Textile industry is a major water polluter due to synthetic dyes and finishing chemicals in its effluents. In rural areas of Portugal and other European countries, sheep wool and agro-industrial byproducts remain underutilized. Focusing on the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles by 2030, eco-friendly solutions are needed to reduce the environmental impact of the textile industry and to valorise these local resources.
AgroBioTex provides a sustainable solution by transforming agro-industrial residues and sheep wool into eco-friendly biotextiles. Through an innovative process, natural dyes and additives from agro-waste are extracted and modified for better incorporation into wool textiles, reducing the need for synthetic dyes and chemicals. This circular process cuts solvent use by 80% and minimizes the environmental impact of textile production.
Validated at TRL 4, this technology can be implemented in agro-industries to produce modified extracts from different agro-wastes, which are then sold to textile companies manufacturing wool-based textiles, and the revenue shared between the agro-industries and AgroBioTex. This business model is applicable to regions with similar challenges, making it suitable for broader European and international use.
This project valorises underutilized local resources like sheep wool and agro-industrial byproducts, promoting the wool-based textile market and providing new revenue sources for agro-industries and rural wool producers. While fostering a circular bioeconomy, AgroBioTex strengthens local markets and economies, supports local farmers, and improves quality of life in rural areas.
A pilot-scale prototype is being designed with the support of a metal-mechanic industry. A project encompassing agro-industries and interested textile stakeholders must be developed to optimize the extracts’ formulations and establish the business model.