Ballistic vest using aramid fiber. Source (All Images) | FECSA/Jorge Felipe Espreso

The European Defence Agency (EDA, Brussels, Belgium) has selected the REGEN project as one of three initiatives to integrate circularity into the defence sector. Uplift360 (Luxembourg and Bristol, U.K.), an international chemical recycling company will play a critical role in this effort, leveraging its specialist expertise in the recycling and regeneration of aramid fibers to advance sustainable material solutions for high-performance defense applications.

As part of the REGEN project, Uplift360 will focus on the recovery and reuse of continuous aramid fibers. This effort includes overcoming the complex challenge of PFAS coating removal, reported to be a significant barrier to scaling up advanced material recycling. Through the development of technologies to increase the quality and characteristics of recycled spun aramids, Uplift360 aims to directly engage with material users for ongoing product evolution and development.

The REGEN project brings together a consortium that includes Fábrica Española de Confecciones S.A. (FECSA) and Aitex from Spain, Uplift360 and the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST). This collaboration will foster knowledge sharing, technical innovation and sustainable resource management.

Uplift360’s Role in REGEN includes fiber recovery, developing a PFAS coatings removal technology, engaging with material users to refine and evolve product performance, and techno-economic analysis (TEA).

REGEN’s other partners’ roles are as follows:

• FECSA: Coordinator of the REGEN project, FECSA leads the consortium and communication strategy, contributing its expertise in advanced protective textiles and sustainable innovation for the defense sector.
• Aitex: Leads the development of the fabric and characterization testing.  It is also supporting Uplift360 by contributing its expertise in optimizing the wet-spinning process.
• LIST: Responsible for the life cycle assessment (LCA).