Aquafil & Stiima CNR

A Path of Innovation for Textile Sustainability

The partnership between Aquafil, a leading company in the nylon yarn sector, and Stiima CNR, the Institute of Intelligent Industrial Systems and Technologies for Advanced Manufacturing of the National Research Council, represents a virtuous example of how collaboration between industry and research can drive the transition towards a circular economy. This synergy has produced significant results in two key areas: textile waste recycling and the fight against microplastic pollution.

The Challenge of Microplastics and the ISO 4484-2 Standard in Textiles

The collaboration between the two organizations has also extended to the complex issue of fibrous microplastics. The goal was to create a standardized method for their measurement, a fundamental prerequisite for effectively combating them. After years of joint studies and testing, the work led to a globally relevant result: the contribution to the creation of the international standard ISO 4484-2:2023. This standard represents the first qualitative and quantitative measurement framework for microplastics, including fibrous ones, which may be present in different matrices (air, water, solids) within the textile sector.

Future Projects in Textiles and Ecodesign: the Commitment of Aquafil and CNR

Research does not stop. Both organizations are committed to solutions and collaborations in ecodesign with the aim of tackling the problem of microplastics at the source.

Stiima CNR is currently involved in the SUMMIT project (SUstainable Mitigation of Microplastics In Textile), which aims to reduce the release of fibrous microplastics from synthetic fabrics, especially during domestic washing. Presentations illustrate how the ISO 4484-2 standard is used to validate the effectiveness of the solutions proposed by the project.

Aquafil’s commitment continues along two parallel paths.
On the one hand, the company invests in cutting-edge scientific research, collaborating on projects such as RE-TOX (REcycled Plastics in freshwaters: TOXicity and uptake in macroinvertebrates), carried out alongside MUSE in Trento. The goal of RE-TOX is to evaluate the toxicity of recycled microplastics and their impact on aquatic organisms, both in laboratory and natural environments.
On the other hand, research becomes practice: the knowledge acquired is translated into ecodesign solutions for the textile industry, effectively helping to reduce the impact of microplastics. Still within the field of ecodesign and prevention, it is worth highlighting that the new measurement methodology is a fundamental tool for the textile industry. In fact, it allows the evaluation of the microplastic footprint of a product from the earliest production stages through to its end of life, guiding choices and strategies to reduce it.

Events and Initiatives on Microplastics and Textiles

The collaboration has been at the center of numerous events aimed at spreading knowledge and awareness on sustainability issues.
Experts from both organizations have participated in international conferences and workshops on material recycling and the fight against microplastics. Their research has often been cited in scientific publications, conferences, and industry reports.

• Past Events: Aquafil and Stiima participated in conferences, such as those organized at the Chamber of Deputies with UNI (Italian Standardization Body), the Italian Association of Textile Chemists and Technicians (AICTC), and De Nora, to illustrate the importance of standardization and the details of the ISO 4484-2:2023 standard.
• Upcoming Events: “Innovation in the Treatment of Textile Wastewater” – October 3, Prato. On October 3 in Prato, at the heart of the Italian textile district, the event “Innovation in the Treatment of Textile Wastewater: Removal of Microplastics, PFAS, and Other Contaminants with Lower Costs and Emissions” will take place. During the meeting, the developed analytical method will be presented, together with the crucial importance of the collaboration between Aquafil and CNR. Together, they have added a new, fundamental milestone to sustainability and circularity in the textile world, and this event is part of their ongoing outreach activity within the project.
  

Aquafil and Stiima CNR demonstrate how a strategic and collaborative approach can transform scientific research into concrete solutions for the textile industry, turning environmental challenges into opportunities for sustainable growth in the industrial sector.