Tailorlux GmbH and the German Plastics Centre (SKZ) have officially launched the KIMaTex research project to revolutionise textile recycling through AI-driven material analysis. Funded under Germany’s ZIM (Central Innovation Program for SMEs), the initiative focuses on developing a cutting-edge system that identifies textile fibres and contaminants like elastane, PET, and PFAS—key barriers to effective recycling.
With textile waste mostly ending up in landfills or incinerators due to complex fibre blends, KIMaTex aims to change the game. The new system combines spectral and visual data from Tailorlux’s TailorScan device with SKZ’s AI-powered detection algorithms to pinpoint material compositions and link them to digital product passports. This empowers accurate on-site textile sorting and enables economically viable, high-quality recycling.
Unlike current tools that rely on incomplete data, the KIMaTex system is grounded in real-world analysis, offering transparency and traceability across the textile value chain. Once complete, the solution will be integrated into an intuitive app, helping manufacturers, recyclers, and brands assess textile components instantly and make informed sustainability decisions.
By focusing on smart identification and circularity, this innovation not only addresses environmental concerns but also creates new value opportunities for the textile and recycling sectors. The project runs until November 2026 under Project ID: KK5068053AB4.
