From November 12 to November 14, the International Conference on Fiber and Polymer Biotechnology (IFPB 2024) showcased groundbreaking advancements in sustainable polymer and textile technologies. Among the highlights were keynote lectures by UPLIFT Project leaders, including Cristiano Varrone, project coordinator and professor at Aalborg University, Denmark. His presentation, Scaling up a consolidated bioprocess for enzymatic depolymerization of polyethene terephthalate (PET) waste, outlined scalable bio-based solutions for recycling PET plastics, offering innovative approaches to tackling global waste challenges.

Professor Georg Gübitz of BOKU, Vienna, Austria, expanded on UPLIFT’s efforts with his keynote, Closing the cycle for blended textiles using biotechnology. He detailed enzyme-based methods for recycling complex textile blends, emphasizing their potential to revolutionize textile waste management. On the final day, Professor Nick Wierckx of Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany, delivered Engineering Pseudomonas to use polyamides as carbon source for biotechnology, demonstrating cutting-edge techniques to upcycle polyamide waste into valuable resources.

Organized by the University of Borås, IFPB 2024 provided a collaborative platform for UPLIFT partners and global experts to discuss advancements in circular bioeconomy and sustainable polymer technologies. The conference reinforced the vital role of biotechnology in addressing environmental challenges and advancing a circular economy for textiles and plastics.