Techtextil 2026 Innovation Award winners tackle PFAS, recycling and sustainability
Techtextil announced the winners of its 2026 Innovation Awards on April 21, during the trade fair in Frankfurt. An international jury selected nine projects across seven categories for advances in materials, processes and applications.
These awards highlight practical solutions for industries like automotive, medical and construction. Each winner addresses real challenges, from chemical bans to waste reduction.
New Concept Category
Bäumlin & Ernst AG, with partners Empa, Lothos KLG and Seilfabrik Ullmann AG, won for EC0Tex. This plasma-based process coats yarns with an organosilicon layer to repel water without PFAS or fresh water.
The dry plasma method mimics northern lights and breaks down to sand at end-of-life. Bäumlin & Ernst plans PFAS-free water sports gear within a year.
aweXome Ray Inc. took the second New Concept award for axrial. It spins carbon nanotubes into filaments and nonwovens for conductive textiles in EVs and robots.
These yarns process like regular textiles and debut at Techtextil 2026. Early tests involve car and aerospace firms.
New Chemicals & Dyes Category
CITEVE earned recognition for bio-based printing pastes from waste like vine prunings and food by-products. Over 94 percent bio-derived, they suit rotary screen printing for fashion and homes.
The pastes replace petroleum thickeners with collagen and chitosan. Printed samples appear at the show.
H&B Materials won the other spot with a PFAS-free finish from agricultural fatty acids. It grafts repellency directly onto fibers for a lotus effect on cotton blends.
Compatible with standard machines, it scores top in spray tests. The startup seeks funding for pilots.
New Material Category
spek Design, with DITF, Tecnaro and Buck, created FormLig – knittable wood from lignin-coated cellulose yarns. The compostable fabric shapes when heated for packaging or tree guards.
Lignin, often burned as pulp waste, now forms flexible knits. Applications span furniture to horticulture.
Senbis Polymer Innovations won for Mariva, a biopolyester matching PET strength but biodegradable without microplastics. It runs on existing lines as a drop-in solution.
A new startup scales it for sportswear and nonwovens. Pilot spins confirm PET-like performance.
New Product Category
NUO, partnering with DITF, developed NUO FlexHolz – bio-based wood veneers lasered onto hemp fabric with lignin adhesive. Flexible for car interiors like Fiat panels.
The process skips fossil glues for sustainable forestry woods. Samples show in Hall 11.1.
ITFT at University of Stuttgart won for FlectoLine, AI-controlled fiber-reinforced facade modules. They tilt for shading, cutting indoor heat by 8°C and boosting comfort.
PV cells add power; weather data drives angles. A full model displays at the fair.
New Production Technology, Digitalisation & AI Solutions
Fibre Extrusion Technology (FET) received the award for hexane-free UHMWPE spinning with supercritical CO2. It cuts toxic solvents for strong fibers in ropes and armor.
The FET-500 plant entered commercial use in 2025. It supports small-scale medical and protective gear.
New Recycled Materials & Recycling Technologies
Samsara Eco’s EosEco uses AI-designed enzymes to recycle polyester and nylons into virgin-quality fibers endlessly. Lululemon already uses it for 20 percent of fibers.
Partners like Nilit target elastane next. It shifts synthetics to circular loops.
re.solution won for electrochemical hydrolysis of mixed waste, slashing chemicals by 94 percent and CO2 by 90 percent versus virgin polyester. No salt waste forms.
A one-ton-per-day plant starts mid-2026. It draws interest from collectors and brands.
New Application Category
No winner appeared in early announcements, but jury selections included this group. Standard categories like New Concept and New Material had two each, while others one.
Official press notes 11 Techtextil innovations total, matching Texprocess entries for 17 overall. The New Application spot likely went to a project like FlectoLine, though some sources shift it to New Product
Jury and Ceremony Details
The calibre of judges on the panel shows how important the Techtextil Innovation Award is:
Eng. António Braz Costa, General Manager
Technological Centre for the Textile and Clothing Industry of Portugal (CITEVE), Portugal
Johannes Diebel, General Manager
Research Council of Textiles (FKT) e.V., Germany
Isabelle Ferreira, Deputy Scientific Director – Innovation
The French Institute of Textiles and Clothing, France
Dr. Heike Illing-Günther, Managing Director
Saxon Textile Research Institute e.V., Germany
Dr. Jan Laperre, General Manager
Centexbel, Belgium
Prof. Dr. René Rossi, Head of Laboratory for Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles
Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA), Switzerland
Dr.-Ing. Thomas Stegmaier, Chief Sustainable Officer, Competence Center Textile Chemistry, Environment & Energy
German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF), Germany
Prof. Dr. Henry Yi Li, Chair of Textile Science and Engineering & Chairman, Textile Bioengineering and Informatics Society
The University of Manchester, Department of Materials, School of Natural Sciences, Great Britain
The ceremony will be happened April 21 in Hall 11.1.
Winners exhibit in a special area. Categories span concepts to recycling, with no New Application winner listed.
These projects show textiles adapting to regulations and demands. Visitors handle samples and discuss partnerships at Techtextil.
