Innovation support for a sustainable textile value chain

The textile industry is facing its largest transformation ever. From 2026, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) will introduce new sustainability requirements for all textile products on the European market. At the same time, investors and consumers are demanding documented climate and environmental performance.

Companies that fail to adapt risk losing market access as the new EU requirements take effect. With requirements for digital product passports, extended producer responsibility and stricter chemical regulations, the textile industry is undergoing its most significant transformation in decades.

Lene Jul Östblom

Enhetschef
+46 10 228 48 93 Read more about Lene

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Tobias Köhnke

Enhetschef
+46 10 228 46 64 Read more about Tobias

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Take the next step in your textile transition. Contact us and we’ll help you get started.
Explore our solutions across the textile value chain
Solution

Sustainable textile strategy development

A circular textile strategy is a plan for how a company can reduce its environmental impact and comply with new EU requirements while maintaining profitability – through circular business models, smarter material choices, and enhanced traceability. RISE helps you develop such a strategy and turn it into practical action.
Solution

Material selection and circular textile design

Circular textile design means designing textile products for long life, repair, reuse and efficient recycling — decisions that are largely determined at the design stage. RISE supports material selection, textile design and circular product strategies, from decision-making data to testing circular pilot models.
Solution

Developing textile fibres and innovative textile materials

We support the development of new or improved textile fibres and materials — from concept and process development to verified and certified products. With research-based expertise and advanced technical infrastructure, we develop sustainable and high-performance solutions for both apparel and technical textiles.
Solution

Textile testing, analysis and certification

At one of Northern Europe’s most comprehensive textile laboratories, we help you verify textile properties using more than 400 chemical, mechanical and physical testing methods in modern ISO 17025-accredited environments. We also support OEKO-TEX® certifications, helping strengthen trust in your brand and products.
Solution

Textile recycling

RISE provides innovation support for textile recycling – from pre-treatment to mechanical, chemical and thermomechanical technology – turning textile waste into new material. We help you meet tightening EU requirements and make recycling a profitable, sustainable part of your business model.
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Technical infrastructure for textile development
RISE provides technical infrastructure across the entire textile value chain – from fibre and material development to textile testing, analysis, certification and recycling. With laboratories, pilot facilities and advanced testing equipment, we support the development, verification and scaling of sustainable textile materials and products.
Test & demo

Textile fiber development test bed

Within the Textile fiber development test bed, RISE develops innovative materials and methods to produce fibers, yarns and nonwoven from bio-based and synthetic raw materials. We offer expertise, manufacturing methods and material analysis related to anything from raw material to final product.
Biobased materials / Test & demo

Viscose fibre pilot

To develop and optimise regenerated cellulose, RISE has two viscose pilots, one on a micro-scale and another one for larger volumes of viscose solution. The pilots consist of six parts which together correspond to an actual viscose manufacturing process.
Test & demo

Test and analysis of textiles

RISE provides textile testing, material analysis and certification support to ensure quality, safety and regulatory compliance. We test and verify textile materials and products according to applicable legislation and international standards — from development and material selection to finished, market-ready products.
Test & demo

Textile Recycling

RISE provides advanced textile recycling infrastructure and technical expertise to support the transition to circular textile systems. We work with companies and organizations to convert textile waste and production surplus into high-value recycled materials.
Offer

Future-proof your textile business with OEKO-TEX® certifications

RISE is the official OEKO-TEX® institute for Sweden and Norway. We certify textile and leather companies across the Nordic region and the Baltic countries.
Explore all our OEKO-TEX® certifications
Get started with textile fibre development
RISE supports the development of new textile fibres and materials. We offer wet spinning of fibres from biobased raw materials such as cellulose, lignin and proteins, as well as melt spinning of mono- and multicomponent fibres in materials such as polyester, nylon and TPE. We also develop nonwovens and functional fibres with tailored properties, including conductivity, temperature regulation and flame resistance.
Expertise

Solution spinning of man-made fibers

Within our expertise in solution spinning, both wet and air-gap (dry-jet wet) spinning, we develop man-made fibers from polymers that are either non-thermoplastic or sensitive to temperature. This method is particularly useful for the production of fibers from bio-based raw materials.
Expertise

Melt spinning of textile fibres

RISE offers expertise in melt spinning, supporting innovation from lab to pilot scale. Our work ranges from developing textile fibres from bio-based and recycled polymers to creating high-performance and functional materials. By combining research with industry collaboration, we help partners accelerate the development of next-generation fibers.
Expertise

Development of nonwoven materials

Nonwovens are versatile and cost-effective materials. We are used to seeing nonwovens in car interiors, surface materials in hygiene products, and in molded furniture, but they are often hidden, such as in sound absorbers in dishwashers, dust covers under box springs, and padding in clothing.
Expertise

Functional fiber materials

From advanced wound dressings and implants to functional clothing, agrotextiles, and aquaculture nets. RISE develops functional fiber materials for a wide range of applications. By using advanced encapsulation technology and smart choices of bio-based alternatives, we can enhance the product’s sustainability, circularity and resource efficiency
Key services for sustainable textile innovation
Explore a selection of services designed to support your transition.
Expertise

Life cycle assessment of textiles

The textile industry faces major challenges, but also opportunities, to reduce its environmental impact and contribute to a more sustainable society. With the help of life cycle assessment, LCA, aspects such as material selection, improved manufacturing processes, resource efficiency and recycling can be evaluated.
Circular transition / Expertise

Circular design

Circular design aims at maximizing the durability, repairability, reusability and recyclability of a product. The quality of a recycled material is critically dependent on the quality of the  waste material used; hence circular value chains must start with a well-reasoned design.
Chemical and biological analysis / Service

Analysis of per- and polyfluorinated compounds (PFC’s)

It is important that the textiles on the market are free of harmful and regulated substances. Chemical analysis is a way to gain control over the products' chemical content.
Circular transition / Service

Environmental product declaration, EPD

An environmental product declaration is a way of communicating the environmental properties of products that can be used on all kinds of goods and services. Environmental product declarations in accordance with ISO 14025 are based on life cycle assessment, LCA.
Service

Microplastic from textiles

We offer both qualitative and quantitative analysis of microfibres from textile sources, both synthetic (microplastic) and natural.
News

Stay up to date with the latest developments in the textile industry

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Explore our ongoing textile projects
RISE leads and participates in national and international research and innovation projects within the textile sector. We are actively involved in European collaborations and platforms such as the European Technology Platform for the Future of Textiles and Clothing, as well as EU-funded projects focusing on circular textiles, digital product passports and sustainable material development.

Through these collaborations, companies gain access to the latest research, international networks and early insights into upcoming regulations. Below you can explore a selection of ongoing projects.
Circular transition / Project

Polycotton becomes household products

The amount of textile waste consisting of polyester–cotton blends (polycotton) is close to one hundred million tonnes annually, most of which is currently incinerated or sent to landfill. The household products industry, in turn, relies largely on virgin fossil-based plastics, amounting to hundreds of millions of tonnes globally.
Project

BioSusTex

The textile value chain involves a diverse range of materials, end users, and complex applications. Although there is a shift towards greater sustainability, progress is slow and requires more innovative technologies to address issues like low recycling rates, substitution of hazardous substances, and chemical pollutants.
Project

TexMat

TexMat will develop a deposit system for post-consumer textiles, where consumers are rewarded for returning reusable and recyclable items.
Project

RE:MIX III Chemical recycling of textile

Each year the average Swedish citizen throws 7.5 kg of textile in the trash, textiles which are then incinerated. The value of 80 000 tons of textile is hence lost, every year. In the project Re:MIX III, RISE and COWI will develop a new method to utilize this lost resource.
Project

tExtended

The accumulation of textile waste is a global challenge that requires efficient recycling solutions, as it is estimated that less than 1% of textile waste is currently being recycled as a secondary textile raw material. tExtended aims to introduce an innovative approach to the cycling of discarded textiles. 

Why RISE

01

End-to-end support across the value chain

– From sustainability strategy and material selection to fibre development, testing and recycling, all in one place.
02

Test and demonstration environments

– Advanced infrastructure for developing, verifying and scaling solutions under realistic conditions.
03

Regulatory guidance and sustainability analysis

– Support in interpreting ESPR requirements and making fact-based decisions through LCA and EPD.
04

Tailored collaborations

– From specific services to long-term partnerships and support with research applications in EU and national programmes.

Relevant areas for you

Material och beständighet

Materials are becoming one of the manufacturing industry's most complex strategic challenges – and it's happening faster than most have anticipated. …

Circular transition

New EU directives and changing customer demands are prompting companies to adopt circular business models, but this transition is complex. Challenges…

Production and manufacturing

The conditions for manufacturing companies are changing faster than ever, making it harder to make decisions that hold up over time. AI, data, aut…

Chemical products and processes

Chemicals are essential for a functioning society, but the choice of substances and processes determines their impact on the environment and health. …

Design

Today's products and services often fail because they do not meet real user needs or exclude parts of the target group. There are many challenges: de…