Creating Industrial Symbiosis by Upcycling Low-Value Textile Waste Streams to High-Value Paper Products

Purpose and goal

The project objective was to assess the feasibility and circularity of using a textile waste stream to produce a new textile lint and wood fiber material for retail shopping bags. Textile waste fibre pre-treatment and new material recyclability were demonstrated successfully towards the goal of enabling and upcycling the textile waste stream for the current and many other possible applications.

Expected results and effects

Technical and market feasibility analyses served as a basis for identification of the specific market segments. All knowledge gained in the project served as input to the planning of Phase 2 research and innovation project. The textile waste stream, which has no material value today is diverted from waste incineration and, after different pre-treatment strategies, used as secondary raw material in the production of a new, recyclable paper grade. This leads to elimination of the incineration cost and decreased need for virgin fibre as well as decreased cost for overall raw material.

Planned approach and implementation

This feasibility project was led by RISE, with industrial project partners Arctic Paper and SOEX. The project included pre-treatment feasibility analysis of the residual stream performed at RISE and new material recyclability performed at Arctic Paper, combined with market analysis and stakeholder analysis as a joint effort. Both Swedish and international perspectives were considered. It was concluded that the project contributed strongly to the development of the circular and biobased solution for the next project phase, both from the technical background and the idea novelty.