HALO-TEX: Conversion of halophytes plants into sustainable textiles, composites, and biochemicals through circular biorefinery processes

The primary aim of HALO-TEX is to develop a sustainable, cost-competitive biorefinery system while working toward realising the objectives of the EU Circular Economy Action Plan and European Green Deal. The study will focus on six technologies for biomass processing and textile innovation, as well as the development of six new bio-based products across a variety of product categories.

HALO-TEX is developing a product information system as part of the project to improve transparency, traceability and trust for consumers when selecting circular bio-based products. The project will encourage cooperation across and between regions and sectors, to benefit vulnerable and rural areas, encourage and support policy objectives, and to foster acceptance from consumers.

At the completion of the project, HALO-TEX will have achieved a replicable model for a circular bio-based economy.

Context

The HALO-TEX project was conceived in response to the urgent need for sustainable and circular solutions in the textile and biochemical sectors, which face significant environmental and socio-economic challenges. Today, textile production relies heavily on synthetic fibres and imported raw materials such as wool and cotton, these require significant amounts of water, land, and chemicals. Furthermore, practices in these sectors contribute significantly to pollution, climate change, and resource depletion.

To address this issue, HALO-TEX is leading the way towards a circular, bio-based manufacturing model in which halophytes, salt-loving plants that can be grown on low-quality and marginal land not suitable for crops, will be converted into recyclable textiles, bio-based composites, functional additives, and high-value biochemicals. This not only frees up freshwater and agricultural land, it also supports a shift away from the traditional agricultural fibres on which the industry relies to create room for new opportunities for green industrial growth.

Summary and objectives

HALO-TEX will provide safe and competitive solutions for producing fully sustainable fibers and high-value chemicals from halophyte feedstocks, contributing to the European Green Deal (EGD) objectives while ensuring the resilience and growth of crucial industries in the EU.

The general goal is to use underexploited, climate-resilient feedstocks, namely Sea Aster (Tripolium pannonicum, syn. Aster tripolium) and Sarcocornia, to produce cellulose fibers by a biorefinery approach also delivering bio-based precursors for functional ingredients and additives for textiles and cosmetics (fine biochemicals, bioactives).

It presents an attractive route for circular multi-product processing from a complete resource valorization perspective towards high-value applications. The selected circular, non-food biomass is associated with ecological benefits, including biodiversity enhancement in agriculture systems, pollinator attraction, improved soil quality and retention, re-valorizing degraded soils, and low requirement of freshwater and fertilizers.

Specific Objectives

• WP1: Halophyte extraction and lignocellulosic fractionation

Characterisation of halophyte biomass and optimisation of extraction and pretreatment processes to recover bioactive compounds, sugars and lignin, with pilot-scale validation and sustainable valorisation routes.

• WP2: Conversion of process streams into textile and cosmetic additives

Development of antioxidants, antimicrobials, lignin nanoparticles and functionalised cellulose for textile and personal-care applications, using low-energy processes and validating alternative uses of process streams.

• WP3: Production of cellulose-based textiles and biocomposites

Manufacturing and validation of yarns and fabrics, application of bio-based finishing treatments, enhancement of mechanical recycling options, and development of biocomposites for textile accessories.

• WP4: Sustainability assessment and SSbD framework

Environmental, social and economic assessments (LCA, s-LCA, LCC, TEA) and development of a Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design framework to ensure safety, sustainability and end-of-life management.

• WP5: Product information and consumer acceptance

Development of product information systems and digital product passports, consumer-oriented tagging and interaction tools, and assessment of consumer acceptance of bio-based products.

• WP6: Dissemination, exploitation and communication

Dissemination of results, intellectual property management, coordination with related initiatives, and promotion of market uptake and stakeholder engagement.

• WP7: Project management and administration

Manage project consortium to ensure effective project implementation and alignment with time schedule, budget, and the Grant Agreement.

Consortium

The HALO-TEX consortium consists of:

• AALBORG UNIVERSITET (Denmark) – Coordinator
• HALODERMA APS (Denmark)
• HALOREFINE APS (Denmark)
• STICHTING WAGENINGEN RESEARCH (Netherlands)
• CELABOR SCRL (Belgium)
• NEXT TECHNOLOGY TECNOTESSILE SOCIETA NAZIONALE DI RICERCA R L (Italy)
• ITENE – Instituto Tecnológico del Embalaje, Transporte y Logística (Spain)
• SUN TEKSTIL SANAYI VE TICARET ANONIM SIRKETI (Turkey)
• IRIS TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, SOCIEDAD LIMITADA (Spain)
• KNEIA SL (Spain)

In addition, ITENE contributes to the assessment of environmental, social and economic performance through life cycle assessment (LCA and social-LCA), techno-economic analysis (TEA), life cycle costing (LCC) and the application of the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework.