AEI Tèxtils has been working for more than 4 years in different areas related to circular economy and sustainability, promoting and materializing specific actions among its members.
One example is the PACTEX project, carried out between 2017 and 2019, together with the Packaging Cluster and Leitat Technological Center, with the support of the Catalan Waste Agency.
Within the project, industrial waste of the companies’ members of both clusters were analysed in order to promote an effective use of the materials, with innovative proposals and measures to reuse and reduce industrial waste. The clusters worked directly with 20 companies, which allowed identifying 10 solutions viable for the two sectors on an industrial scale.
Among these companies, there are two case studies of actions that have been materialized at industrial scale: on one hand, LIASA, member of AEI Tèxtils, manufacturer of cords and tapes, collaborates with NG Plastics, member of the Packaging Cluster, to transform its waste of polypropylene yarn in raw material to produce a new plastic product. It is a project co-funded by the Catalan Waste Agency.
The second successful case study corresponds to the company E. CIMA, S.A.U., manufacturer of warp knitted fabrics. In its industrial process, the company generates waste of 100% polyester fabrics with a 3D structure, of different colors, coming from laboratory tests. This waste is currently used as a raw material by Back to Eco.
Back to Eco is the upcycled brand of the association By My Eco, an initiative that extends the life of the used jeans, maintaining all the value of the original fabric. With the jeans, they manufacture handbags and accessories. E.CIMA’s waste is used as interior layer for computer and tablet cases.
This represents a new example of the possibilities of the technical textiles sector to contribute to the circularity and of the cluster, as a tool to promote initiatives that contribute to the sustainability of the sector.
