycling methods and circular economy, focusing on the investigation and evaluation of thermomechanical and chemical recycling of PLA textiles to promote a circular economy.

Aim

The main objectives of the RePLAy project are to conduct at least one techno-economic analysis (TEA) and one life cycle assessment (LCA) for textiles made from novel, sustainable polylactides (PLA). To achieve this, suitable yarns and textiles that are fully bio-based and derived from PLA will be developed.

The focus here is on technical applications: At RePLAy, we look specifically at cleaning textiles, which make up a core part of the textile industry.

REPLAY VISUALIZED

Approach

The process begins with the production of yarn from plant-based raw materials, which is then weaved into cleaning textiles. These products are used by consumers and after several months the main step begins: we recycle them. There are two types of recycling: Chemical and mechanical recycling. We use the recycled material to make new yarn from which new cleaning textiles are produced. This starts the cycle all over again. In total we create 3 cycles, started by the same yarn. Our main goal is to analyze each step to create a full life-cycle analysis.

Project Partners

GET IN TOUCH

Sebastian Seiber, M.Sc. Project Lead sebastian.seibert@diestoffschmiede.de

Louisa Wenkemann Deputy Project Lead louisa.wenkemann@diestoffschmiede.de

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