{"id":13458,"date":"2026-03-02T07:52:58","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T07:52:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ineditinnova.com\/de-microresidu-textil-a-filament-3d-per-a-noves-aplicacions\/"},"modified":"2026-03-02T08:14:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T08:14:34","slug":"de-microresidu-textil-a-filament-3d-per-a-noves-aplicacions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ineditinnova.com\/en\/de-microresidu-textil-a-filament-3d-per-a-noves-aplicacions\/","title":{"rendered":"From Textile Micro-Waste to 3D Filament for New Applications"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When clothes are washed and dried, cotton lint and microplastics are released, often ending up in wastewater systems. Can these micro-residues be reused? This is the challenge addressed by Scarabat<\/strong>, an innovation project led by Arpe Barcelona<\/a> and Girbau Lab<\/a> with the objective of detecting, measuring and valorising the waste generated during industrial washing and drying processes.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project also involves the T\u00e8xtils.cat<\/a> cluster and in\u00e8dit, with support from ACCI\u00d3<\/a>. in\u00e8dit\u2019s role is to analyse the carbon footprint of this pilot system for textile micro-waste valorisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first wash: where most micro-waste is generated<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Girbau Lab (https:\/\/girbaulab.com\/<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the first phase of the project, Girbau\u2019s Open Lab<\/a> conducted tests to measure how many microplastics were released during 25 washing and drying cycles of Arpe Barcelona\u2019s textile products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The results show that 35% of total microplastics are released during the first wash, and 61% within the first five cycles<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The results show that 35% of total microplastics are released during the first wash, and 61% within the first five cycles. Standard washing and drying programmes release a large initial amount of fibres that gradually decreases over time, whereas delicate programmes maintain a more stable emission rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Across the 25 washes, 4.9 grams of microplastics were quantified per kilogram of fabric, equivalent to an average of 0.196 g\/kg per wash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3D filaments for new products<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The project is currently halfway through its research and development phase, and initial results are already emerging. One of the main achievements has been the development of a 3D printing filament made from recovered textile micro-waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEarly results show that what was previously considered a valueless waste stream can become a raw material for new uses and be integrated into product design and development,\u201d state the project leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This opens the door to integrating textile micro-waste into a truly circular economy, where materials remain in circulation and generate new opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 3D filament allows the material to be approached from a new perspective: enabling agile experimentation, prototyping and testing, and exploring applications beyond the textile sector. Prototypes designed to be 3D printed with this filament are currently being developed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to validating the material\u2019s technical feasibility, the project aims to explore:<\/p>\n\n\n\n