The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA)’s research project, Green Machine, has won an ITMF Award 2022 in the Sustainability and Innovation category. It is the second international award the Green Machine has garnered in two months, following the winning of the 2022 R&D 100 Awards in August 2022.
The award: The ITMF Awards is organised by the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF). It celebrates works of merit and notable achievements in the textile field.
- The category 'Sustainability and Innovation' recognises achievements in the industry that have a focus on innovation, design, development and production. Such achievements must comply with the strictest standards of sustainability and respect for the environment.
The HKRITA project: The Green Machine is a hydrothermal treatment process that separates cotton polyester blends at scale by using only heat, water and a biodegradable green chemical.
- Its first licensing agreement was signed in 2021.
- The first industrial scale Green Machine was set up in Asia in 2020.
- This efficient commercialisation was achieved with the support of the Innovation and Technology Fund and the H&M Foundation.
- It has won a total of five awards since its launch in 2016.
What they said:
The Green Machine solves our long-term challenges in recycling blended textiles. Everything going through the hydrothermal process can be reused. The separated fibres are ready for re-spinning. The cellulose powder decomposed from cotton can be turned into functional finishes or raw materials for textile application. The cellulose powder can even be transformed into a water retention agent for agricultural use. The Green Machine has great potential to speed up the journey of sustainability and bring significant benefits to the textile industry and society as a whole. That’s why we are soon going to build the first industrial scale Green Machine in Hong Kong.
— Edwin Keh
Chief Executive Officer
The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel
The fashion and textile industry needs to move to a planet positive future where we not only aim to minimize negative impact, but create an industry that gives back more than it takes. Tools to solve the recycling challenge within this sector are crucial, to ensure we repurpose what is already out there, and create value of what is waste today. The Green Machine is a great example of an innovation that can disrupt the fashion and textile industry if scaled.
— Christiane Dolva
Strategy Lead
H&M Foundation
