Arnhem, the Netherlands, 19 October, 2021 – Teijin Aramid, the world-leading aramid producer, will exhibit at the International A+A Congress in Düsseldorf (October 26th-29th). As well as showcasing its high-performance aramid solutions for protective materials, such as Teijinconex®, the company will highlight its dynamic new circularity collaboration with Purfi.
Breathing new life into aramid fibers
Under the banner of “All protection, no waste”, Teijin Aramid and Purfi / Concordia Textiles collaborate on an innovative technology that regenerates pre- and post-consumer aramid-based materials used in protective textiles to fiber level with an extremely high standard. The ambition is for the rejuvenated fibers to be reused by Teijin Aramid and its value chain partners in the production of aramid-based protective textiles.
Core ambitions
The companies’ groundbreaking collaboration aims to achieve circularity in the aramid chain for Teijinconex®-based products while minimizing waste and the use of virgin materials. The partnership is underpinned by three core ambitions: 1) reducing carbon emissions, 2) setting new standards for recycling all aramid fibers, and 3) building transparent material streams for aramid textiles.
Targeting a fully circular aramid chain
Teijin Aramid’s goal is a fully circular aramid value chain with zero emissions. The company has been developing recycling technologies to solve waste problems across multiple industries. For over 20 years, Teijin Aramid has been mechanically recycling end-of-life products into pulp, from which useful products such as brake pads can be made. But the company’s ambitions have grown: all aramids deserve to remain in the loop over and over again, including aramids used in protective apparel.
Jan Roos, Director Sustainability at Teijin Aramid: “We strive to become the best aramid company for the world. To do so, it is paramount to become fully circular, and we therefore need to work together with partners in the supply chain and explore suitable recycling routes while maintaining product performance. We are excited to take this step in our collaboration with Purfi in the field of protective apparel.”
Koen De Ruyck, General Manager at Purfi: “We are very excited to work together with Teijin Aramid to move one step closer to a sustainable and circular world. The combination of our technologies is raising the bar in the textile and garment recycling industry.”
A+A Congress
The 37th International A+A Congress is the central German joint event for occupational safety and health at work with European and international appeal. Visitors to A+A can discover more about Teijin Aramid’s new circularity collaboration by visiting the Teijin Aramid and Purfi/Concordia Textiles representatives at Hall 3, Booth B17, Hall 4, and Hall 4, Booth E06, respectively.
About Teijin Aramid
Teijin Aramid is a subsidiary of the Teijin Group and world leader in aramids. Its aramid products Twaron®, Teijinconex®, Technora® and its ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) Endumax® are renowned for their strength, sustainability, safety, heat resistance and low weight and are used in a variety of markets and segments, including automotive, safety and life protection, aerospace and a wide range of industrial applications. These high-performance materials are produced in the Netherlands, Thailand and Japan.
For more information: www.teijinaramid.com
About the Teijin Group
Teijin (TSE: 3401) is a technology-driven global group offering advanced solutions in the fields of environmental value; safety, security and disaster mitigation; and demographic change and increased health consciousness. Originally established as Japan’s first rayon manufacturer in 1918, Teijin has evolved into a unique enterprise encompassing three core business domains: high-performance materials including aramid, carbon fibers and composites, and also resin and plastic processing, films, polyester fibers and products converting; healthcare including pharmaceuticals and home healthcare equipment for bone/joint, respiratory and cardiovascular/metabolic diseases, nursing care and pre-symptomatic healthcare; and IT including B2B solutions for medical, corporate and public systems as well as packaged software and B2C online services for digital entertainment. Deeply committed to its stakeholders, as expressed in the brand statement “Human Chemistry, Human Solutions”, Teijin aims to be a company that supports the society of the future. The group comprises more than 170 companies and employs some 20,000 people across 20 countries worldwide. Teijin posted consolidated sales of JPY 836.5 billion (USD 7.7 billion) and total assets of JPY 1,036.4 billion (USD 9.5 billion) in the fiscal year that ended on March 31, 2021
For more information: www.teijin.com
About Purfi
Purfi is the leader in fiber rejuvenation technology which focuses on the strategic categorization and classification of textile fabric waste, and the subsequent processing of these materials using patented and trade secret protected machinery and process techniques. Purfi is unlike any traditional textile recycler in the world because we produce rejuvenated fibers from textile waste.
Purfi distinguishes itself from traditional recycling which in most cases typically uses aggressive mechanical tearing, resulting in mostly downcycled end-products, or caustic chemicals and high resource costs, which produces an expensive end-product. Purfi’s rejuvenation technology transforms post-industrial textile waste into truly sustainable circular fibers while maintaining an extremely low carbon footprint. Purfi’s technologies make use of every fiber captured in its process resulting in “Zero Waste” from the customer’s materials.
Purfi Sourcing technology provides complete transparency throughout the Supply Chain for its customers since Purfi can track raw materials from their origin at the manufacturer to the final product at the Purfi rejuvenation facility.
We can rejuvenate any fiber whether manmade or natural. Purfi is OEKO TEX, GRS, ECOCERT, and REACH certified.
Purfi is a joint venture of Concordia Textiles and Purfi Global.
Find out more about us at www.purfi.com
Press Contact
Teijin Aramid (Arnhem, the Netherlands)
Corporate Communications
CMC@teijinaramid.com