BioFashionTech
Nominated by: Fabiola Polli (Founder and CEO BioFashionTech)
Summary of the project
BiofashionTech are pioneers in recycling of mix- natural and synthetic fibres through a patent-pending biotechnology process. The core objective is contributing to a circular textile economy.
Innovation
BioFashionTech’s patent-pending biotechnology process separates, decomposes, and transforms coloured, mixed-fiber textile waste into sugars and recycled plastics without harsh chemicals, high energy consumption, or extensive sorting. The process works with viscose, linen, hemp, nylon, elastane, and polyester, recovering valuable biobased materials from heavily dyed and contaminated textiles that traditional fiber-to-fiber recycling cannot process.
Unlike mechanical and chemical methods, which require mono-type fibers, BioFashionTech’s scalable, modular system efficiently processes low-quality mixed fibers, simplifying textile waste management while cutting CO₂ emissions and water use. Currently, only 15% of global textile waste is recycled, and existing fiber-to-fiber recycling technologies can only process medium-high quality monotype fibers. BioFashionTech surpasses these limitations by working with low-quality mixed fibers, offering a cost-effective, circular alternative. The company has developed a high-fidelity prototype in collaboration with the municipalities, provinces and industry leaders. The next step is advancing toward pre-market demonstration and business model refinement.
BioFashionTech’s technology is fully compliant with EU waste directives, aligning with upcoming regulations while promoting circular economy practices. Recycling 1,000 tonnes of textile waste prevents 2,010 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, equivalent to 95,714 trees’ absorption capacity, and repurposes 27.9 million plastic bottles. This process not only reduces dependence on petroleum-based materials but also creates green jobs and strengthens local economies, reinforcing the EU Green Deal’s objectives.
Impact
BioFashionTech’s biotechnology process significantly reduces CO₂ emissions, water consumption, and textile waste, providing a sustainable alternative to incineration and landfill. Recycling 1,000 tonnes of textile waste prevents 2,010 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, equivalent to the absorption capacity of 95,714 trees, while repurposing 27.9 million plastic bottles, directly supporting climate action and circular economy goals.
The project’s industrial-scale adoption will create new jobs in biotechnology, waste management, and sustainable manufacturing, fostering local and regional economic growth. By transforming low-value textile waste into reusable biobased materials, BioFashionTech reduces dependence on petroleum-based raw materials, strengthening economic resilience.
BioFashionTech’s process surpasses conventional textile recycling by enabling mixed and dyed textiles—which traditional mechanical methods cannot process—to be converted into valuable resources. The project supports key UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 17), reinforcing commitments to sustainability, job creation, and reduced environmental impact.
With a validated prototype and established industry partnerships, BioFashionTech is advancing toward full-scale industrial deployment, demonstrating its potential for long-term impact in global textile recycling and circular economy models.
Scalability and replicability
BioFashionTech’s process is scalable and adaptable, making it an effective solution for textile waste management worldwide. Its modular, energy-efficient design allows deployment at various scales, from industrial recycling plants to smaller local processing facilities.
A key focus is the future sale and rental of modular recycling units, enabling businesses and municipalities to implement on-site textile waste conversion. Unlike traditional methods that require sorting and pre-recycling, BioFashionTech handles mixed and dyed textiles, simplifying operations and ensuring greater flexibility.
This solution aligns with the EU Green Deal and UN Sustainable Development Goals, making it suitable for replication in different regulatory and economic contexts. Having already demonstrated feasibility with a high-fidelity prototype, BioFashionTech sets a new benchmark for future textile recycling, surpassing the capabilities of mechanical recycling methods.