BioReWool - Engineering biological pathways for next-gen keratin fibres from textile waste

Project partners: Heriot-Watt University & Macnaughton Holdings

Project focus area: Waste recycling

The BioReWool project pioneers a biological approach to recycling wool waste by engineering enzymatic processes to regenerate high-performance keratin fibres. As textile waste mounts 87% of it still landfilled or incinerated, this research offers a transformative solution for the circular economy.

Wool, widely used for its thermal, moisture, and flame-resistant properties, has a heavy environmental footprint due to land use, chemical processing, and methane emissions from livestock. Current mechanical wool recycling degrades fibre quality, limiting reuse in high-value textiles. BioReWool breaks this barrier by using bio-based processes such as enzymatic to gently break down waste wool and reassemble it into regenerated keratin fibres tailored for durability, fineness, and function. This avoids fibre damage, reduces the need for harsh chemicals, and enables fibre properties to compete to virgin wool.

This innovative biotechnological pathway offers lower energy and water use, integrates colouration at the fibre formation stage, and eliminates chemical-intensive finishing. It enables British textile manufacturers to recover value from wool waste while enhancing performance and sustainability. Aligned with UK research and innovation priorities in “manufacturing the future”, “advanced materials”, and “circular economy”, BioReWool will reshape textile production, reduce environmental impact, and unlock new capabilities for recycled protein fibres in fashion, interiors, and technical textiles.

For more information

For more information on this project, contact us, or view all Engineering Biology SPARK Award winners.

This project funding is part of the Engineering Biology Innovation Network, led by Innovate UK Business Connect in collaboration with Innovate UK and UKRI’s Technology Mission Fund. The network’s goal is to progress innovations, create a commercially focused community and foster new consortia to advance innovations towards commercial applications.