Our Commitment
Rezi is always committed to the continuous improvement of hygiene and cleaning standards, as well as ecological and sustainable cleaning options. Here is an excerpt of current European projects in which Rezi is involved.
Future-oriented production and use of cleaning textiles
In this collaborative project, the Weber & Leucht application laboratory has already conducted a first phase on the technological consideration and release of polymeric particles ("microplastics") between 2016 and 2018. A total of 11 international manufacturers of cleaning textiles participated in the project and developed a joint test method with the laboratory:
As a new, innovative rating method, the so-called "MLC Index" provides reliable information on whether high amounts of microplastics occur during the service life of textiles.
A central goal of the project group is to propose this method to the European Union as a regulatory procedure for a new Ecodesign Directive. In addition, the method is currently being presented to leading certification bodies that assess the sustainability of cleaning textiles.
Phase 2 of the joint project, which started in 2020, investigates and evaluates environmentally relevant emission contributions during production, reuse, recycling and disposal. This project phase will end with an expert paper with scientific findings and recommendations for the attention of the European Union. The European Parliament is expected to discuss and make decisions on ecology in the cleaning industry in December 2022.
"EnzyPol" - Increased surface functionality through enzymatic treatments of bio-based and conventional polyesters
Under the direction of the "Research Institute for Textiles and Clothing" of the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, the project group, consisting of 19 institutions from research and industry, is working on the functionalisation of textile surfaces through enzyme treatment. Rezi is allowed to contribute to this forward-looking project as part of the project-accompanying committee.
"SaferTex" - reducing health risks with innovative cleaning textiles and optimised processes
Every year, about 4,500 people die in Austria from infections with hospital germs - ten times more than in road traffic. Every 25th patient is infected with hospital germs. Despite well-designed hygiene plans, there is still an increase in these hygiene risks in health care facilities. Further optimisation of hygiene practices is therefore crucial for the prevention of transmission of infections - not only in healthcare facilities.
A team of manufacturers, users and research institutions, led by the Austrian Research Institute for Chemistry and Technology (OFI) and supported by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), implemented the "SaferTex" project from the beginning of 2019 until the end of 2021. The aim of this project was to find solutions to noticeably reduce hygiene risks from the transmission of infections through innovative cleaning textile qualities on the one hand, and through the precisely coordinated use of disinfectants and cleaning textiles on the other.
In this project, Rezi Microfaserprodukte GmbH represented the manufacturers of the cleaning textiles and, with its decades of experience and competence in the cleaning sector, made an important contribution to forward-looking and safe cleaning textiles and cleaning processes in the healthcare sector and beyond.
The results of this project have appeared in numerous publications, and findings from the project have also already been taken up and implemented in practice.
"DIN SPEC" - Functional textiles for surface disinfection
Until this project, there were no quality standards for cleaning and disinfection textiles or no concrete requirements for their properties. The textiles are often made of highly functional materials and composites. Nevertheless, there was hardly any transparency about their mode of action and their process applications. Also, the complex mechanisms of action between mechanics (textile) and chemistry (disinfectant) were usually not taken into account.
Future-oriented production and use of cleaning textiles
In this collaborative project, the Weber & Leucht application laboratory has already conducted a first phase on the technological consideration and release of polymeric particles ("microplastics") between 2016 and 2018. A total of 11 international manufacturers of cleaning textiles participated in the project and developed a joint test method with the laboratory:
As a new, innovative rating method, the so-called "MLC Index" provides reliable information on whether high amounts of microplastics occur during the service life of textiles.
A central goal of the project group is to propose this method to the European Union as a regulatory procedure for a new Ecodesign Directive. In addition, the method is currently being presented to leading certification bodies that assess the sustainability of cleaning textiles.
Phase 2 of the joint project, which started in 2020, investigates and evaluates environmentally relevant emission contributions during production, reuse, recycling and disposal. This project phase will end with an expert paper with scientific findings and recommendations for the attention of the European Union. The European Parliament is expected to discuss and make decisions on ecology in the cleaning industry in December 2022.
"EnzyPol" - Increased surface functionality through enzymatic treatments of bio-based and conventional polyesters
Under the direction of the "Research Institute for Textiles and Clothing" of the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, the project group, consisting of 19 institutions from research and industry, is working on the functionalisation of textile surfaces through enzyme treatment. Rezi is allowed to contribute to this forward-looking project as part of the project-accompanying committee.
"SaferTex" - reducing health risks with innovative cleaning textiles and optimised processes
Every year, about 4,500 people die in Austria from infections with hospital germs - ten times more than in road traffic. Every 25th patient is infected with hospital germs. Despite well-designed hygiene plans, there is still an increase in these hygiene risks in health care facilities. Further optimisation of hygiene practices is therefore crucial for the prevention of transmission of infections - not only in healthcare facilities.
A team of manufacturers, users and research institutions, led by the Austrian Research Institute for Chemistry and Technology (OFI) and supported by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), implemented the "SaferTex" project from the beginning of 2019 until the end of 2021. The aim of this project was to find solutions to noticeably reduce hygiene risks from the transmission of infections through innovative cleaning textile qualities on the one hand, and through the precisely coordinated use of disinfectants and cleaning textiles on the other.
In this project, Rezi Microfaserprodukte GmbH represented the manufacturers of the cleaning textiles and, with its decades of experience and competence in the cleaning sector, made an important contribution to forward-looking and safe cleaning textiles and cleaning processes in the healthcare sector and beyond.
The results of this project have appeared in numerous publications, and findings from the project have also already been taken up and implemented in practice.
"DIN SPEC" - Functional textiles for surface disinfection
Until this project, there were no quality standards for cleaning and disinfection textiles or no concrete requirements for their properties. The textiles are often made of highly functional materials and composites. Nevertheless, there was hardly any transparency about their mode of action and their process applications. Also, the complex mechanisms of action between mechanics (textile) and chemistry (disinfectant) were usually not taken into account.
With the definition of quality criteria for cleaning and disinfection textiles within the framework of a standard, a groundbreaking milestone in cleaning and disinfection was achieved - not only for the healthcare sector but also for industry and consumers. The quality criteria and the associated transparency have significantly increased application and process safety as well as cleaning and disinfection performance. With this standard, Germany took an important step towards hygienic and safe cleaning, and other European countries will certainly follow suit.
As a consortium member, Rezi Microfaserprodukte GmbH developed the present DIN SPEC within the process framework of the German Institute for Standardisation e.V. together with representatives of the chemical industry, laboratories, research institutions and service providers. The
The standard DIN SPEC 13267 "Functional textiles for surface disinfection - Terminology, properties and requirements" is available in the Beuth-Shop.
As a consortium member, Rezi Microfaserprodukte GmbH developed the present DIN SPEC within the process framework of the German Institute for Standardisation e.V. together with representatives of the chemical industry, laboratories, research institutions and service providers. The
The standard DIN SPEC 13267 "Functional textiles for surface disinfection - Terminology, properties and requirements" is available in the Beuth-Shop.