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The textile industry is a major source of environmental pollution worldwide, responsible for significant water consumption, toxic chemical usage, wastewater production, carbon emissions, and the production of solid waste that ends up in landfills. As discussed previously, the industry is navigating the challenges of adapting to a circular economy way of doing things, which emphasizes the reuse, recycling, and regeneration of materials for sustainable manufacturing.

 

Despite ongoing sustainability efforts, material shortages and technical issues have hindered the scalability of recycling initiatives. However, a groundbreaking innovation is set to transform the way the industry approaches recycling by providing a new source of PET (polyethylene terephthalate).

 

Developed by BenQ Materials’ high-performance textile brand, Xpore, in collaboration with Far Eastern New Century (FENC), e2cycle is a pioneering approach that converts electronic waste (e-waste) into high-quality recycled PET (rPET). This green technology not only advances the benefits of a circular economy but also helps address the global shortage of PET materials through a new and sustainable avenue for e-waste recycling.

 

Textile Solution for the E-Waste Problem

As we covered in a previous article, e-waste is a significant environmental concern that’s growing at a tremendous pace — in fact, e-waste is rising five times faster than it is being recycled. And with increasing consumption of electronic devices, shorter product life cycles, and a lack of effective recycling and disposal systems in place, the e-waste problem is not getting better any time soon.

 

That said, the problem inherently reveals its own solution. E-waste contains significant amounts of PET that can be extracted and transformed into high-quality eco-friendly materials. By leveraging the BenQ Group’s experience in the electronics industry and materials science know-how with FENC’s extensive textile manufacturing expertise, the e2cycle technology introduces innovation in recycling and offers a viable and scalable way forward.

 

The process involves sourcing raw e-waste materials from BenQ Materials’ polarizer and optical film production, extracting PET content, and transforming it into granules suitable for producing recycled yarn and membranes. With Xpore’s advanced lamination technology, these granules are then used to create high-performance, 100% PFC-free, and non-toxic functional fabrics for sustainable fashion brands.

 

A frequently asked question relates to how e2cycle compares to traditional PET recycling. Simply put, by sourcing PET from e-waste rather than solely from post-consumer bottles, e2cycle provides an alternative to traditional PET recycling. While both approaches produce high-quality recycled materials, e2cycle broadens the range of PET sources, which helps to reduce the reliance on bottle recycling and promotes greater resource sustainability.

 

In terms of performance, e2cycle PET demonstrates comparable results to virgin PET and recycled PET from bottles, with similar durability, strength, and moisture management. Note, however, that although both e2cycle PET and rPET from bottles produce quality materials, their performance can vary depending on the source and processing methods. e2cycle PET prioritizes minimizing contamination throughout the recycling process, which may lead to more consistent performance in specific applications.

 

Another question that apparel brands and manufacturers may have is regarding the types of products that can be made from e2cycle PET. The answer includes a range of applications, such as outdoor sportswear, fashion, protective wear, healthcare, and technical apparel, where the waterproof and breathable qualities of specialized garments are essential for optimal performance. Additionally, it is noteworthy that e2cycle is compliant with EU REACH regulations and is undergoing bluesign® certification.

 

To put into focus as far as e2cycle’s contribution to the circular economy is concerned, it’s important to recognize that e2cycle is a closed-loop production system. This means that it converts e-waste into source material for textiles, making it a better waste management solution and complements existing textile recycling solutions to mitigate the textile industry’s environmental impact. By repurposing e-waste, e2cycle not only reduces the reliance on virgin PET materials but also minimizes the volume of e-waste that ends up in landfills. This dual benefit highlights a more sustainable method of textile production, aligning with the wider goals of resource conservation and environmental responsibility.

 

Benefits of e2cycle in Perspective

More broadly speaking, e2cycle offers an opportunity for stakeholders in the textile industry to further advance their approach to sustainability. It acts as a catalyst for improvement in several ways, including:

• ◆ Reduced carbon footprint — By recycling e-waste, e2cycle reduces the need for virgin PET materials, promoting sustainable manufacturing and resulting in a lower carbon footprint.
• ◆ Consumer demand — This green technology produces high-performance, sustainable textiles that meet the growing demands of environmentally conscious consumers.
• ◆ Economic costs — e2cycle can help reduce the economic costs associated with e-waste disposal and the production of new raw materials.

• ◆ Improved brand reputation — Companies that adopt the e2cycle technology can enhance their brand reputation by demonstrating their commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

 

Awards and Recognition

As a pioneering textile innovation, e2cycle has received recognition for its approach to promoting a circular economy. BenQ Materials won the Performance Days Eco Performance Award in March 2024, which acknowledged the company’s collaborative efforts in addressing the e-waste challenge through the integration of recycled PET into textiles. Additionally, e2cycle was recently awarded the prestigious Top 10 honor at the ISPO Textrends Fall/Winter 2024 in Munich, further highlighting its impact and excellence in sustainable textile innovation.

 

The e2cycle technology was showcased at the 2024 Taipei Innovative Textile Application Show (TITAS) and the Performance Days Functional Fabric Fair in Munich, Germany. With leading international display manufacturers such as AUO and Innolux already onboard, BenQ Materials aims to bring on more electronics and display manufacturers — for e.g., during Touch Taiwan 2025 — to join the e2cycle movement.

 

Advancing the maturity and scale of e-waste recycling, e2cycle is a game-changer for the textile industry. As the industry continues to evolve, innovations like e2cycle will play an increasingly important role in textile production to meet the growing demands of an environmentally conscious marketplace, driving a shift towards more sustainable and responsible practices.

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