ÜBER-AUS: Resource-efficient use of surplus and waste materials from the textile industry through the creation of regional recycling loops

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The textile industry generates significant amounts of waste before products reach the market. A large proportion of this waste consists of rejects, such as offcuts and fibre and yarn residues (post-industrial waste), as well as surpluses and production errors (pre-consumer waste). High-quality recycling of unavoidable textile waste streams offers considerable potential for a circular textile industry, providing economic opportunities for textile companies.

The ÜBER-AUS project aims to reduce these textile waste streams by adapting business models, product designs and production processes. At the same time, the collection, sorting and recycling of waste textiles shall be increased through improved cascade utilisation (using waste materials in a way that maximises their value), tracking and recycling.

New applications and marketing channels are being identified for the recycled materials obtained in this way in order to close the textile cycle. To this end, ÜBER-AUS is developing and testing regional applications in south-west Germany, focusing on technical textiles and clothing. The aim is to promote the circular economy through regional networking and new partnerships, and to create resilient value chains.

As part of the project, ifeu will prepare screening life cycle assessments and examine the entire life cycle of typical and optimised material flows in the textile sector, considering all environmental aspects along the value chain.

The project is a joint project under the BMFTR (German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space) funding guideline ‘Resource-efficient circular economy – Circular sustainable textiles: Development of holistic, practical solutions for closing the loop in the textile industry’ as part of the Strategy for Sustainability Research (FONA).