The Waste2Fresh project, formally titled ‘Smart innovative system for recycling wastewater and creating closed loops in textile manufacturing industrial processes’, was funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme. It aimed to tackle the pressing issues of freshwater resource scarcity and water pollution, particularly in the textile manufacturing sector, which contributes to 20% of global industrial water pollution.  

The project ran from December 2020 to April 2024, with a total EU contribution of €8.14. It was coordinated by Konya Teknik Üniversitesi in Türkiye and brought together a multidisciplinary consortium of 18 partners from across Europe and beyond.

Waste2Fresh aimed to develop a closed-loop system for recycling wastewater from dyeing processes. This system was designed for practical use in textile manufacturing facilities, such as the ERAK denim factory. It combines new methods for breaking down pollutants with advanced separation and extraction techniques, targeting near-zero waste and a 30% improvement in water efficiency compared to conventional practices.

A key innovation was the improvement of nanofique, a material used to remove colour from dye solutions. Nanofique can eliminate up to 90% of colour within two minutes and remains effective for 20 reuse cycles. However, its original production process was complex and resource-intensive, involving five synthesis steps. The project team successfully streamlined this process, reducing it to three steps, which made the production more efficient and cost-effective.  

To test nanofique’s performance, the team designed a prototype reactor at Konya Teknik Üniversitesi. This reactor was designed to keep the nanofique in constant contact with wastewater and successfully demonstrated its ability to clean real wastewater samples from the ERAK factory, confirming its effectiveness in removing dye and improving water quality at a pilot scale.

These outcomes laid the foundation for broader industrial use of closed-loop systems and advanced materials in manufacturing. The project also plans to develop nanofique fibres combined with natural materials and explore alternative catalytic materials to further improve dye removal efficiency while reducing operational costs and minimise environmental impact.

Waste2Fresh directly supported the EU’s twin transition by advancing both environmental sustainability and industrial innovation. It aligned with the Water Framework Directive and helped reduce freshwater consumption while recovering valuable resources such as salts, organics, and heavy metals. The project also contributed to greener and more digital manufacturing through the use of advanced materials and process optimisation. 

Though led by a Turkish institution, Waste2Fresh had a strong European and international dimension. The consortium included partners from Germany, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, Norway, Poland, Lithuania, Switzerland, Belgium, Ukraine, and Colombia. Notable participants included Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, The Open University, Universidad Industrial de Santander, and the Centre for Process Innovation.

This collaborative framework enabled extensive knowledge exchange and capacity building, strengthening the European research and innovation ecosystem in sustainable manufacturing.