Demonstration of a disruptive production technology, including innovative alkaline cellulose pre-treatment process, for a resource and cost-efficient production of a new generation textile fibres.

Introduction

The main objective of the LIFE TreeTex project is to scale up and demonstrate TTT’s disruptive production technology to widen European industry’s access to innovative textile solutions, offering affordable sustainable textile fibres in huge volumes that are world-class in terms of climate impact at production (and use).

Environmental Impact of Garment Production

Today, the production phase of garments accounts for the largest environmental impacts from a life-cycle perspective, in terms of climate change, toxic pollutants, contribution to water scarcity, etc. In Europe, the production phase stands for close to 70% of the total climate impact for the full life cycle of garments, from production to retail, to use, and end-of-life.

TTT Technology Overview

The TTT technology is a new innovative chemical process – using renewable forest raw material and regenerating the cellulose into a textile fibre by a newly developed wet-spinning process designed for low cost and low climate impact.

Advantages of TTT Technology

• The process uses less chemicals, all commodity chemicals under REACH.
• It allows for a more sustainable and cost-efficient process compared to conventional fibre technologies.

Project Goals and Implementation

This project is the first of its kind that will demonstrate an all-alkaline production of innovative cellulose fibres for textile applications.

Key Objectives

1. Build up a more efficient pre-treatment into the pilot facility.
2. Validate the production components and systems at an industrially relevant scale (~1% of full scale) at full operating conditions.
3. Demonstrate the technology in partnership with six (6) European and global associated partners.

Such a pilot approach will be a crucial part of replicating and scaling the TTT technology, with the lowest climate impact, to other sites in Europe and globally.

Conclusion

We strongly believe that we can help the EC to accelerate the progress of making the textile sector more sustainable by introducing an attractive, smart, resource- and energy-efficient fiber solution to the European and global market.