A sustainable textile research centre has been established by the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in collaboration with Royal Golden Eagle (RGE), a Singapore-based greentech manufacturing company. The centre will be called the RGE-NTU Sustainable Textile Research Centre (RGE-NTU SusTex).
The objectives: The RGE-NTU SusTex centre seeks to promote innovation in textile recycling and use research findings to address practical issues. It will concentrate on four key areas: eco-friendly dye removal, automated textile waste sorting systems, sustainable textile recycling, and novel textile creation.
- Researchers in the S$6 million (Us $4.3 million) joint research centre will look into areas such as next-generation eco-friendly and sustainable textiles, and refabricating textile waste into fibre. The aim is to study the chemistry of various textile materials and determine the optimal processes and techniques required to bring us closer to a circular textile economy.
The backdrop: The project is in line with Singapore’s Zero Waste vision, as well as the Singapore Green Plan 2030.
- The research centre, located at NTU’s School of Materials Science and Engineering, was officially launched by Grace Fu, Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment.
The players:
- NTU has built its strengths in sustainability over the years through a wide range of offerings and achievements in education, research, technological innovation, artistic creativity and service to society. To build on this momentum to do our part for the environment, the University has a 15-year manifesto that will guide its actions and solidify its reputation as one of the global leaders in sustainability.
- Royal Golden Eagle is global integrated, resource-based industrial group, with businesses in paper, palm oil, viscose, construction and energy, property and asset management. Owned by Indonesian businessman Sukanto Tanoto, the group employs 60,000 people worldwide with assets exceeding US$25 billion.
