LUXEMBOURG – The Regen project, a collaborative initiative that works to accelerate the transition to a circular economy within the defence sector, has been selected by the European Defence Agency (EDA) to advance the use of recycled aramid fibres.
The Regen project, which addresses major challenges in the defence supply chain – specifically the removal of PFAS (forever chemical) coatings and the regeneration of high-performance materials for reuse – was set up to reduce waste, increase resource resilience, and support Europe’s strategic autonomy in materials innovation.
Its main partners include recycling specialist Uplift360, Spanish textile laboratory AITEX, protective clothing manufacturer FECSA and the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST).
As part of the EDA project, Uplift360 will focus on the advanced recovery and reuse of continuous aramid fibres, a critical component in defence applications. This will include overcoming the complex challenge of PFAS coating removal, a significant barrier to scaling up advanced recycling processes for high-performance defence materials such as those used in ballistic vests.
Chris Jenkins, research and innovation director of Uplift360, explained: “Project Regen marks a defining moment for defence material circularity, one that the team at Uplift360 are immensely proud to be a part of.
“It is also a significant milestone for Uplift360 as we push to demonstrate the real-world applications of its aramid recycling technology, Renew.”
The project will be led by FECSA, which will also contribute its expertise in manufacturing advanced protective textiles, while AITEX will lead the development of the fabric and characterisation testing and support Uplift360 in optimising the wet-spinning process stage. LIST will be responsible for the life cycle assessment (LCA).
Arantxa Díaz Bautista, R&D Researcher at FECSA, added: “We are proud to lead a project like Regen, which directly contributes to Europe’s strategic autonomy and supports sustainable innovation in the defence sector.
“Circularity in high-performance textiles is no longer optional – it’s a mission.”
