STFI presents ideas for the textile circular economy and solutions for a healthy and safe life

Sächsisches Textilforschungsinstitut e.V. (STFI) has been supporting companies in developing marketable innovations for over 30 years. With a clear focus on sustainability, the environment, health and protection, the STFI offers future-oriented research, textile testing for tailor-made solutions and certification of personal protective equipment. At Techtextil 2026, the institute will present ideas for the textile circular economy and showcase solutions for healthy and safe living.

As a European beacon of textile research, we drive innovations that conserve resources, improve processes and protect people. We develop sustainable ecological solutions for practical application on a scientific basis and ensure that textile products and processes are safe.

We take a holistic approach to the textile circular economy. We create sustainable solutions for the entire textile value chain, from raw material selection to production and use to the collection and recycling of materials. The aim is to conserve resources and establish circular alternatives to the linear economy. At Techtextil, we are showcasing a sound booth that demonstrates the performance of acoustically effective nonwovens. What makes it special is that it is made from textile waste materials that were previously thermally recycled.

We strive for peak performance in the name of health. Our vision is to build a sustainable bridge between health, technology and lifestyle. The close integration of functional textile design, medical expertise and resource-saving material concepts results in products that promote health, combine hygiene and comfort, and at the same time foster innovation and environmental awareness. At Techtextil, we are presenting a belt system for postnatal muscle building that incorporates washable electrodes for muscle stimulation and adapts to the decreasing abdominal circumference thanks to its special knitted construction.

We are very familiar with personal protective equipment. Clothing and equipment for personal protection form the last barrier against external influences and hazards. These hazards can be mechanical, chemical, thermal, optical or even acoustic in nature. At Techtextil, we are presenting a textile concept that extends the existing level of protection against stabs and cuts to include impact protection, thus increasing the overall protection of users in practical working environments. Hunters and forestry workers need to fear encounters with wild boar less during their work in the forest.

We see our environment as the key to a healthy life. Our stated goal is to use textile technologies in such a way that they reduce environmental impact, protect natural resources and create liveable spaces for future generations, because it is our future that is at stake. Greening our urban living spaces is essential for a good quality of life and protects buildings from the effects of weather. Textile, drapable systems offer flexible and easy-care greening solutions for this purpose.

Technical textiles are all about pure performance. We research and develop functional technical textiles and nonwovens that are precisely tailored to specific performance requirements and conditions of use. The focus is not on decorative aspects, but on the functional and safety-related effects of the materials. Industrial textiles make a decisive contribution to safety, efficiency and sustainability in areas such as construction, transport, mechanical and plant engineering, environmental technology and recycling.

On two evenings during the trade fair, we invite interested parties to two mini-symposia at our stand. On 21 April 2026, learn more about our view of sustainable concepts such as the textile circular economy, knowledge transfer for the textile industry at the STFI Academy, and innovations for healthy living. On 22 April 2026, we will take you on a journey through our facilities: "More Than Machines – Engineering Expertise for Advanced Textile Development" provides insight into the fascinating worlds of auxetics and functionalisation. Starting at 5 p.m. each day at our exhibition stand.