The German teamwear provider Jako from Mulfingen in Baden-Württemberg, together with partners from research and industry, launched the recycling project “The Key” for the circulatory capacity of mixed tissues. The problem: Polyester cotton mixing tissue are widespread, especially in professional or sportswear, but so far difficult to recycle. Mechanical recycling processes often lead to loss of quality and only allow a small proportion of recycled fibers in new textiles. Chemical processes offer an alternative, but have so far often led to the loss of one of the two materials.
“The key” starts here and is intended to enable efficient and complete recycling of both components by complementing the mechanical and chemical recycling as best as possible.
The recycling solution of the project is based on the back-to-monomer recycling process “Revoltex”, which is already used successfully for PET-containing materials. This method allows targeted recycling of polyester pet fibers from mixed fabrics. Further developments aim at the gentle recovery of the cotton fibers, so that after processing, they can also be recycled in textiles. The monomers of the PET fibers obtained are to be recycled in the same quality as primary fibers. The cellulose it contains is to be converted into high -quality pulp, which can be used for the production of new textile fibers.
In addition, innovative design concepts are to be developed in order to be able to recycle and use textiles again and again.
Jako AG specializes in teamwear and equips more than 100,000 clubs in more than 50 countries. Part of the project are also: MEWA Textil-Service SE & Co. Management OHG, Matterr GmbH, Research Institute for Textile and Clothing (FTB) of the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, Institute for Chemical and Thermal Process Technology (ICTV) of the Technical University of Braunschweig, IFEU- Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Heidelberg GGmbH, Klopman International SRL and Hero-Textil AG.
“The Key” is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).