PESCO-UP Newsletter

Advancing colour removal techniques for PES/CO textile recycling

Polyester (PES), a synthetic-based fibre, now represents over half of all textiles and blended fabrics, like polyester-cotton (PES/CO). Those materials are also among the most challenging to recycle, in particular because of the colourants and chemical finishings used in fabric treatment, which interfere with recycling processes, especially when the goal is to recover both polyester and cotton as high-quality raw materials.

This challenge is part of the PESCO-UP project, which focuses on developing sustainable solutions for blended textile waste.
The project is working on processes to eliminate a wide range of impurities, particularly targeting the removal of colour from polyester (PES) and polyester-cotton (PES/CO) blends, while preserving the quality of the fibres or polymers as much as possible.

The PESCO-UP video introduction
is online!

Discover the ambition of the PESCO-UP project to transform the textile recycling industry by creating new raw materials from mixed wastes!

Don’t just hear about it, see it in action! Discover the project’s ambitious goals, and its impact on the entire textile value chain.

Watch the video introduction

PESCO-UP at Munich Fabric Start

In January 2025, our project partner Traci Kinden from TEXroad shared valuable insights on the importance of textile data in scaling up recycling efforts and reducing carbon footprint at Munich Fabric Start.

PESCO-UP is now equipped for lab-scale spinning

As part of PESCO-UP, partner Centexbel lab-scale spinning line is now fully operational, marking a significant milestone in advanced material development. This line will be used to test PESCO-UP materials and offers new possibilities for research and development in textile innovation, supporting advancements in sustainable materials and processes.

PESCO-UP at the CEPS Ideas Lab Flagship event

On 3-4 March 2025, the PESCO-UP project was showcased at the annual Ideas Lab flagship event in Brussels, Belgium. Representing the project, CEPS engaged with over 800 participants from a wide range of sectors, including policy, industry, NGOs, and academia, to discuss the latest advancements and key goals of the PESCO-UP initiative.

PESCO-UP at the 4th International Conference on Circular Economy in Textiles

On 12-13 March, the PESCO-UP project was showcased at the Cellulose Fibres Conference in Cologne, Germany. Representing the project, Marina Crnoja-Cosic from Textile ETP and Heli Kangas from Valmet connected with conference participants, sharing insights on the latest developments and objectives of the PESCO-UP activities.

PESCO-UP at the Textile ETP Annual Conference

On 13-14 May, the PESCO-UP project was featured at the 19th Textile ETP Annual Conference in Alcoy, Spain. Representing the project were the entire Textile ETP team as event organisers, with Johannes Leis from STFI, Lien Van der Schueren from Centexbel, and Carla Fite Galan from Reverse Resources.
The project partners interacted with conference attendees, providing updates on recent progress and highlighting the main goals of the PESCO-UP initiative.

Click on the photos to meet Heli Kangas from Valmet, and Anna Große and Romy Naumann from Saxon Textile Research Institute (STFI), and discover their activities within PESCO-UP and their hopes for the project!

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or HADEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.