OpenLOOP – Breakthrough Textile Recycling Technology

The EIC Project OpenLOOP project tackles one of the most critical challenges of our time: the environmental, energetic, and climate impact of textileand plastic waste. The numbers are alarming: plastic production generates more CO2 emissions than the aviation industry. At 4% annual growth, emissions from primary plastic production are projected to more than triple, reaching 6.78 GtCO2e and accounting for 25-31% of the remaining global carbon budget necessary to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Research indicates that advanced recycling processes can reduce CO2 emissions and energy consumption by up to 80%, yet only 10-20% of plastic is globally recycled, with most recycling relying on mechanical methods. Chemical and enzymatic recycling, while promising, remain underdeveloped. OpenLOOP aims to bridge this gap by driving breakthroughs in these advanced recycling technologies. Moreover, the project’s multidisciplinary approach, advanced chemistry, biochemistry, engineering, and environmental science, ensures scientific and buisness innovation. The OpenLOOP project’s innovative and buisness oriented approach aligns with global sustainability goals and IOS vision of advancing excellent research that benefits society and the environment. We are confident that OpenLOOP will yield significant outcomes, contributing meaningfully to the fight against climate change and addressing the complex challenges of waste and energy circularity in the transition to a circular economy.