The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA)’s research project – “Green Machine” – was awarded with the 2022 R&D 100 Awards in the category of Process/Prototyping.
Established in 1963, the R&D 100 Awards is the only science and technology awards competition that recognizes new commercial products, technologies and materials for their technological significance that are available for sale or license.
The Green Machine provides a hydrothermal solution to separate and recycle cotton polyester blended textiles at scale. The process uses only heat, water and less than 15 per cent of a biodegradable chemical to selectively decompose cotton into cellulose powders, thereby enabling the separation of the polyester fibers from the blends. The separated fibers are ready for reuse, while the cellulose powders can be converted into regenerated cellulose fibers and a durable water-repellent finishing reagent, or transformed into superabsorbent polymer for agricultural application. In 2020, the first industrial scale Green Machine was set up in PT Kahatex (an established textile manufacturer) with a processing capacity of 1.5 tons per day. ISKOTM, one of the world's leading denim producers, signed a licensing agreement on the Green Machine in 2021.
