From pine needles to yarn: Research on sustainable textile fibres : Date:
In early November, the ConFiTex project (Conifers, Innovative and Textile Fibres, Sustainable Textiles) for early-career researchers started at the University of Applied Sciences Zwickau (WHZ). The project focuses on developing previously unused fibre materials from conifer needles – primarily those of native pine trees.
Local conifer needles, previously regarded as waste, offer considerable potential as a renewable raw material and can make an important contribution to achieving the European Green Deal goals in resource use, waste prevention, and circular economy. In the ConFiTex project, researchers are therefore investigating the extraction, modification and textile processing of conifer needles – from chemical breakdown and process-based extraction through to design, product development and application.
Production adheres to the Oeko-Tex® Standard and utilises natural dyeing processes. The resulting fibre material is intended to be fully compostable and to establish itself as a sustainable, innovative material within the textile value chain. As textile products are sold primarily based on their design, the project team aims to create a collection of newly developed yarn and thread qualities with a matching colour palette, which will be further processed into prototypes for practical application.
A particular strength of the project lies in its ability to bridge the gap between STEM subjects and design practice. Designers gain insights into manufacturing processes, whilst engineers pay closer attention to design aspects, which promotes technical understanding and collaboration between industry and design. Moreover, the project focuses on supporting the next generation of scientists: ConFiTex offers young researchers a wide range of opportunities for interdisciplinary and practical training, thereby contributing to the further development of an innovative, sustainable, and digital economy in the Free State of Saxony.
Therefore, an interdisciplinary team at the WHZ, led by Prof. Katharina Jebsen-Plättner (Textile Art/Textile Design), is working on the project. The team includes materials specialists, physicists and textile researchers, as well as a total of six early-career researchers. The TU Dresden is an associated partner through the Enzyme Technology Research Group at the Institute of Natural Materials Technology.
Science and industry are being linked through collaboration with regional companies and institutes, such as the Association of the North-East German Textile and Clothing Industry e.V. (vti), the STFI (Sächsisches Textilforschungsinstitut e.V.) in Chemnitz, Zschimmer & Schwarz, Norafin Industries, Nahrungs-Ingenieurtechnik GmbH (NIG), Spezialenzyme GmbH (ASA) and the TITK (Thüringisches Institut für Textil- und Kunststoff-Forschung e.V.). The project budget amounts to around 1.5 million euros, of which just under 1.4 million euros is provided by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF Plus) and the Free State of Saxony.
Text source: University of Applied Sciences Zwickau