MIDWOR-LIFE is a project co-funded by the LIFE+ programme that aims to reduce the impact on the environment, human health, and worker safety of current Durable Water and Oil Repellents (DWOR) used in the textile industry and their alternatives by analyzing their environmental impact and technical functionalities.
On 29th March, a monitoring meeting of the MIDWOR-LIFE project was held at ACCIÓ (regional agency for economic development in Catalonia) facilities in Brussels. All partners participated in the meeting, which also counted on the presence of the project’s external monitor from NEEMO. Members of the MIDWOR-LIFE Consortium gathered at ACCIÓ facilities in Brussels. During the meeting, the actions carried out during the first 18 months of the project’s life were reviewed.
The main results obtained include the selection of the Durable Water and Oil Repellent (DWOR) products to be studied during the project. Two current DWORs (based on long-chain fluorocarbons) and seven alternatives (such as short-chain fluorocarbons, silicones, hybrid fluoride silicones, sol-gel, etc.) were selected.
The selection of the fabrics on which the DWORs are applied (material, structure, and weight) was done according to the application of the final products. Selected applications include carpets for automotive, T-shirts for sports, suits, upholstery, and workwear polo shirts. After selecting the DWORs and fabrics, a pre-screening of functionality and environmental impact was carried out. It provides a map of technical performance and environmental and health impact for the chosen DWORs.
The next step was the pre-industrial demonstration. This action comprised applying the DWORs to the fabrics by several finishing processes and the subsequent technical performance, risk, and Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) for the resulting treated fabrics.
In the following months, demonstrations will be conducted at an industrial level. Six textile finishing companies will participate: two in Spain, two in the Czech Republic, and two in Italy.
The day after the meeting, the MIDWOR-LIFE project was presented at the annual conference of the European Textile Technology Platform.
This event, held in Brussels on the 30th and 31st of March, was attended by more than 170 professionals from the sector. The focus was «Textile research in Horizon 2020.»
MIDWOR-LIFE is a European project co-funded by the European Community under the LIFE+ Financial Instrument within the Environmental Policy and Governance axis, under Grant Agreement n. LIFE14 ENV/ES/000670.
AEI TÈXTILS, a non-profit organization representing the Catalan technical textiles cluster, is the project coordinator. The consortium is completed by another five partners: three research institutes/technological centers from Spain (LEITAT Technological Center, a member of the Tecnio network, CETIM, and the Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia from CSIC) plus two technical textile clusters (POINTEX from Italy and CLUTEX from the Czech Republic).
MIDWOR-LIFE is an example of a collaborative project between clusters, aiming to improve the competitiveness of their members, SMEs in the technical textiles sector.
More information: www.midwor-life.eu
