Sharing Technologies to Catalyze a Minnesota-Based Circular Textile Economy
In Progress
Challenge
Few, if any, organizations know what types or amounts of textile waste materials they generate and have a plan for how to utilize the recycled fibers in their business or to resell the fibers to other businesses. Turning the challenge of textile waste into a regional, Minnesota-based, circular economic engine would create a template that other locales can emulate with different recyclable materials.
Impact Goal
Lend organizations the Fiber Shredder textile recycling technology to catalyze innovation and adoption of fiber blends made from recycled and sustainably grown materials. In turn, grow Minnesota-based textile circular economies and inspire Minnesota organizations to build circular economies using their textile waste and sustainably grown perennial flax.
Partner Organization(s)
Project Leads
Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Department
Grumpelstiltskin's Fiber Mill
Closing the Loop on Textile Waste
The 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals of Responsible Consumption and Production and Climate Action push society to rethink how products are made and utilized. Many businesses, non-profits and governmental organizations have established 2030 (or beyond) climate goals and are pursuing recycling to reduce waste.
Textile waste is a global problem with an estimated 92 million tons produced annually. Out of the 17 million tons of textile waste discarded each year in the U.S., only 2.5 million tons are recycled.
This project aims to address the textile waste issue by engaging businesses, non-profits, governmental waste management organizations and farmers as partners to discover solutions for creating a Minnesota-based regional circular economy. This will involve the use of patent-pending Fiber Shredder technology, followed by the creation of reuse products from recycled fibers like yarn or non-woven textile products.
Project Goals
- Connect 6-12 organizations to create circular textile products and supply chains
- Deliver the mobile Fiber Shredder technology to participating organizations for a week to a month's worth of time
- Train workers in how to utilize industry standard near infrared scanning to identify waste textile material types, how to sort textile waste by color automatically and how to operate the Fiber Shredder
- Allow organizations to make as much recycled fiber as desired, test how their recycled fiber spins into yarn with carrier fibers at Grumpelstiltskin's Fiber Mill and make their own connections for selling or reuse of the recycled fibers they create
Meet the Project Team
Project Lead
Abigail Clarke-Sather
Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Department
Swenson College of Science and Engineering
Additional Team Members
Project Status
Last Updated
Aug 10, 2026
Impact Location
Duluth
Start Date
Expected Completion
Jun 30, 2027