NEWS /
UnBlend

Carpets and upholstery fabrics used in hotels, ships and public interiors hold significant untapped recycling potential. A new Danish partnership, UnBlend, is working to transform how these materials are designed, reused and ultimately reintegrated into the value chain.

Extending the value of wool–nylon textiles
Across Europe, vast quantities of high-quality carpets and upholstery textiles are discarded each year when interiors are refurbished. In the EU alone, approximately 1.6 million tonnes of carpets are disposed of annually – most of which are incinerated or sent to landfill.

A large share of these materials consists of wool–nylon blends. While this combination ensures durability and long product lifecycles, it also makes recycling complex. As a result, valuable resources are lost despite their inherent quality.

Julie Brender Trads, Business Manager at the Danish Technological Institute and head of the UnBlend partnership, explains:

“Wool–nylon blends represent a high-quality yet often overlooked resource. Although they account for a relatively small share of the total textile stream, they exist in large, uniform volumes – particularly when entire interiors are replaced. For example, a single cruise ship may contain carpet equivalent to 5–10 football pitches. This scale presents a unique opportunity for efficient, large-scale recycling.”

From circular design to new applications
UnBlend approaches the challenge holistically – addressing the full lifecycle of wool–nylon textiles through three interconnected focus areas:

Design for circularity – Developing smarter constructions with fewer adhesives and improved material combinations, enabling easier separation and recycling.

Creative reuse – Exploring how textile waste can be transformed into new, high-value products through redesign and craftsmanship.

Recycling technologies – Advancing methods to separate wool and nylon fibres effectively, allowing each material to be recovered and reused independently.

Jeppe Emil Mogensen, Design Director at Gabriel, highlights the potential:

“If we succeed in separating wool and nylon efficiently, we can establish a continuous loop for high-quality materials. Closed-loop recycling significantly reduces environmental impact compared to producing virgin wool and nylon.”

Collaboration as a driver of innovation
UnBlend brings together leading expertise across industry, research and design. The partnership includes Gabriel, SheWorks, DTU, Kolding School of Design, the Danish Technological Institute, and Dansk Wilton.

For us, participation reflects a long-standing commitment to circular innovation. Our CEO, Lone Ditmer, states:

“We have worked with circularity and recycling for many years, yet viable commercial solutions for complex material compositions remain limited. UnBlend enables cross-disciplinary collaboration and opens new pathways towards scalable, sustainable solutions.”

About UnBlend
UnBlend is supported by approximately DKK 11 million from TRACE, a mission-driven research and innovation partnership working towards a circular economy for plastics and textiles by 2050. The project runs for two years.

Wool–nylon textiles are widely used in cruise ships, hotels, offices and public spaces. Today, large volumes are still discarded at end of life. Through UnBlend, the ambition is clear – to retain the value of these materials and move the industry towards a more circular future.