In this context, the correct identification of textiles and textile blends is critical to sorting them into clean waste streams that are required to properly recycle textile waste into new textile fibers and products.

To further enhance its manual sorting process, Boer Group has deployed the trinamiX Mobile NIR Spectroscopy Solution to support employees in reliably identifying the most common textiles and textile blends on the spot in a fast and user-friendly way. Based on an established methodology for material identification, the innovative plug-and-play solution quickly detects the types of textiles. After a brief contact with the sample, the intuitive feedback is immediately displayed on a smartphone, tablet, or computer display.

The solution supports a wide range of common textile grades used in clothing, furniture, and household goods. Textiles made from more than one material can also be identified. These include blends based on acrylic, cotton, nylon, polyester, silk, or wool.

“We are constantly working on sustainable ways to reduce residual textile waste to a minimum and find better solutions to keep textiles in the cycle,” says Rainer Binger, COO of Boer Group. “With trinamiX’s solution, we have found a valuable tool that has led to measurable advancements throughout our manual sorting activities”.