Milestones achieved in
The LIFE-CIRTECHTEX project
Circular PPE Textiles
The LIFE-CIRTECHTEX project, funded by the European Union through the LIFE programme, has achieved significant results after 2,5 years of implementation, advancing the transition towards a circular economy in the manufacture of technical textiles for protective workwear.
Within the consortium of industrial partners, research organisations and technical experts, Tranemo’s participation has contributed to the development and validation of solutions that enable circularity while maintaining the high safety and performance standards required for protective garments. Through close collaboration, the consortium has established an efficient model for managing textile residues, reducing waste and reintegrating materials into new high-value applications.
Development and validation of recycled materials
Following more than 30 preliminary tests on yarns and fabrics, several materials have been developed and validated for demanding applications, including multi-risk and foundry sectors. These results demonstrate the feasibility of integrating recycled content into high-performance PPE.
As part of this progress, Tranemo’s participation has led to the development of garments produced with 20% recycled Cantex and Tera TX, as well as Marlan and Tera TX pre-consumer materials. These garments are currently in the wearer trial phase, marking an important step towards validating circular materials in real-life working environments.
Main achievements
Over the course of the project, the consortium has implemented effective systems for the collection and recovery of textile residues across multiple production stages, including both pre-consumer materials and initial post-consumer streams. To date, more than 60 tons of textile waste has been collected, ensuring high levels of quality and traceability. In parallel, robust traceability and quality control systems have been established to meet strict PPE requirements, while more than 150 professionals have been trained improving the quality of recovered materials and the efficiency of processes.
Challenges and lessons learned
1. Collection challenges
The collection of post-consumer materials remains a challenge, requiring increased collaboration with end users and new awareness raising initiatives.
2. Recycling complexity
Recycling multi-component materials demands precise control at every stage to ensure consistent quality, particularly important for protective garments where performance is critical.
3. Hazardous materials
Another industry-specific aspect to be considered is the possible content of hazardous substances in collected garments, emanating from industrial environments. The handling of such goods requires equipment and training normally found only in industrial laundry facilities.
4. Regulatory challenges
The European regulatory framework for waste management has highlighted complexities in interpretation and application, which the project has addressed as part of its demonstrative and analytical approach.
5. Traceability
Traceability has proven to be a key factor in ensuring compliance with PPE standards and maintaining product integrity.
Next steps
In the final phase of the project, LIFE-CIRTECHTEX will focus on:
- Validating new recycled yarns and fabrics and scaling up prototype production
- Increasing the collection of post-consumer materials and strengthening collaboration with end users
- Further assessing environmental and socio-economic impacts
With the results achieved so far, LIFE-CIRTECHTEX reinforces its commitment to innovation and sustainability. Tranemo’s participation has contributed to the transition towards a more circular and responsible technical textile industry, aligned with European policies.
