BASF SE and trinamiX GmbH, a leader in mobile spectroscopy and a wholly owned subsidiary of BASF, will jointly exhibit their cutting-edge textile recycling solutions at the Textiles Recycling Expo, scheduled for June 4–5, 2025, in Brussels, Belgium. The companies will be located at booth 2341 in hall 3, where they will demonstrate how their technologies support a more sustainable textile industry through innovative approaches to sorting and circularity.

A centerpiece of BASF’s presentation is loopamid®, a recycled polyamide 6 (PA 6) that is made entirely from textile waste. Unlike traditional recycling processes that often require pure material streams, loopamid is produced from a wide range of textile waste, including blends that contain elastane and other challenging components. “The technology behind loopamid enables textile-to-textile recycling for polyamide 6, even from fabric blends that are typically difficult to process,” said Dag Wiebelhaus, head of innovation management at BASF’s Monomers division and project lead for loopamid.

BASF has recently commissioned the world’s first commercial loopamid production facility in Caojing, Shanghai, China. With an annual capacity of 500 metric tons, the plant processes both industrial and post-consumer textile waste. This includes cutting scraps, defective batches, offcuts, and used garments made of polyamide 6. Many of these materials are traditionally hard to recycle due to their mixed fiber content, dyes, additives, and non-textile components such as zippers and buttons. BASF partners with collection and sorting organizations to streamline waste sourcing and pre-treatment processes that ensure efficient recycling.

Complementing loopamid is trinamiX’s Mobile Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy Solution, which offers fast, reliable, and non-destructive identification of textiles. The handheld device can distinguish between fibers such as cotton, polyester, wool, and polyamide (including PA 6 and PA 6.6), making it a valuable tool for sorting operations. The technology has already been used to validate PA 6 waste streams for loopamid production.

trinamiX’s solution is available in multiple formats to support various workflow requirements. In addition to a compact handheld device suited for on-the-spot checks, a semi-automated version can be integrated into sorting tables, enabling automatically triggered scans for increased efficiency and throughput.

The Expo will also feature the debut of trinamiX PAL Two, the latest iteration of its portable spectrometer. With single-handed operation and a built-in display for direct results, the device is designed for ease of use in industrial and field environments.

“We’re thrilled to participate in the Textiles Recycling Expo and connect with a vibrant community of sustainability advocates,” said Adrian Vogel, team lead for circular economy at trinamiX. “Our solutions empower recyclers with real-time data, promoting transparency and smarter decision-making across the textile value chain.”

Together, BASF and trinamiX are demonstrating how innovative materials and technologies can accelerate the transition to a circular economy in the textile sector, addressing key challenges in sorting, recycling, and material reuse.