BASF presented a range of new solutions targeting circular fibres production at last week’s Techtextil exhibition in Frankfurt (April 23-26) including an Inditex jacket made from loopamid polyamide 6 (PA6) derived from textile waste via segregated production.

In addition to the fabrics, the lining, zippers, velcro fasteners and buttons are all made from the recycled PA6 and because BASF’s chemical recycling technology tolerates all fabric blends, it enables textile-to-textile recycling of industrial textile waste and used clothing. The fibres and materials can be recycled over several cycles and the material properties are identical to those of conventional polyamide.

Drop-ins

Ultramid Ccycled meanwhile supports the use of alternative raw materials from the chemical recycling of plastic waste that is difficult to recycle, such as end-of-life tyres. The recycled raw material is fed into the beginning of the BASF production network and allocated to the Ultramid Ccycled products using a mass balance approach to save and replace fossil-based raw materials.

Similarly, Ultramid Biomass Balance (BMB)  is a drop-in product which enables the use of biowaste raw materials in product manufacturing. Certified renewable raw materials replace fossil resources at the beginning of the production process and are then allocated to the Ultramid BMB products in the appropriate quantities via the mass balance chain. Without compromising on quality and performance, a product’s carbon footprint can be cut by more than 50% compared to standard Ultramid.

Due to its high elasticity and excellent mechanical strength, Elastollan, a thermoplastis polyurethane (TPU), is suitable for a wide range of materials for the textile industry, including mono and multi-filaments, as well as for coating polyester and glass fibres. It can also be worked into nonwoven fabrics. Bio-based and certified biomass-balanced Elastollan grades provide identical material properties to those of equivalent fossil-based products.

Traceable blockchain platform

In collaboration with Certified Sustainable FiberMax (CSF) partners – all within a 250 kilometre-radius in Greece, BASF has further introduced a highly transparent and traceable blockchain platform. The platform, technology by Bext 360° and powered by Hyperledger, allows brands to seamlessly integrate data such as carbon footprint, into their supply chains through an application programming interface (API). Additionally, BASF has partnered with the University of Thessaly in Greece to research and implement regenerative practices for cotton production in Europe. The aim is to provide European fashion brands with certified European non-GMO regenerative cotton, enabling consumers to make informed decisions and choose high-quality sustainable clothing, both now and in the future.

Upcycling

With BASF’s Acrodur, acForm and Acronal low-emission fibre bonding technologies, reclaimed materials such as denim or discarded materials such as spent coffee grounds and used paper cups can be turned into building blocks for new and more-valuable products. In Frankfurt, the company showcased several upcycling exhibits developed with industry partners, including flooring produced with denim, coffee grounds and paper cups.

Further exhibits produced with fibre bonding technology included a lightweight panel made of natural fibres and an Acrodur composite with a paper honeycomb core, glass nonwovens for the exhaust air treatment of lacquer cabins and glass meshes for the reinforcement of plaster and insulation systems.

www.basf.com