Ressource-efficient circular economy in the textile-industry aims to extend the lifespan of textiles and reduce wate. Circular textiles play a central role here. Within the project, practical solutions are being developed to realise closed-loop recycling.

An innovation platform called „ZirTexPF“ is to be created for the protective clothing market, inspired by proven concepts from the automotive industry. This platform will be designed as a modular system and equipped with an interface for life cycle assessment (LCA). Protective clothing items will be standardized on the basis of sustainable components and can therefore be individually combined by the user.

Thanks to user-specific body scan data, it will be possible to manufacture prefabricated modules with a precise fit and produce automatically them automatically. This eliminates the need for warehousing and returns; defective components can be easily replaced and recycled. Every item of clothing is digitally recorded and assigned to the „ZirTexCRM“ textile management system according to its life cycle, making the 10R-principles (Refuse, Reduce, Redesign, Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture, Repurpose, Recycle, Recover) more sustainable and efficient.

The standardized and digitally documented parameters make it possible to disassemble, functionally adapt and reuse garments. This approach opens up new business models and offers small and medium-sized companies in particular, as well as local workshops and tailors, opportunities for customised value creation, similar to repair workshops in the automotive sector.

DIN is responsible for the overarching standardization activities in the project. This initially includes the preparation of an overview of research-relevant standards, the identification of standardization potentials together with the project partners, and the development of a subsequent standardization strategy in consultation with relevant standardization committees. The implementation of the strategy can include the development of a DIN SPEC by the consortium partners and other interested experts, a long-term exchange with and/or a contribution to the activities of relevant standardization committees, or other transfer measures.

For further information please see: https://www.texulting.com/projekte/zirtex

Project duration

10/2024 – 09/2027

Project coordination

Texulting GmbH

Project partners

• apsus GmbH — The Institute for Applied Sustainability
• Autobahn GmbH (assoziiert)
• bardusch GmbH & Co. KG
• Circular MTC e.V.
• DIN e.V.
• Fraunhofer IWU
• Freiwillige Feuerwehr Gemeinde Calden (assoziiert)
• Held GmbH
• Lions Spirit GmbH
• Textilausrüstung Pfand GmbH (assoziiert)
• TU Dresden

Project funding

The ZirTex project has received funding by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space within the framework of the call “Resource-efficient circular economy - circular sustainable textiles: development of holistic, practical solutions for closing the loop in the textile industry” under the funding code: 033R405A.