Resource-efficient use of excess sludge and waste from the textile industry through the regional creation of cycles

In the textile industry, considerable amounts of waste are produced before the products are marketed. A large proportion of this is waste such as offcuts, fibers and yarn remnants (post-industrial waste) as well as excess sludge and faulty production (pre-consumer waste). The high-quality use of unavoidable textile waste streams harbours considerable potentials for a circular textile industry and opens up economic opportunities for textile companies. The ÜBER-AUS project aims to use these textile waste streams by adapting business models, product designs and production processes. At the same time, the collection, sorting and use of textile waste is to be through better cascade use, tracking and recycling.

New potential uses and marketing channels will be identified for the recyclates obtained in this way, marketing channels will be identified to close the textile cycle. To this end, ÜBER-AUS is developing and testing regional use cases in the south-western part of Germany in the field of technical textiles and clothing in order to promote the circular economy through regional networking and new partnerships and to strengthen resilient value chains. 

The project brings together key players from the fields of science, production, logistics and sorting/recycling: By collecting waste and surpluses together and bundling the associated residual material flows, new, economically and ecologically sensible logistics chains are to be established.  

ÜBER-AUS is trialing a holistic approach by identifying selected pilot lines and identified and tracked and evaluated throughout the entire process.  

The ÜBER-AUS project combines the expertise of four scientific partners on textile waste streams, life cycle assessments and business models and market analyses with four south-west German companies in the textile value chain. The IÖW is coordinating this project as part of the BMBF funding program “Circular Textiles” and is working in particular on the topics business models, market analyses and strategies for action.