trinamiX GmbH is broadening its circular economy technology portfolio, extending its mobile near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy solutions into the footwear and textile sectors. 

 

The move is aimed at helping manufacturers, sorters, recyclers and brands tackle one of the industry’s fastest-growing challenges: identifying increasingly complex material combinations with speed and accuracy.

 

Modern shoes and garments are no longer made from simple, single-material structures. Instead, they rely on intricate blends of polymers, foams and textiles that make visual inspection unreliable for material identification. At the same time, tightening regulations and sustainability commitments are pushing the industry toward greater traceability and verifiable material data.

 

“Material innovation is driving the future of footwear and textiles, but it also increases complexity across the value chain,” said Adrian Vogel, Segment Lead Circular Economy at trinamiX. 

 

“trinamiX Mobile NIR Spectroscopy Solution provides a practical tool that helps customers gain transparency, minimize risks, and enable informed decisions in recycling and circular economy processes.”

 

In the footwear sector, the technology enables rapid on-site identification of common materials such as EVA, polyester and PU in just seconds. The system can be used across the value chain—from incoming goods inspection and production lines to sorting and recycling facilities—helping improve separation accuracy, reduce contamination, and cut down manual sorting effort.

 

The textile industry faces similar pressures, particularly with blended fabrics that are difficult to separate and recycle. trinamiX’s solution can identify key fiber types such as cotton/polyester and viscose/polyester blends, while also estimating fiber ratios in binary materials. This allows for more precise sorting and better assessment of recycling potential, even in complex compositions.

 

The company says its upcoming textile-specific application will launch in May 2026. It is designed to support textile producers, brands, recyclers, and carpet manufacturers in validating material declarations, improving sorting efficiency, and enabling more effective closed-loop recycling systems.