From old to new –
geotextiles made from recycled raw materials

An inspiring start
I still remember the day when I first heard about the idea of making geotextiles from recycled PET. The ecoLine concept was presented in a meeting. As someone who was already intensively involved with sustainability during my studies, I was immediately enthusiastic. The ability to convert old PET bottles into high-quality reinforcement products seemed to me to be not only an innovative solution for our company, but also a significant contribution to environmental protection.

Sustainability in construction
We do not have an endless supply of resources on this planet. We all know that. But what many people don't know – despite numerous studies and comparative calculations – is that geosynthetics can significantly reduce the use of steel and concrete. The use of geosynthetics significantly reduces the ecological footprint of the building compared to conventional construction methods. Our products are made of polyester fibres (PET), among others, as this material is particularly suitable for reinforcement in earthworks. However, the basis of these synthetic fibers are energy- and carbon-intensive basic building blocks. Our aim was therefore to exploit the full savings potential of the ecological footprint if we succeed in making the geosynthetics themselves even more sustainable.

The way to the ecoLine
Our aim, and at the same time our challenge, was to ensure that the quality and durability of our products were not impaired. After all, our reinforcement products are supposed to perform at their full capacity in earthworks for up to 120 years. We started by investigating the savings potential of recycled PET and our production team developed prototypes.

It was fascinating to see that, thanks to the special properties of the polyester and a special recycling process, we were able to bring the quality of original PET fibers and recycled PET fibers to an identical level. The technical properties – both chemical and mechanical – remain unchanged – this was a real breakthrough! Our geosynthetics made from recycled PET therefore have the same high quality as geosynthetics made from virgin PET.

Creating acceptance
Another important milestone was the CE marking of our ecoLine products. This certification helped us to create trust in our new products and thus gain acceptance in the construction industry. Unfortunately, sustainable and low-CO₂ geotechnical structures have not yet been rewarded in procurement procedures. Germany should take an example from the approach of our Dutch neighbours. The so-called Environmental Cost Indicator (ECI) is determined for each public construction project. Proven sustainable solutions receive a discount on the total costs in public procurement procedures. This makes resource-saving solutions more attractive for construction companies, even if they would be more cost-intensive at first glance.