Worn Again to build Swiss demo plant
06/06/2022
Construction of the plant, which will be located nearby technology collaborator Sulzer Chemtech, will support UK-based Worn Again Technologies in validating the closed-loop chemical recycling technology the company has developed alongside its strategic partners, it said.
The process in question involves extracting polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and cellulose from non-reusable and hard-to-recycle textiles that are considered either post-industrial or post-consumer waste. It also includes purifying the products to remove dyes, contaminants and other impurities, which the firm described as a step forward when compared to conventional recycling methods. As a result, the method produces “high-quality, virgin-like materials”, poised to re-enter supply chains as new fibres, textiles and more.
Chief executive Erik Koep commented: “The construction and operation of this demonstration plant are the next major milestones in achieving our vision for textile circularity. We look forward to starting operations soon and see this as the first plant in a global network of processing facilities.”
The company’s chairman, Torsten Wintergerste, added that its vision moving forward includes establishing an “ecosystem” of partners local to the facility, which will help reduce lead times within Switzerland.
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