WUR Workshop on Biobased Textiles

If the world needs to be CO2 neutral by 2050, one of the logical consequences is that textiles need to be fossil free by 2050.?Fossil free means no use of petroleum based fibres such as polyester, polyamide and acrylics.?Why: because?the production and?the end of life disposal of synthetic fibres lead to a net emission of CO2. Even if we are able to recycle more (and postpone disposal), and even if we consume less (hard with a growing population and welfare), we have to substitute?millions of tons?of synthetic fibres by biobased alternatives.?

For substitutes we have four avenues:

• The first one is a revival of the traditionals: wool, flax, hemp and ramie.
• The second one is an expansion of?regenerative?cotton with a lower footprint.
• The third avenue is an expansion of manmade cellulosic fibres (e.g. lyocell).
• The fourth one is to make synthetic fibres from biobased building blocs, like PEF or PLA.

It is possible that agro-food waste or new crops may support the venues above as pure or blended materials. Recycling is also a supporting strategy as fibres can (under certain conditions) be mechanically and/or chemically?and/or biological?recycled.

WUR and MVO Nederland?(CSR Netherlands)?propose to hold a workshop in Wageningen on the afternoon of the 15th of June on the potential of biobased materials for a textile transition. This workshop precedes?(and is preliminary to)?a congres on biobased performance materials to be held on the 16th of June in Wageningen.

The aim of the workshop is not technical, but on setting the framework conditions for a transition to biobased materials.Hence the questions are as follows:

• What is the potential impact of the new EU textile strategy on the uptake of biobased materials?(incl. EPR-schemes such as under preparation in the Netherlands)
• What and who is needed to accelerate the four avenues for adopting biobased materials in textiles?
• What are necessary investments in research and in shared facilities to boost biobased materials in NW Europe?

The three questions above imply that there is in theory a positive regulatory environment in NW Europe, but that a transition requires the organisation of critical mass?and a roadmap.?

The workshop is open to any player that can contribute to that critical mass because: they supply relevant biomass, they can/will transform biomass, they can act as launching customer, they have recognised expertise (even critical) and influence, they have a policy insight.

The outcome of the session would be used to deliver a white paper/roadmap?to the EU, to the Dutch EPR authorities and to relevant regional authorities.?The white paper also has an influence on the WUR roadmap and could be the basis of building a coalition of the willing in the form of a Foundation or Consortium.

The session is hosted by?Michiel Scheffer (WUR?and DCTV/Dutch Circular Textile Valley).?Participation is free of costs but by invitation only (although you could recommend other potential participants). The working language is English and Chatham House rules apply. Participants will be asked to provide input before, during and after the meeting. It is not possible to hold a hybrid meeting.

You can confirm or excuse your presence by reply of mail