October 14-15, 2025    |    McKimmon Center, NC State University, Raleigh, NC

Conference Speakers

Jack Eaton

Chief Commercial Officer, NIRI Ltd


Tuesday, October 14
9:15 am - 10:30 am
From Seaweed to Second Life: Carbon-Smart Materials for a Circular Future

Fibre-to-Fibre Recycling - Overcoming Polymerization Challenges

Textile industries generate significant amounts of waste, and this waste contributes to environmental pollution in many ways which are well documented. To combat this pollution, a move towards a circular economy is crucial, focusing on recycling and reuse.

In addition to shifting consumer behavior, innovations in textile recycling technologies are emerging to reduce such waste. Technologies include sorting, purification and depolymerization, bio-recycling and fibre-to-fibre recycling with enhanced quality.

Using examples of NIRI's in-house capabilities, expertise and research in this area, this presentation will explore key breakthroughs and challenges in fibre-to-fibre recycling, concentrating on the polymerization of biopolymers and recycled monomers. Key considerations for process optimization and polymer design for reuse will be reviewed. The benefits of rapid prototyping will also be explored.

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