The road to more effective textile waste management just got easier, thanks to Scion’s scientific contribution.

The Crown Research Institute has developed solvent-free technology designed to change how fibres are recycled and reused, offering a powerful solution to the global waste challenges facing the textile industry. This scalable technology, the result of a collaborative commercialisation programme between Scion and UsedFULLY, New Zealand’s first textile cleantech company, has been demonstrated in roading applications.

The technology has been licenced exclusively to UsedFULLY, which holds the global rights to use it.

The move will help Wellington-based UsedFULLY progress plans to turn post-commercial textile waste into high-value industrial products, such as fibre for use in reinforcing roading surfaces. These products will replace traditional high-carbon alternatives and represent a significant step towards decarbonisation for New Zealand and globally.

Scion distributed and circular manufacturing portfolio lead Marc Gaugler says producing commercial value-add products is a strong focus for the organisation. “Being part of the solution for effective textile waste management aligns with Scion’s overarching focus to support New Zealand’s transition to a circular bioeconomy.

Textile waste is a big issue in New Zealand. An estimated 100,000 tonnes of re-useable fibre ends up in New Zealand landfills every year. This leads to the release of greenhouse gases that can damage the environment. Globally, the textile industry is one of the largest contributors to waste and carbon emissions, with millions of tonnes of textile waste generated annually. This innovative solution addresses two critical global challenges: the mounting issue of textile waste and the urgent need for industries to rapidly decarbonise.

“Diverting New Zealand’s textile from landfills could result in potential greenhouse gas emissions reduction of 400,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year,” Marc says. “Businesses are increasingly focused on zero carbon targets and this is expected to play a significant role in driving their future roading additive choices.”

“This also paves the way for other product development so New Zealand can avoid any end-of-life textiles going to landfill.”

While developed and proven in New Zealand, this solution can also be applied globally.

Trials suggest UsedFULLY’s plan to turn textile waste into fibre for roading surfaces could reduce bitumen usage by up to 15 percent. This will in turn reduce NZ’s reliance on imported products and improve the performance of our roads. It will also divert nearly 20 percent of textiles from landfill.

The exclusive licence means UsedFULLY can lead the way in continuing the commercialisation of Scion’s technology, to reduce NZ’s dependency on imported materials. UsedFULLY CEO Bernadette Casey says this is a step forward for textile waste management in NZ.

“We’re excited our long-standing relationship with Scion has resulted in this world-class technology. It’s a game-changer for the textile industry and for the global push to decarbonise. With this innovation, we are tackling textile waste and helping create a more sustainable future for industries worldwide.

“It marks a new era in textile waste management.”

Scion began working with UsedFULLY in 2017. The commercialisation journey of this technology is an excellent example of why Scion looks for partners early in its development process – to ensure technologies are developed to meet market needs and minimise time to market entry.