Coordination

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd (FIN)

Technology area

Automated waste identification and sorting, mechanical and chemical recycling of PES/CO waste

Application area

Waste management, textile circular economy, textile sustainability

Short description

Every year, 7-7.5 million tons of textile waste are generated in Europe, but only around 30-35 % of the waste produced is collected separately and less than 1 % of it is recycled. Most textiles are cotton and polyester or their blends. Significant quantities of PES/CO blends are disposed of each year because recycling is technically difficult and/or economically unviable.

The aim of PESCO-UP is the development of a sustainable, economically and technologically viable process in order to transform waste from PES/CO blends into high-quality and pure materials for the subsequent use cycle in order to conserve resources. The holistic approach of the PESCO-UP project includes innovative processes such as digitised material identification, data exchange and efficient sorting. By developing practicable chemical and mechanical separation processes, the project aims to achieve an efficiency of up to 90 % in material processing. The project focuses not only on technological advancements, but also on transforming the aforementioned challenges into new business models. This is supported by strengthening the potential workforce through targeted qualification strategies and training materials.

Project duration

01 January 2024 – 31 December 2027