Epson has entered into a joint development agreement with The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) to establish technology for defibrating hard to recycle fabrics and expand real world fibre recycling.
The company says a growing recognition of global environmental issues has spurred a trend toward using recycled fibres from unwanted clothing, particularly in countries moving to increase the ratio of recycled fibres used and limit the use of petroleum derived synthetic fibres.
Currently, the textile recycling process uses a machine called a garnett to separate the fibres in waste material. However, garnetts can’t effectively separate the fibres of some of the most common textiles in the apparel market, such as tightly weave fabrics used for dress shirts and bed sheets and elastic blended fabrics used for functional clothing.
Epson seeks to solve this problem using its Dry Fibre Technology to establish a process for defibrating elastic blended fabrics and tightly woven fabrics. The company aims to provide a new solution for recycling clothing fibres with its joint development agreement with HKRITA.
Dry Fibre Technology, which Epson developed independently, enables the creation of new value from post-consumer paper, wood, clothing and other fibrous waste and used products. It is one of the core technologies around which Epson is building an environmental business.
In addition to developing recycled fibre production solutions, Epson is producing new paper and packaging materials from used paper and other raw materials. It is also developing stronger and more durable recycled plastic and bio-based plastic. Epson says it is building an environmental business by applying this technology and will contribute to environmental impact mitigation and resource circulation.
Established in Hong Kong in 2006, HKRITA engages in applied research to support the textile and apparel industry to boost its overall competitiveness, drive sustainable improvements and bring benefits to society. By providing one stop services for applied research, technology transfer and commercialisation, HKRITA makes sustained efforts to promote successful projects for industry application.
