SUSTAINABLE, CIRCULAR COMPOSITE MATERIALS – NEW PATHWAYS FOR TECHNICAL TEXTILES
From April 21st to 24th, we will be exhibiting at Techtextil – our leading industry platform for technical textiles and innovative material solutions. You can find us in Hall 11.0, Booth B39. We look forward to exchanging ideas, gaining new inspiration, and discussing specific application questions directly on site. Our focus will be on three key areas, addressing current market demands in performance, sustainability, and circularity.
FILK Freiberg stands for application-oriented research, development, and material testing in the field of technical textiles – from the initial material concept to validated performance. Our core competencies lie in the development of sustainable coatings, circular materials, smart textiles, and multi-layer and functional composite systems. In doing so, we combine material design, process know-how and testing technology into continuous development and qualification paths: We translate requirements into robust specifications, develop samples and demonstrators and validate results using comparable parameters in the testing laboratory – as a basis for scaling, industrialization and market launch.
Meet our experts for functional composite materials and from our accredited testing laboratory – secure your appointment and tickets for techtextil 2026 now! You'll find the form at the bottom of this page. We look forward to seeing you!
What we have in store for you – Our focus topics
Closing the Loop - Bio-based, recyclable composite materials for truck tarpaulins
This year, a key focus is on bio-based, coated composite materials, for example, for truck tarpaulins, which combine performance in use with a circular economy – an option for companies that want to reconcile robust sustainability goals with functional specifications.
Mechanically recyclable: The composite is designed so that textile and plastic fractions can be separated after use – as a basis for further processing by similar material types.
High recycling rate: A large proportion of the separated fractions can be reintroduced into the material cycle – as recycled material streams for new applications.
Cascading use / Upcycling: Before material recycling, the material concept enables a second use phase: Used truck tarpaulins can first be upcycled into original products such as bags and wallets – before subsequent mechanical recycling.
The results are intended to show companies along the value chain for the production of flexible polymer composites how they can develop a sustainable future for their industry and thus contribute to the UN's global sustainability goals.
Visit us at techtextil, April 21–24, 2026 in Frankfurt, Hall 11.0/Booth B39, and learn from our experts about the paths we want to take with you!
AboutMaterialZ – Digital platform for bio-based material innovation
AboutMaterialZ is a digital platform that independently, structurally, and scientifically compiles material data – with the goal of making NextGen Materials visible, measurable, and comparable. Instead of fragmented information and difficult-to-verify claims, reliable material profiles are created based on established testing procedures: including information on ingredients, material characteristics, and key performance indicators.
AboutMaterialZ consolidates key information on ingredients, characteristics, and key performance indicators for each material. This is based on standardized testing procedures from which genuine key performance indicators are derived. This transforms fragmented information into a robust data profile – usable for material suppliers, brands, development, purchasing, sustainability teams, and processors who need to accurately assess technical suitability, performance, and traceability.
At launch on March 15, 2026, we are putting comparability into practice with pilot materials from industry – from bio-based synthetic leather to NextGen leather alternatives. This makes it transparent what materials can really do and how they perform in direct comparison.
If you are a manufacturer of bio-based composite materials, you should definitely meet our colleagues from AboutMaterialZ in Hall 9.1, Stand B43D and find out how you too can make your material visible.
FILK veg Ident - Animal-free analytical verification
In parallel with the data platform, we are expanding our service portfolio with the new FILK Ident testing series.
With the FILK Ident testing series, the FILK Freiberg Institute is consolidating its identification and characterization testing services for biogenic materials into a modular portfolio that addresses a growing market bottleneck: For next-generation materials, communication and verification often diverge. Terms like "bio-based," "animal-free," or "sustainable" are quickly adopted in external communications—but without consistent testing and data logic, they often remain mere marketing promises that are difficult to verify along the supply chain.
The FILK Ident testing series addresses this gap, translating claims into verifiable parameters: from established animal species identification, e.g., using FILK animal Ident, to the FILK veg Ident module, and further, primarily biological, tests currently in development. The focus is not on label logic, but on analysis and evidence—neutral, independent, and without judgment. This provides companies with a solid basis to consistently substantiate material statements internally (R&D, purchasing, quality) and externally (customers, partners, communication).