Threading CO2

From carbon dioxide to polyester fiber 

In the European Union's Horizon funded Threading Co2 circular economy project, the aim is to develop an industrial-scaled process and facility, where recovered carbon dioxide waste is made into polyester fiber (PET). A facility operating on renewable energy is planned in the Netherlands. The project is intended to advance in stages, starting with laboratory testing, moving to the demo-phase, and ending with a pilot facility. As a result of the process developed in the project, a 70% emission reduction compared to the current PET- fiber production will be achieved.

From carbon dioxide to polyester fiber 

The project has a total of 13 partners. The project manager is the chemical technology company Fairbrics from France. Two universities are involved: The University of Antwerp (UANT), and the Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT), research and technology center Tecnalia from Spain, technology center for the plastics industry AIMPLAS from Spain, project consulting company CiaoTECH from Italy, the textile and fiber research institute DIFT from Germany, information technology company Digitech from Estonia, automotive supplier Faurecia from France, environmental consulting company Naldeo from France, Triple Helix SurePure from the Netherlands and Jacquard weaving company Les Tissages Jacquard (LTD) from Charlieu, France.

The work packages of the project are:

WP1 Scaling up the Monoethylene Glycol (MEG) production process and setting up a pre-industrial pilot line. 

WP2 Scaling up the Monoethylene Glycol (MEG) production process and setting up an industrial demo-line.

WP3 Production tests of polymers and fibers, fine-tuning. 

WP4 Life cycle sustainability review.

WP5 Development of modular learning resources. 

The City of Lappeenranta is involved in the work package WP5 led by LUT-University, where teaching material is developed. The main activities are supporting the constructing and piloting of training materials, for example organizing workshops on carbon dioxide reuse for local stakeholders, dissemination and communication, and validating and piloting the training program in South Karelia.

1.1.2023 - 31.12.2026

The City of Lappeenranta together with 13 project partners

The European Union