Conference Speakers

Jack Eaton

Chief Commercial Officer, NIRI Ltd

BIOGRAPHY

Jack Eaton obtained a MSc in Advanced Textiles and Performance Clothing from the University of Leeds, and he also holds a BSc in Sports Materials Technology from the University of Leeds. During this time, he focused on nonwoven technologies, outdoor and performance clothing.

After graduating, Jack gained extensive consultancy experience at NIRI over a 7-year period in various roles, including project and technical management. He then went on to gain commercial experience in coatings, pigments and polymer processing for a diverse range of applications.

Equipped with skills in business development and new product scale-up to commercialisation, Jack has rejoined NIRI and is responsible for the commercial development of the business, combining his technical textiles knowledge and commercial experience. He oversees marketing, sales, product development and customer service activities.

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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.