AEI Tèxtils is a partner in the project, ZeroF – Development of verified safe and sustainable PFAS-free coatings for food packaging and upholstery textile applications, which started in the virtual kicked off on January 10th together with the European Commission representatives.
ZeroF aims to develop safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) coating alternatives to replace PFAS compounds in food packaging and upholstery textiles value chains thanks to high water and oil repellency for textiles.
ZeroF will develop, over the next 3 years, new chemicals and formulations for textile coating and its validation with industrial users, including its environmental impacts (Life Cycle Assessment, Life Cycle Cost, and Environmental Footprint) and toxicology (e.g., hazard and law, Green Toxicology principles).
A mix of research and industrial partners teamed up in the ZeroF consortium to cover both packaging and textile coating value chains including end-users comprises the consortium. AEI Tèxtils is the umbrella for the advanced textile materials sector and will have a role on communication, dissemination and engagement of industry for later replication. This project is a strong follow up of previous LIFE projects coordinated by the cluster such as MIDWOR-LIFE to assess sustainable DWOR alternatives (Durable Water and Oil Repellents). A major outcome of that project was the lack of commercially available solutions for oil repellency and the need for further R&D which will be performed within ZeroF.
ZeroF project is led by VTT in Finland, and counts with strong partners such as AEI Tèxtils and its members LEITAT and E.CIMA in Catalonia, FRAUNHOFER in Germany, Luxembourg Institute Of Science And Technology, Universita Di Bologna, and the companies: KEMIRA (Finland), YANGI (Sweden), LGI Sustainable Innovation(France) and IDEACONSULT (Bulgaria).
