News

3rd Consortium Meeting in Reutlingen University

10th and 11th of March 2026

While our virtual meetings have kept the momentum going, the sheer energy, focus, and practical learning that occurred during our 3rd Consortium & General Assembly Meeting was different. For two days (March 10-11, 2026), our team gathered in person at the innovative TEXOVERSUM Faculty of Textiles at Reutlingen University in Germany, a venue dedicated to shaping the future of textiles through sustainability and recycling.

Transitioning from screens to a physical workspace amplified our collaboration.

Day one kicked off with technical updates across all our key work packages (WPs). We covered essential topics like trim detection and separation, eco-design, and smart assembly solutions.

What made this meeting unique was the integration of interactive workshops. Instead of just listening to presentations, we spent the first day participating in these dynamic workshops. We brainstormed solutions for Textile Design & Manufacturing for Recyclability, explored the intricacies of Traceability Systems and Digital Product Passports with our partners at Zentrix, and kicked off the crucial planning for our upcoming Use Cases with CIRCE.

The RTU lab tour

While we handled important administrative tasks in the General Assembly, the highlight was the tour of the Sustainability Lab at the TEXOVERSUM.

This lab is a research platform pushing the boundaries of the textile chain. Our group had the privilege of touring the facility and hearing detailed explanations about:

  • Machinery: Seeing the specific tools designed for recycling processes in action gave everyone a much clearer understanding of the technological feasibility of our goals.

  • Material diversity: We learned about several different types of cotton and alternative fibers, vital knowledge for developing truly sustainable solutions.

  • Innovations in clothing projects: We got to see some of the real-world garment projects being developed in the lab, which made our abstract research incredibly concrete. Seeing the “future technology of textiles” applied to actual clothing was inspiring.

Return

A step forward

Our time in Reutlingen was productive. We accomplished a great deal of work, but more importantly, we strengthened our connections and shared understanding. Seeing the machinery, materials, and projects firsthand in the TEXOVERSUM has given us a fresh perspective and renewed energy.

 

The next Consortium Meeting will be held online but in the meantime, we have too many action points to follow and news coming. 

So, stay tuned!