A revolutionary thermoreversible adhesive technology by researchers at the University of Warwick promises to make textile recycling significantly more scalable, reducing waste and improving sustainability in apparel manufacturing.
- The breakthrough entails an adhesive that allows garments to be bonded at low temperatures and later disassembled at high temperatures (above dry-cleaning levels).
- This thermoreversible adhesive science paves the way for enhanced recycling opportunities, as part of the overall automated assembly manufacturing process, producing apparel in-market and on-demand.
THE RESEARCH: The research is led by Professor Remzi Becer and Dan Mackinnon Ph.D. from Warwick’s Department of Chemistry, in collaboration with apparel automation pioneer CreateMe Technologies’ research scientist Yixin Liu, Ph.D., MS.
- The potential applications extend far beyond fashion, impacting industries such as healthcare, automotive, aerospace, and home goods.
THE TECHNOLOGY: This reversible adhesive technology, the result of three years of intensive research and backed by 19 patents, enables fully automated bonded assembly and disassembly of garments for recycling.
- This disassembly process occurs at higher temperatures than typical washing and care operations, reducing the risk of inadvertent failure before the garment reaches the end of its life.
- CreateMe and Warwick are actively engaging with industry leaders to scale this groundbreaking adhesive technology, extending its applications beyond fashion through beta testing and licensing opportunities.
- This scalable approach highlights the adhesive’s potential to address sustainability challenges on a global scale, transforming not only apparel manufacturing but also other industries and recycling industry partners reliant on efficient, circular production models.
WHAT THEY SAID:
This collaboration demonstrates how material science and automation can converge to address global sustainability challenges.
— Professor Remzi Becer
Department of Chemistry
University of Warwick
CreateMe is uniquely positioned to transform how apparel is made. The timing could not be greater with the Extended Producer Responsibility legislation currently being enacted in Europe and in certain US states that bring enhanced requirements for end of life management of apparel products. This is a game changer for enabling the wider adoption of locally produced apparel and to facilitate recycling.
— Cam Myers
Founder & CEO
CreateMe
