End-of-life textile processing plant, Lounais-Suomen Jätehuolto in Finland

Innovative textile recycling

LSJH, a municipal waste management company in South-West Finland, has carried out long-term development work to recycle end-of-life textiles, both as part of its partner network and in its own research projects. The company built a pilot processing plant for end-of-life textiles in Paimio, and AFRY supported LSJH in several phases of the project.

In the construction and commissioning phase of the pilot plant, AFRY brought to the project the experience of its experts from investment projects and commissioning of plants. To support the investment plan for a full-scale sorting plant, AFRY carried out both separate market surveys and a pre-engineering project for LSJH. The market surveys mapped both the market for the products of the end-of-life textile processing plant and the available technologies for the processing plant's processes.

Unique expertise for the customer's needs

In the market mapping of the products, AFRY had a unique opportunity to combine expertise in recycled materials, industrial production and sustainability impacts into a package that meets the customer's needs. The market for recycled fibres is international, so the project utilized the expertise of AFRY's personnel in different countries and their understanding of local companies and market situations.

In the processing of end-of-life textiles, AFRY brought together expertise in the production of man-made cellulose fibres as well as the automotive and construction industries to support LSJH's sales work.

The technology market survey focused on end-of-life textile sorting technologies, which were based on AFRY's knowledge of plastic sorting technologies and ready-made contacts with equipment suppliers. The basic principles of sorting technologies are the same in the sorting of plastics and textiles, but an understanding of the differences between textile materials and plastics is also required, e.g. due to the properties of fibre structures and blended materials.

Vision of a full-scale processing plant

LSJH's project team had been developing the project for a long time. With the experience of the pilot plant, the company had a strong vision of a full-scale end-of-life textile processing plant’s business and required processing equipment. In preparation for the investment decision, AFRY compiled the plans in a pre-engineering project and verified, among other things, the planned material flows at the process level. AFRY also prepared LSJH's environmental permit application for the end-of-life textile processing plant.

With the help of AFRY's experts, we have always managed to focus our work on a case-by-case basis and focusing on the essentials. The cooperation has always been goal-oriented, professional and mutually appreciative, which has resulted in a confident and pleasant working atmosphere.

Aki Honkanen, Lounais-Suomen Jätehuolto Oy, Project Manager

AFRY was also prepared to support LSJH throughout the process equipment procurement process during public tendering. The policy of the EU Waste Framework Directive, however, transferred the collection and recycling of end-of-life textiles under producer responsibility, which meant that the end-of-life textile processing plant did not end up in the investment phase implemented by LSJH.