Material selection and circular textile design

Choosing the right materials and designing for long life, reuse and efficient recycling requires careful trade-offs between performance, environmental impact and business value. RISE offers expert guidance in sustainable material selection and circular design to help you develop products that meet both circularity goals and commercial requirements. We provide decision support and practical assistance in developing and testing circular pilot concepts.

Circular textile design starts with material choices and product construction

Circular textile design means creating textile products for long life, repair, reuse and efficient material recycling. Already in the design phase, choices are made around materials, construction and how the product can be disassembled and recycled at the end of its life cycle. The goal is to reduce resource use and waste by keeping materials in circulation for as long as possible. For companies, circular design means both reduced environmental impact and new business opportunities.

Design principles for circular textiles

To enable circular material flows, sustainability considerations need to be integrated early in product development. Key principles include:

• Choosing materials that can be recycled in established systems
• Avoiding complex fibre blends that make recycling more difficult
• Designing products for easy disassembly and repair
• Ensuring traceability of materials and components
• Minimising microfibre release from synthetic materials

By applying these principles systematically, companies can develop textile products that meet future regulations and support more circular value chains.

Material selection and fibre classification

The choice of fibre affects both product durability and environmental footprint. RISE has deep expertise in textile fibre classification based on industry standards and sustainability criteria. We help you select materials that reduce climate impact in production without compromising performance, quality or usability.

Design for circularity

Circular design aims to improve durability, repairability, reusability and recyclability. We provide practical guidance on how textile products can be designed for easier disassembly and recycling, with the right materials, construction and functions considered from the start.

Reducing microfibre emissions from synthetic textiles

Textiles made from synthetic fibres such as polyester and nylon contribute to microfibre emissions into waterways. To reduce this impact, RISE works with startups, appliance manufacturers and public authorities. We offer analysis using standardised and in-house developed methods, develop filter solutions for washing machines, and conduct comparative studies of programmes and machine types.

Services in material selection and circular textile design

We offer services such as:

• Circular design support
• Classification of textile fibres according to industry standards and sustainability criteria
• Classification for recycling
• Analysis of microfibre emissions during washing
• Development and testing of filter solutions for washing machines
• Gravimetric and microscopic analysis of fibre emissions

We protect your innovations through proper intellectual property management and clear non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).

Where in the textile value chain we can help

• Textile strategy
• Design and material selection
• Textile fibre development
• Textile recycling
• Testing, analysis and certification

Who we help

We work with stakeholders across the textile value chain, including:

• Global and local manufacturers and brands in apparel, interiors, workwear and technical textiles
• Public organisations, authorities, regions, municipalities and municipal waste companies
• Material and component producers developing textile fibres, plastics, composites and other materials for textile-related products

How we can work together

RISE offers both specific services and long-term partnerships for companies looking to develop sustainable and circular textile products. Whether you need testing, certification and analysis, or are looking for broader support throughout your development journey, we tailor our support to your needs.

We also contribute to research and innovation projects by helping to formulate project ideas, identify partners and apply for funding. This may include EU-funded research and innovation programmes or national funding calls.