GERMAN INNOVATION AWARD 2025

Innovative technical textiles made from RECOSYS^® rPET win two awards

Technical textiles made from sustainable, recyclable materials offer a wide range of application possibilities, particularly for industries such as automotive. The technical textiles made from RECOSYS^® rPET by LEONHARD KURZ not only conserve valuable resources, but also provide greater creative design freedom. In recognition of this environmentally conscious innovation, KURZ has won the prestigious German Innovation Award in two categories: ‘Excellence in Business to Business - Circular Impacts’, and ‘Excellence in Business to Business - Materials & Surfaces’.

The requirements

The surfaces of the future will require more than just a synergy of pure functionality and aesthetics, as increasingly higher demands are being placed on sustainability. In the mobility sector, manufacturers now face the challenge of integrating sustainable solutions while staying ahead of market requirements. Therefore, the choice of materials plays a decisive role. According to a proposal by the EU Commission, up to 25% of the plastic used in new cars should come from recycled materials in the future. High-quality technical textiles made from RECOSYS^® rPET can contribute to meeting these sustainability targets.

The solution

The RECOSYS^® 2.0 recycling process transforms used PET transfer substrates from the graphics industry into the recycled granulate RECOSYS^® rPET. It can be processed into textile yarn, which can then be used to weave functional technical textiles for the automotive industry, as well as others. The technical textiles made from RECOSYS^® rPET can be dyed and processed in the same way as virgin material. They are robust, with structural and processing options that provide a wide range of applications for automotive interiors, while also contributing to increased resource conservation.