Official call identifier: HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-02
Objective of the call
The objective of this call is to improve the end-of-life management of textile products by advancing recycling technologies for mixed post-consumer textile waste. The call aims to increase fibre-to-fibre recycling, improve the quality and safety of secondary textile materials, and support the development of a circular textile economy in Europe.
Scope of activities
Projects should develop, demonstrate, and test innovative solutions for the collection, sorting, disassembly, separation, and recycling of post-consumer textile waste, particularly blended textile products. Activities should address fibre blends such as polycotton and combinations of natural, synthetic, and semi-synthetic fibres. Proposals should demonstrate recycling technologies, including biotechnology-based approaches where relevant, evaluate recyclability limits across multiple recycling cycles, and explore alternative applications when fibre-to-fibre recycling is no longer feasible. Projects should also improve waste characterisation, remove hazardous substances such as PFAS, minimise microplastic release, and apply lifecycle and Safe and Sustainable by Design approaches.
Eligible applicants
- Innovative SMEs, startups and enterprises aiming to scale and strengthen competitiveness
- Public-sector organisations driving transformation and societal impact
- Research and academic institutions commercialising knowledge
- Non-profit organisations delivering purpose-driven innovation
- Organisations based in EU Member States, EFTA/EEA, or Associated Countries (described in General Annex A, General Annex B, General Annex C)
- Minimum 3 independent partners from 3 eligible countries
Specific consortium we are looking for:
Consortia should include textile manufacturers, recyclers, waste management companies, technology developers, biotechnology organisations, material scientists, chemical safety experts, local authorities, lifecycle assessment specialists, and circular economy stakeholders. Participation of actors involved in textile collection, sorting, processing, and secondary material production is highly relevant.
Eligible costs
• Personnel costs for research, development, testing, demonstration and project management
• Costs for developing, improving and scaling textile recycling processes and technologies
• Costs for collection, sorting, disassembly, separation and preparation of post-consumer textile waste
• Costs for pilots, demonstrations and validation of fibre-to-fibre recycling solutions
• Costs for waste characterisation, chemical safety testing, PFAS removal and microplastic release assessment
• Costs for lifecycle assessment, lifecycle costing and Safe and Sustainable by Design evaluation
• Equipment, materials, consumables, subcontracting and other implementation costs necessary for the project
• Dissemination, clustering and coordination activities with relevant Horizon Europe textile and circular economy projects
Funding conditions
Type of action:
Innovation Action (IA)
Funding rate:
70% of eligible costs (except for non-profit legal entities, where a rate of up to 100% applies)
EU contribution per project:
Around EUR 5 - 6 million
Number of funded projects:
2 projects
Project duration:
Typically 36 months
Technology Readiness Level (TRL):
Projects are expected to reach TRL 6–8 by the end of the project. Activities may start at any TRL.
*Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) describe the maturity of a technology, from basic research (TRL 1) to fully deployed, market-ready solutions (TRL 9). TRL 6–8 corresponds to pilot-scale validation and demonstration in relevant operational environments.
Deadline for submission
17 September 2026