{"id":59614,"date":"2025-11-25T15:26:47","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T14:26:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bd-i.de\/?p=59614"},"modified":"2026-01-28T16:53:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T15:53:12","slug":"partnering-meet-up-from-fabric-to-bioplastic-from-waste-to-value","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bd-i.de\/en\/partnering-meet-up-from-fabric-to-bioplastic-from-waste-to-value\/","title":{"rendered":"From Textile Waste to Bioplastic \u2013 Exploring the Feasibility"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><div data-parent=\"true\" class=\"vc_row row-container boomapps_vcrow\" id=\"row-unique-0\"><div class=\"row limit-width row-parent\"><div class=\"wpb_row row-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_column pos-top pos-center align_left column_parent col-lg-12 boomapps_vccolumn single-internal-gutter\"><div class=\"uncol style-light\"  ><div class=\"uncoltable\"><div class=\"uncell  boomapps_vccolumn no-block-padding\" ><div class=\"uncont\" ><div class=\"vc_row row-internal row-container boomapps_vcrow\"><div class=\"row row-child\"><div class=\"wpb_row row-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_column pos-top pos-center align_left column_child col-lg-12 boomapps_vccolumn single-internal-gutter\"><div class=\"uncol style-light\" ><div class=\"uncoltable\"><div class=\"uncell  boomapps_vccolumn no-block-padding\" ><div class=\"uncont\" ><div class=\"vc_custom_heading_wrap\"><div class=\"heading-text el-text\" ><h1 class=\"h1\" ><span>From textile waste to bioplastic. \nIs it feasible?<\/span><\/h1><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_custom_heading_wrap\"><div class=\"heading-text el-text\" ><p class=\"h3\" ><span>New prospects for the circular economy in Brandenburg<\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"uncode_text_column text-lead text-color-172073-color\" ><p>Joint press release by Fraunhofer IAP and Beneficial Design Institute \/ 25 November 2025<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><script id=\"script-row-unique-0\" data-row=\"script-row-unique-0\" type=\"text\/javascript\" class=\"vc_controls\">UNCODE.initRow(document.getElementById(\"row-unique-0\"));<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><div data-parent=\"true\" class=\"vc_row row-container boomapps_vcrow\" id=\"row-unique-1\"><div class=\"row col-triple-gutter limit-width row-parent\"><div class=\"wpb_row row-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_column pos-top pos-center align_left column_parent col-lg-8 boomapps_vccolumn single-internal-gutter\"><div class=\"uncol style-light\"  ><div class=\"uncoltable\"><div class=\"uncell  boomapps_vccolumn no-block-padding\" ><div class=\"uncont\" ><div class=\"uncode_text_column text-lead text-color-172073-color\" ><p><span lang=\"DE\">Textile waste could serve as a valuable source of raw materials for sustainable plastics in the future, according to the joint TexPHB feasibility study conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP, Beneficial Design Institute GmbH and matterr GmbH. The study will be presented to the public for the first time at <a href=\"https:\/\/mleuv.brandenburg.de\/mleuv\/de\/umwelt\/abfall\/abfallvermeidung\/brandenburger-forum-zur-abfallvermeidung\/anmeldung\/\">a network meeting on 25 November 2025<\/a><\/span><span lang=\"DE\" style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; color: black;\">\u00a0<\/span><span lang=\"DE\">at the State Chancellery in Potsdam.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"uncode_text_column\" ><p>Since Overshoot Day on July 24, 2025, humanity has used up its resource budget for this year. The textile industry contributes significantly to this: it causes around eight to ten percent of global CO\u2082 emissions. In the TexPHB feasibility study funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour, Energy and Climate Protection (MWAEK), the partners show how this balance can be improved.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"vc_custom_heading_wrap\"><div class=\"heading-text el-text\" ><h2 class=\"h3\" ><span>Feasible! From PET waste to biopolymer PHB<\/span><\/h2><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"uncode_text_column\" ><p>The approach: textiles that are difficult to recycle, such as mixed polyester-containing waste from fast fashion, workwear or industrial cleaning textiles, which are usually incinerated, are converted into the fully biodegradable bioplastic polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB).<\/p>\n<p>Together with textile services and textile waste companies, the Beneficial Design Institute investigated how textile waste previously destined for incineration could be recycled.  The process developed by matterr GmbH for the hydrolysis of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), in which the central raw materials of PET \u2013 terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol  \u2013 are recovered in their original quality, was tested for the first time for these critical material fractions.      Scientists at Fraunhofer IAP used the ethylene glycol produced as a nutrient medium for wild-type bacteria, which convert it into the biopolymer polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). At the Biopolymers Processing Centre in Schwarzheide, the PHB obtained was further processed and tested for its material properties. \"We have thus demonstrated that PET waste from the textile industry can be converted into a biodegradable polymer using chemical and biotechnological processes, which could replace petroleum-based plastics in the long term,\" says Dr Maren Wandrey, biochemist at Fraunhofer IAP.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"vc_custom_heading_wrap\"><div class=\"heading-text el-text\" ><h2 class=\"h3\" ><span>PHB: biodegradable and versatile<\/span><\/h2><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"uncode_text_column\" ><p>As part of the study, Beneficial Design Institute GmbH identified possible fields of application for the biopolymer. \"PHB is completely biodegradable and biocompatible. Compared to other bioplastics, PHB also has a good barrier effect against oxygen and moisture. This means it offers great potential for products that are intended to degrade in the environment or in the body \u2013 for example, for medical applications, geotextile for erosion protection or agricultural products,\" explains Prof. Friederike von Wedel-Parlow, Managing Director of Beneficial Design Institute GmbH.<\/p>\n<p>A recently published strategy paper translates the consortium's findings into concrete recommendations for policy makers in Brandenburg. It comprises a multi-stage package of measures designed to lay the foundations for a textile circular economy in Brandenburg.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"vc_custom_heading_wrap\"><div class=\"heading-text el-text\" ><h2 class=\"h3\" ><span>Networking for regional value creation and textile transformation<\/span><\/h2><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"uncode_text_column\" ><p>Entitled \"From Fabric to Bioplastic \u2013 From Waste to Value\", the TexPHB market study and strategy paper will be presented on 25 November 2025 at a partnering meet-up in the State Chancellery in Potsdam. The event will take place following the 6th Brandenburg Waste Prevention Forum and will bring together stakeholders from business, research, politics and design. The aim is to initiate cooperation and investment that will drive forward the sustainable transformation of the textile and waste management industry in Brandenburg.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"vc_custom_heading_wrap\"><div class=\"heading-text el-text\" ><h2 class=\"h3\" ><span>Prospects for Brandenburg's bioeconomy<\/span><\/h2><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"uncode_text_column\" ><p>The TexPHB project exemplifies how textile waste can be converted into high-quality, biodegradable plastics \u2013 and what opportunities this opens up for a circular economy. The results of the study will serve as a basis for further research and development work. In the long term, the aim is to create a continuous process chain \u2013 from textile waste recycling to the production of new biopolymers.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column pos-top pos-center align_left column_parent col-lg-4 boomapps_vccolumn single-internal-gutter\"><div class=\"uncol style-light\"  ><div class=\"uncoltable\"><div class=\"uncell  boomapps_vccolumn no-block-padding\" ><div class=\"uncont\" ><div class=\"vc_row style-color-lxmt-bg vc_custom_1760094721140 row-internal row-container boomapps_vcrow\" style=\"padding-top: 1em ;padding-right: 1em ;padding-bottom: 2em ;padding-left: 1em ;\"><div class=\"row row-child\"><div class=\"wpb_row row-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_column pos-top pos-center align_left column_child col-lg-12 boomapps_vccolumn single-internal-gutter\"><div class=\"uncol style-light\" ><div class=\"uncoltable\"><div class=\"uncell  boomapps_vccolumn no-block-padding\" ><div class=\"uncont\" ><div class=\"vc_custom_heading_wrap\"><div class=\"heading-text el-text\" ><h3 class=\"font-377884 custom font-weight-600 fontsize-175796-custom\" ><span>Machbarkeits- und Potenzialstudie: \u201eAnwendungen f\u00fcr das Biopolymer Polyhydroxybutyrat (PHB) aus Textilabf\u00e4llen\u201c (TexPHB)<\/span><\/h3><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_custom_heading_wrap\"><div class=\"heading-text el-text\" ><h4 class=\"h5\" ><span>Forschungskonsortium<\/span><\/h4><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"uncode_text_column\" ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iap.fraunhofer.de\/\">Fraunhofer Institut f\u00fcr angewandte Polymerforschung IAP<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beneficial Design Institute GmbH<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.matterr.de\/\">matterr GmbH<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"vc_custom_heading_wrap\"><div class=\"heading-text el-text\" ><h4 class=\"h5\" ><span>Textile industry partners:<\/span><\/h4><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"uncode_text_column\" ><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sitex.de\/\">Sitex \u2013 Textile Dienstleistungen Simeonsbetriebe GmbH<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mewa.de\/\">MEWA Textil-Service SE &amp; Co. Management OHG<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.interzero.de\/\">IZ Circular Textiles GmbH \/ SOEX<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.berliner-stadtmission.de\/textilhafen\">Textilhafen der Komm &amp; Sieh gGmbH<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"vc_custom_heading_wrap\"><div class=\"heading-text el-text\" ><h4 class=\"h4\" ><span>Gef\u00f6rdert durch<\/span><\/h4><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"uncode_text_column\" ><p><a href=\"https:\/\/mwaek.brandenburg.de\/de\/ministerium-f%C3%BCr-wirtschaft-arbeit-energie-und-klimaschutz\/bb1.c.478848.de\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Klimaschutzministerium des Landes Brandenburg <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><span class=\"btn-container btn-block\" ><a role=\"button\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.bd-i.de\/gmbh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Policy-Paper_Value-Creation-in-the-State-of-Brandenburg.pdf\" class=\"custom-link btn border-width-0 protected-download btn-accent btn-block btn-icon-left\" title=\"Nature of Fashion: Design for Transformation\">Policy Paper<\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row download-email-form style-color-lxmt-bg vc_custom_1760350125465 row-internal row-container boomapps_vcrow\" style=\"margin-top: 0px ;padding-top: 0px ;padding-right: 1em ;padding-bottom: 2em ;padding-left: 1em ;\"><div class=\"row row-child\"><div class=\"wpb_row row-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_column pos-top pos-center align_left column_child col-lg-12 boomapps_vccolumn single-internal-gutter\"><div class=\"uncol style-light\" ><div class=\"uncoltable\"><div class=\"uncell  boomapps_vccolumn no-block-padding\" ><div class=\"uncont\" ><div class=\"uncode_text_column\" ><p>Please fill in your email address to download the document.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpcf7 no-js\" id=\"wpcf7-f59457-o1\" lang=\"de-DE\" dir=\"ltr\" data-wpcf7-id=\"59457\">\n<div class=\"screen-reader-response\"><p role=\"status\" aria-live=\"polite\" aria-atomic=\"true\"><\/p> <ul><\/ul><\/div>\n<form action=\"\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59614#wpcf7-f59457-o1\" method=\"post\" class=\"wpcf7-form init\" aria-label=\"Kontaktformular\" novalidate=\"novalidate\" data-status=\"init\" data-trp-original-action=\"\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59614#wpcf7-f59457-o1\">\n<fieldset class=\"hidden-fields-container\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7\" value=\"59457\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_version\" value=\"6.1.5\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_locale\" value=\"de_DE\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_unit_tag\" value=\"wpcf7-f59457-o1\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_container_post\" value=\"0\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_posted_data_hash\" value=\"\" \/>\n<\/fieldset>\n<p><label>E-Mail-Adresse <span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"your-email\"><input size=\"40\" maxlength=\"400\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-email wpcf7-validates-as-required wpcf7-text wpcf7-validates-as-email\" autocomplete=\"email\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" value=\"\" type=\"email\" name=\"your-email\" \/><\/span> <\/label><input class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-submit has-spinner\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Senden\" \/>\n<\/p><div class=\"wpcf7-response-output\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"trp-form-language\" value=\"en\"\/><\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row style-color-lxmt-bg vc_custom_1760094757932 row-internal row-container boomapps_vcrow\" style=\"padding-top: 1em ;padding-right: 1em ;padding-bottom: 2em ;padding-left: 1em ;\"><div class=\"row row-child\"><div class=\"wpb_row row-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_column pos-top pos-center align_left column_child col-lg-12 boomapps_vccolumn single-internal-gutter\"><div class=\"uncol style-light\" ><div class=\"uncoltable\"><div class=\"uncell  boomapps_vccolumn no-block-padding\" ><div class=\"uncont\" ><div class=\"vc_custom_heading_wrap\"><div class=\"heading-text el-text\" ><h4 class=\"h4\" ><span>Project Initiators<\/span><\/h4><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"uncode_text_column\" ><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>Beneficial Design Institute GmbH<\/strong><br \/>\nWe are a design research institute specialising in eco-design and sustainability, based in the Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan region. We develop holistic innovation concepts and circular product solutions for the textile and fashion industry, usually with design at the beginning of the textile chain. As the driving force behind the \u2018TexPHB\u2019 feasibility study and project developer of the regional initiative \u2018Nature of Fashion_Design for Transformation\u2019, we start at the end for the first time and combine design, material and circular economy expertise with practical implementation \u2013 from research to market readiness. The aim is to regeneratively transform the industry through biocompatible materials, new value creation paths and consistently nature-inspired design.<\/p>\n<p>\n<\/div><span class=\"btn-container\" ><a role=\"button\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.bd-i.de\/en\/portfolio\/nature-of-fashion-design-for-transformation\/\" class=\"custom-link btn border-width-0 btn-default btn-icon-left\">Project Website<\/a><\/span><div class=\"uncode_text_column\" ><p><strong>\u201eNature of Fashion_Design for Transformation\u201c<\/strong> is a global initiative led by the Biomimicry Institute and funded by the Laudes Foundation, with regional projects in Berlin-Brandenburg, the Netherlands, and the Global South (Accra, Ghana). The initiative aims to rethink how textile waste is managed through biological and biotechnological innovation. Instead of a linear \u201cTake-Make-Waste\u201d model, it follows a circular \u201cBreak Down to Build Up\u201d principle. Its focus is on transforming mixed, low-value textile waste into valuable, biocompatible materials suitable for industrial use across multiple sectors and safely reintegrated into natural cycles. The initiative seeks to raise awareness for regenerative, nature-inspired alternatives within the global fashion system.<\/p>\n<\/div><span class=\"btn-container\" ><a role=\"button\"  href=\"https:\/\/biomimicry.org\/innovation\/nature-of-fashion\/\" class=\"custom-link btn border-width-0 btn-default btn-icon-left\">Project Website<\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><script id=\"script-row-unique-1\" data-row=\"script-row-unique-1\" type=\"text\/javascript\" class=\"vc_controls\">UNCODE.initRow(document.getElementById(\"row-unique-1\"));<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gemeinsame Pressemitteilung von Fraunhofer IAP und Beneficial Design Institute \u2013 Wie werden Textilabf\u00e4lle zu wertvollen Rohstoffen f\u00fcr Biokunststoffe? Dieser Frage widmet sich das erste Partnering Meet-up im Anschluss an das 6. Abfallvermeidungforums des MLEUVs in Potsdam.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":59636,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1,85],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-59614","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-publications"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bd-i.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59614","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bd-i.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bd-i.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bd-i.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bd-i.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59614"}],"version-history":[{"count":37,"href":"https:\/\/www.bd-i.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59614\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59726,"href":"https:\/\/www.bd-i.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59614\/revisions\/59726"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bd-i.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/59636"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bd-i.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59614"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bd-i.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59614"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bd-i.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59614"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}