The increasing demand for sustainable materials and the critical view of traditional plastics are leading to growing interest in bio-based and biodegradable plastics. The project focused on the extent to which textile finishes used for functionalisation influence the biodegradability of textiles or are themselves biodegradable.

At this year's Techtextil, Patrick Engel, head of Center of Excellence in Nonwovens, and his colleagues achieved the Techtextil Innovation Award in the "New Concept" category. In cooperation with Kelheim Fibres GmbH and Sumo GmbH, he received the award for the development of a bio-based hygiene nonwoven – a good example of how research and industry are breaking new ground in sustainability through collaboration in an open innovation approach.

The MC4 project consortium is calling on the carbon and glass fibre processing industry to participate in a survey on waste characterisation with economic values. The EU project MC4 - "Multi-level Circular Process Chain for Carbon and Glass Fibre Composites" started in April 2022. The project investigates circular approaches for the reuse of carbon and glass fibre composites.