Monitoring textile properties

A decentralized network-based monitoring system addresses the challenge of tracking textile properties in recycled networks by enabling controlled data sharing and targeted monitoring, ensuring reliable and efficient compliance with environmental standards.

WO2026131661A1PCT designated stage Publication Date: 2026-06-25BASF SE

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
BASF SE
Filing Date
2025-12-15
Publication Date
2026-06-25

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Abstract

The disclosure relates to the field of sustainability, in particular to the field of monitoring textiles for textile productions. The disclosure relates to methods, apparatuses, systems, decentral network nodes, textile, and computer elements for monitoring, registering, and / or attributing at least one property of a textile for entering a textile production.
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Description

[0001] 240968W001

[0002] MONITORING TEXTILE PROPERTIES

[0003] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0004] The disclosure relates to the field of sustainability, in particular to the field of monitoring textile for textile industries. The disclosure relates to methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer elements for monitoring properties for balancing based on the system boundary of textile industries.

[0005] TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

[0006] Textile industries include large-scale production facilities that manufacture thousands of diverse textile products through a variety of industrial production processes. As the industry undergoes a significant transformation towards a circular economy, the dynamics within textile production are evolving rapidly, introducing new challenges and opportunities for sustainability. Consequently, monitoring of textiles throughout their lifecycle becomes increasingly complex, requiring an adequate approach to ensure effective tracking, quality control, and compliance with environmental standards. Hence, there is a need for a more comprehensive approach to monitoring textiles and textile recycling processes.

[0007] SUMMARY

[0008] In one aspect disclosed is a method for monitoring at least one recycling property of a textile, wherein at least a part of the textile is to be recycled by a solvent-based recycling process, wherein at part of the recycled textile is used to produce one or more textiles, the method comprising the steps of:

[0009] - providing one or more decentral identifier(s) associated with one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input used or usable to produce and / or recycle the textile;

[0010] - collecting - based on the provided decentral identifier(s) - recycling property data associated with recycling attributes of the textile associated with the one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s);

[0011] - determining - based on the collected recycling property data - total recycling property of the textile;

[0012] - providing a decentral identifier associated with the produced one or more textile(s);

[0013] - attributing the total recycling property data to the decentral identifier associated with the one or more textile(s) produced from the one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s), wherein the decentral identifier is linked to a digital representation of the recycling property data and wherein the total recycling property data is stored in a database associated with the data providing service of the solvent-based recycling process for access by one or more participants of the textile use chain.

[0014] In another aspect disclosed is a method for monitoring at least one recycling property of a textile, wherein at least a part of the textile is to be recycled by one or more recycling process, wherein at part of the recycled textile is used to produce one or more textile(s), the method comprising the steps of: 240968W001

[0015] 2

[0016] - providing one or more decentral identifier(s) associated with one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input used or usable to produce and / or recycle the textile;

[0017] - collecting - based on the provided decentral identifier(s) - recycling property data associated with recycling attributes of the textile associated with the one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s);

[0018] - determining - based on the collected recycling property data - total recycling property of the textile;

[0019] - providing a decentral identifier associated with the produced one or more textile(s);

[0020] - attributing the total recycling property data to a decentral identifier associated with the one or more textile(s) produced from the one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s).

[0021] In another aspect is disclosed a method for monitoring at least one property of a textile for a textile recycling network and / or textile producer network, the method comprising the steps of:

[0022] - collecting property data associated with at least one property of the textile in relation to generation of the textile, wherein collected property data relates to one or more production and / or recycling input(s)production input(s) and / or recycling input(s) used to produce the one textile;

[0023] - providing one or more decentral identifier(s) associated with the textile;

[0024] - generating one or more digital representation(s) associated with the property data associated with at least one property of the textile and the one or more production and / or recycling input(s)production input(s) and / or recycling input(s);

[0025] - generating one or more access element(s) including the one or more decentral identifier(s) and the one or more digital representation(s);

[0026] - providing the one or more access element(s) to a decentral network for access to the property data by one or more data consuming network node(s) of the decentral network under control of a data providing network node, wherein the one or more data consuming network node(s) are configured to register and / or attribute the at least one property of textile or to recycled textile(s) produced by the recycled textile producer network.

[0027] In yet another aspect is disclosed an apparatus for monitoring at least one property of a textile for a recycled textile producer network or component(s) thereof, the apparatus comprising:

[0028] - a data collection interface configured to recycling property data associated with recycling attributes of the textile associated with the one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s);

[0029] - decentral identifier provider interface configured to provide one or more decentral identifier(s) associated with the textile;

[0030] - a determining unit configured to determining - based on collected recycling property data - total recycling property of the textile;

[0031] - a providing interface configured to provide one or more decentral identifier(s) associated with one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s) used or usable to produce and / or recycle the textile and / or a decentral identifier associated with the produced one or more textile(s);

[0032] - an attributing interface configured to attribute the total recycling property data to a decentral identifier associated with the one or more textile(s) produced from the one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s). 240968W001

[0033] 3

[0034] In yet another aspect is disclosed a method for registering and / or attributing at least one property of a textile for entering a recycled textile producer network, the method comprising the steps:

[0035] - providing one or more decentral identifier(s) associated with a textile to enter the recycled textile producer network;

[0036] - gathering based on one or more access element(s) generated and / or provided according to the methods as recited herein or by the apparatuses as recited herein property data from a producer of the textile to enter the recycled textile producer network and / or one or more producer(s) of component(s) of the textile to enter the recycled textile producer network;

[0037] - registering at least one property of a textile entering the recycled textile producer network based on the gathered property data; and

[0038] - providing at least one registered property of the textile or component(s) thereof for attributing the at least one property to one or more textile(s) produced by the recycled textile producer network.

[0039] In yet another aspect is disclosed an apparatus for registering and / or attributing at least one property of a textile for entering a recycled textile producer network, the apparatus comprising:

[0040] - an identifier providing interface configured to provide one or more decentral identifier(s) associated with a textile to enter the recycled textile producer network;

[0041] - a data gathering interface configured to gather based on one or more access element(s) generated and / or provided according to the methods as recited herein or by the apparatuses as recited herein property data from a producer of the textile to enter the recycled textile producer network and / or one or more producer(s) of components) of the textile to be fed to the recycled textile producer network;

[0042] - a registration interface configured to register at least one property of a textile entering the recycled textile producer network based on the gathered property data and to provide at least one registered property of the textile or component(s) thereof for attributing the at least one property to one or more textile(s) produced by the recycled textile producer network.

[0043] In yet another aspect is disclosed a textile associated with one or more access element(s) generated and provided according to the methods as recited herein or by the apparatuses as recited herein or a recycled textile producer network, wherein the textile associated with the access element generated and provided according to the methods as recited herein or by the apparatuses as recited herein is usable for the production of one or more textile(s) by a recycled textile producer network.

[0044] In another aspect disclosed is a use of the access element as generated and provided according to the methods or by the apparatus for registering and / or attributing at least one property of textile, disclosed herein. 240968W001

[0045] 4

[0046] In another aspect the present disclosure relates to a computer element, such as a computer program or computer readable medium, with instructions, which when executed on one or more computing node(s) e.g. of a decentral network is configured to carry out the steps of the method(s) disclosed herein or is configured to be carried out by the apparatus(es) disclosed herein.

[0047] Any disclosure, embodiments and examples described herein relate to the methods, the systems, apparatuses, textiles, textile passports, authorization rules, uses and computer elements lined out above and below. Advantageously, the benefits provided by any of the embodiments and examples equally apply to all other embodiments and examples.

[0048] EMBODIMENTS

[0049] Reliable textile monitoring is crucial for large scale production plants and recycled textile producer networks relying on such plants. With multiple different types of inputs entering such recycled textile producer networks, reliable monitoring of textile entering and of material flows inside the recycled textile producer network is increasingly challenging. To improve monitoring of textile and material flows inside the recycled textile producer network, a monitoring concept based on data sharing in material chains is proposed. Such data sharing based monitoring allows for controlled access to property data by participants of the material chain. Decentral networks allow for controlled peer-to-peer communication between participants of material chains. By making data related to the production or generation of the textile, e.g., property data, accessible across participant(s) of the material chain more efficient and reliable monitoring can be ensured through accessing such data in a controlled and targeted manner. The monitoring concept allows for reliable monitoring of textiles entering recycled textile producer networks and of material flows inside recycled textile producer networks.

[0050] In particular, by collecting property data at the production or generation stage of the textile and providing access to such data via access elements through a decentral network enables critical data sharing between participants of the material chain or loop. Further in particular, by using digital relationships stored decentrally per participant of the material chain or loop allows to recursively reconstruct the bill of materials only for those parts of the property data that is relevant to the use of the textile for recycled textile producer networks. Further in particular, by providing such data relevant to selected participants such as to recycled textile producers provides textile producers with the required control over sensitive production information. Further in particular, by providing such data relevant to the textile of recycled textile producer networks allows for more targeted monitoring of textiles entering recycled textile producer networks and of material flows inside recycled textile producer networks. The recycled textile producer network may also be a textile producer network. The recycled textile producer network may include a recycled textile producer. The recycled textile producer network may include a textile producer. The recycled textile producer network may include a textile industry. When referring to textile, it should be understood that this may also refer to fiber(s), i.e., textile® and / or fiber(s). Textile and / or fiber may also further include one or more yarns, fabrics, textile composites, nonwoven materials, lining materials, interfacing materials, backing materials, and / or any combination thereof. 240968W001

[0051] 5

[0052] By relating the decentral relationship identifier and the relationship representation per generation stage of the recycling and / or production chain the depth in the properties or the property data available via the decentral network can be enhances while not disclosing the full bill of materials of the textile generation across participants. Through the relationship access element, the respective input(s) with the output(s) are accessible in a controlled and targeted manner depending on the participant of the production and / or recycling chain. This way the attribution of input material or textile properties provided to the recycled textile producer can be enhanced. This is particularly relevant for recycled textile producers owing to the complexity of material flows in recycled textile producer networks.

[0053] In the following, embodiments of the present disclosure will be outlined by ways of examples. It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to said embodiments and / or examples.

[0054] The production system may be associated with a producer of a product. The production system may include a discrete production using discrete products to produce an output. The production system may include production of a textile. The textile may be a recycled textile. The production system may include production of a textile product. The textile product may be produced using at least partially recycled textiles. The production system may be a recycled textile producer network. The recycled textile producer network may be associated with a recycled textile producer and / or recycled textile producer network. The recycled textile producer network may include one or more chemical, physical, thermal, and / or mechanical process(es). The recycled textile producer network may produce one or more recycled textile(s) through chemical, physical, thermal, and / or mechanical processing. The recycled textile producer network may include multiple types of production processes for producing one or more recycled textile(s) from one or more input material(s). The recycled textile producer network may produce one or more recycled textile(s) from input material(s) provided to the recycled textile producer network. The recycled textile producer network may include a complex production network producing multiple recycled textile(s) via multiple production process(es). The recycled textile producer network may include connected, inter-connected and / or non-connected production process(es). The recycled textile producer network may include a composite or Verbund network.

[0055] The recycled textile producer network may include identity preserving or segregated production process(es). Identity preserving or segregated in this context may refer to one property or more properties of input material(s) being preserved or segregated in the production process(es). Examples are textile waste stream without recycled content used to produce the one or more recycled textile(s). Recycled textile producer networks may include non-identity preserving or non-segregated production process(es). Non-identity preserving or non-segregated in this context may refer to textile waste stream as input material(s) being mixed with non-recycled textile input material(s) to produce the recycled textile(s).

[0056] The textile production may include one or more production process(es) with multiple production steps. The production steps included in the textile network may be defined by the physical system boundary of the textile production. The system boundary may be defined by location and / or control over production processes or steps. The system 240968W001

[0057] 6 boundary may be defined by a site of the textile production. The system boundary may be defined by production processes) or step(s) controlled by one entity or multiple entities jointly. The system boundary may be defined by the value chain with staggered production process(es) or step(s) to the end-product, which may be controlled by multiple entities jointly or separately. The textile production may include a waste collection, a sorting step, a recycling step such solvent-based recycling, a separation step to separate intermediates of one process step and further processing steps to convert such intermediates to recycled textile(s) leaving the system boundary of the textile production. The input material(s) may enter the physical system boundary of the textile production. The entry point(s) of the textile production may be marked by the entry of input material(s) to the textile production or the system boundary of the textile network. The recycled textile(s) may leave the physical system boundary of the textile production. The exit point(s) of the textile production may be marked by the exit of recycled textile(s) from the textile production or the system boundary of the textile network. The textile production may include material flows including one or more connected or interconnected multi-input-multi-output processes. Multi input-multi output processes may include, for example, chemical processes that use multiple chemical educts to produce more than one textile, for instance, as part of recycling process(s) for recycling textile(s).

[0058] The textile production may include one or more production chain(s) for the production of recycled textile(s). The production chain(s) for the production of recycled textile(s) may be inter-connected. The production chain(s) for the production of recycled textile(s) may be interconnected with production chain(s) for the production of other recycled textile®. The production chain(s) for the production of recycled textile(s) may include production chain(s) for the production of intermediates used to produce recycled textile(s). The production chain(s) for the production of recycled textile(s) may use input material(s) provided by textile network(s) for the production of intermediates usable to produce recycled textile(s).

[0059] One or more input material(s) may be provided to the production system for producing one or more recycled textile®. The input material may be an input for a textile production also referred to as a pre-cursor product, an intermediate material, a textile, or a raw material used to produce one or more recycled textile® of the textile production. The recycled textile® may be produced from one or more input material® through one or more chemical process® of the textile production. The input material may comprise any input material entering the textile production at any entry point. The input material may include input material® such as a natural, organic, or inorganic material®. The input material may be fed to the textile production to produce one or more recycled textile®. The input material may be fed to textile production including one or more production process(es) with multiple process steps. The input material may be fed to the textile production at the start of the production process or at any intermediate stage of the production process e.g., of the production chain producing the recycled textile. The input materials entering the textile production may be used to produce one or more recycled textile®.

[0060] The input material may be associated with an input material identifier, in particular a decentral input material or textile identifier. The input material identifier may comprise any identifier uniquely associated with the input material. The input material identifier may be associated with the physical entity of the input material. The input material identifier 240968W001

[0061] 7 may be associated with a single batch of input material. The input material identifier may be as-sociated with a group of input materials. The identifier may be associated with multiple physical entities of the input material. The input material identifier may be associated with continuous or semi-continuous stream of input material. The input material identifier may be associated with a stream of the input material e.g., over a certain time period or from a certain supplier. The input material identifier may be linked or connected to one property or more properties.

[0062] Property data may relate to one property or more properties of the input material, in particular the textile. Property data may relate to one or more environmental attribute(s). Property data may relate to environmental, technical, recyclability or circularity characteristics(s) associated with the input material(s), chemical process(es), textile productions) and / or outputs. The property data may relate to at least one property of the input material or textile associated with at least one material flow type such as at least one input material or textile type, at least one component type, at least one waste stream type, at least one waste stream fraction type, at least one biomass type and / or at least one renewable type. The property data may relate to at least one property of the textile including to at least one material flow type associated with one or more generation stage(s) of the input material, in particular the textile. The property data may relate to at least one property of the textile including to at least one material flow type associated with the generation of the one or more input material(s) or component(s) thereof, in particular textile(s) or the component(s) thereof. The property data may include at least one property of the input material or textile associated with at least one origin, at least one condition associated with the generation of the input material or textile, at least one environmental attribute, and / or at least one allocation scheme. The origin may for example relate to the producer of the textile or input material, the production plant, and / or the production location. The condition associated with the generation may for example relate to processes used to produce the input material or textile, specific process operations used to produce the input material or textile and / or process inputs used other than the input materials to the process.

[0063] Environmental attribute may refer to a property related to the environmental impact of the one or more input materials) or component(s) thereof, in particular the textile or component(s) thereof. Such property may be the property of input material(s), chemical process(es), production process(es), production system(s), textile production(s) and / or recycled textile(s). The environmental attribute may indicate an environmental performance of input material(s), chemical process(es), production process(es), production system(s), textile production(s) and / or recycled textile(s). The environmental attribute may be derived from properties of input material(s), chemical process(es), production process(es), production system(s), textile production(s) and / or recycled textile(s). The environmental attribute may be associated with the environmental impact of input material(s), chemical process(es), production process(es), production system(s), textile production(s) and / or recycled textile(s) at any stage of the lifecycle of the input material(s), e.g. textile(s), or recycled textile(s). The stages may include providing raw material, providing textile, producing textiles, such as intermediate products or end-products, producing discrete products by using the textiles, using textiles or discrete products, treating end-of-life products, recycling end-of-life products, disposing end-of-life products, reusing components from end-of-life products or any subset of stages. The environmental attribute may be specified or may be derived from any activity of one or more entities participating at any stage of the lifecycle of one or more materials) or product(s). 240968W001

[0064] 8

[0065] The environmental attribute may include one or more characteristic(s) that are attributable to environmental impact of input material(s), chemical process(es), production process(es), production system(s), textile production(s) and / or recycled textile(s). The environmental attribute may include environmental, technical, recyclability or circularity characteristics^) associated with the environmental impact of input material (s), chemical process(es), production processes), production system(s), textile production(s) and / or recycled textile(s).

[0066] The environmental attribute may include one or more characteristic(s) that are attributable to the environmental impact of input material(s), chemical process(es), production process(es), production system(s), textile production(s) and / or recycled textile(s). The environmental attribute may include environmental, technical, re-cyclability or circularity characteristics(s) associated with the environmental impact of input material(s), chemical process(es), production process(es), production system(s), textile production(s) and / or recycled textile(s). The one or more environmental attribute(s) may be attributable to the environmental impact of the recycled textile produced by the textile production. The one or more environmental attribute(s) may relate to environmental, technical, recyclability, circularity, and / or complementary risk characteristic(s) of the recycled textile. The one or more environmental attribute(s) may be attributable to the environmental impact of the input material(s), e.g., textile(s), or component(s) thereof. The one or more environmental attribute(s) may relate to environmental, technical, recyclability, circularity, and / or complementary risk characteristic(s) of the input material(s), e.g., textile(s), or component(s) thereof.

[0067] Environmental characteristic(s) may specify or quantify ecological criteria associated with environmental impact. Environmental characteristic(s) may be or may be derived from measurements taken during the lifecycle. Environmental characteristics may be determined at any stage of the lifecycle and may characterize the environmental impact for such stage or up to such stage. Environmental characteristic(s) may for example include carbon footprint, greenhouse gas emissions, resource usage, air emissions, ozone depletion potential, water pollution, noise pollution, energy consumption, waste reduction, or eutrophication potential. Environmental characteristic(s) may for example include product characteristics related to the production of the product like recycled textile, bio-based textile, vegetable-based textile, halogen-free, fluorine-free, vegan, halal, kosher, natural, tox-fee, volatile organic compounds-free textiles, or any combinations thereof.

[0068] Technical characteristic(s) may specify or quantify performance at least indirectly associated with the environmental impact. Technical characteristic(s) may be or may be derived from measurements taken during the lifecycle. Technical characteristics may be determined at any stage of the lifecycle and may characterize the performance for such stage or up to such stage. Technical characteristic(s) may for example include chemical composition data, raw material composition such as bio-based or recycled input material content specifying e.g., x% recycled textile and y% nonrecycled textile content, bill of materials, product specification data such as product purity, product form (as indication to their impact on dust formation / release), safety data, product extractability, migration data, toxicological data or ecotoxicological data, product component data, safety data, application property data, application instructions, quality data or any combinations thereof. 240968W001

[0069] 9

[0070] Circularity characteristic(s) may specify or quantify the life cycle characteristics associated with circular uses. Circularity characteristic(s) may be or may be derived from measurements taken during the lifecycle. Circularity characteristics) may be or may be derived from circular data recorded in one or more prior lifecycle(s) including reuse. Circularity characteristic(s) may be determined at any stage of the lifecycle and may characterize the reuse or recycling performance for such stage or up to such stage. Circularity characteristic(s) may for example include recycling data, reuse rate, recycling rate, recycling loops, reuse performance, reused quality, or any combinations thereof.

[0071] Recyclability characteristic(s) may specify or quantify life cycle characteristics associated with recycling uses. Recyclability characteristic(s) may include the composition of the material including specifically tailored constituents making the material suitable for recycling. Recyclability characteristic(s) may be or may be derived from measurements taken during the lifecycle. Recyclability characteristic(s) may be or may be derived from recycling data recorded in one or more prior lifecycle(s). Recyclability characteristics may be determined at any stage of the lifecycle and may characterize the recycling performance for such stage or up to such stage. Recyclability characteristic(s) may for example include recycling data, number of reuses, recyclate composition, recyclate quality, waste stream composition, waste stream quality or any combinations thereof.

[0072] Textile or input material generation chain may include any participant participating in the generation of the textile. The textile generation chain may include the production and / or recycling chain of a material chain or loop. The textile generation chain may include one or more production and / or recycling stage(s) of the textile recycling and / or production chain. The textile generation chain may include one or more participant(s) participating in the generation of the textile. Such generation may relate to production and / or recycling processes. The recycling chain may include one or more participant(s) participating in the recycling of textile or the component thereof such as sorting, collecting, and / or recycling of textile waste streams or end-of-life products. The generation stage may refer to participant(s), preferably individual participant(s), of the textile generation chain conducting one or more process(es) of the textile generation stage.

[0073] In one embodiment the property data is collected in association with the generation of the textile / input material or the component thereof by the participant of the textile / input material generation chain, in particular the participant generating the textile / input material. The property data associated with one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s) used to generate the textile / input material or the component thereof, in particular the related decentral identifiers associated with the one or more production input(s), may be collected, e.g. by the participant of the textile / input material generation chain, in particular the participant generating the textile / input material. The property data associated with one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s) used to generate the textile / input material or the component thereof may be collected per generation stage of the textile / input material generation chain, e.g. by the participant of the textile / input material generation chain, in particular the participant generating the textile / input material per stage of the textile / input material generation chain. The participant may generate and / or provide the access element specific to the generation stage. 240968W001

[0074] 10

[0075] In one embodiment the method may also be for tracking at least one recycling property of a textile, wherein at least a part of the textile is to be recycled by one or more recycling process, wherein at part of the recycled textile is used to produce one or more textile(s).

[0076] In another embodiment the property data associated with one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s) used to generate the textile / input material or the component thereof at a generation stage of the textile / input material generation chain are collected. The property data associated with one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s) used to generate the textile / input material or the component thereof may be collected at the production and / or recycling stage of the textile / input material recycling and / or production chain associated with the textile / input material or the component thereof. The property data associated with one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s) used to generate the textile / input material or the component thereof may be collected by the participant producing the textile / input material at the production and / or recycling stage of the textile / input material recycling and / or production chain associated with the textile / input material or the component thereof. The participant may generate and / or provide the access element specific to the production and / or recycling stage.

[0077] In another embodiment the property data associated with one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s) to or used at the generation stage of the textile / input material or the component thereof are collected for the respective generation stage. The property data associated with one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s) that are used for the generation stage of the textile / input material or the component thereof are collected per generation stage and / or per participant of the generation chain. The property data associated with one or more production input and / or recycling input(s) to the generation of the textile at the respective generation stage of the textile may be collected, e.g., per generation stage and / or per participant of the generation chain.

[0078] In another embodiment at least one digital representation is generated for access to a digital relationship between the textile at the generation stage of the textile and the respective one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s) at said the generation stage. At least one digital relationship based on the one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s) used to generate the input material / textile, e.g., individual input material / textile per generation stage, or the component, e.g., individual component per generation stage, thereof may be generated. One or more decentral identifier(s) associated with one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s) to one or more input material(s) or component(s) thereof, in particular textile or component(s) thereof may be provided. One or more digital representation (s) of the property data including a relationship representation of the digital relationship may be generated. One or more digital representation (s) of the digital relationship may be generated. One or more relationship access element(s) including the relationship representation (s) associated with at least one decentral relationship identifier may be generated. 240968W001

[0079] 11

[0080] The relationship access element may be provided for access to the digital relationship between the textile at the generation stage of the textile and the respective one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s) at said generation stage. One or more relationship access element(s) may be configured for access to property data from one or more participant(s) of the textile generation chain. The one or more access element(s) may be configured for access to property data per generation stage of the textile generation chain by one or more participant(s) using the textile. The one or more relationship access element(s) may be provided to the decentral network for access to the digital relationship by one or more data consuming network node(s) of the decentral network under control of a data providing network node. The one or more data consuming network node(s) may be configured to register and / or attribute the at least one property of one or more input material(s) or component(s) thereof, in particular textile or components) thereof, to recycled textile(s) produced by the production system, in particular the textile production. Access to the properties may be provided via or by the property data. Access to the properties per generation stage or participant of the textile / input material generation chain may be provided via or by the relationship access element. The property data may be accessed by one or more data consuming network node(s) configured to register and / or attribute the at least one property of one or more input material(s) or component(s) thereof, in particular textile or components) thereof, to recycled textile(s) produced by the production system, in particular the textile production.

[0081] In another embodiment the one or more access element(s) may be configured for recursively accessing or to recursively access property data per generation stage of the textile generation chain. The recursive access may be based on one or more relationship representation(s) provided by one or more participant(s) of the textile generation chain. The one or more relationship representation (s) may be provided by one or more participant(s) of the textile generation chain to the decentral network. The one or more relationship representation(s) may be accessed recursively by one or more participant(s) of the material or recycling chain, in particular sorter, collector, recycled textile producer, textile production and / or recycler system participant(s). The one or more relationship representation(s) may be accessed recursively by data consuming nodes associated with recycled textile producer(s) and / or textile production(s) using the textile / input material.

[0082] The property data may be accessed per generation stage of the textile from one or more participant(s) of the textile generation chain, in particular the textile, textile component producer(s), by participant(s) of the textile use chain, such as recycled textile producer(s) and / or textile production(s). The property data may be accessed by generating at least one relationship access element. The method for monitoring may further include the steps of:

[0083] - generating at least one digital relationship based on the one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s) used to generate the textile;

[0084] - generating one or more digital representation (s) of the property data including a relationship representation of the digital relationship;

[0085] - wherein the one or more access element(s) include the relationship representation associated with at least one decentral relationship identifier;

[0086] - providing the one or more access element(s) to a decentral network for access to the digital relationship by one or more data consuming network node(s) of the decentral network under control of a data providing network node 240968W001

[0087] 12

[0088] In another embodiment the property data includes at least one property of the textile associated with at least one material flow type including at least one textile type, at least one component type, at least one waste stream type, at least one waste stream fraction type, at least one biomass type or at least one renewable type. The component type may relate to the type of material contained in the component contained in the textile. The waste stream type may relate to the waste stream or the end-products included in the waste stream such as mixed plastics waste, specific end-product waste, e.g., post-consumer textile waste such as used clothing and home textiles, manufacturing scraps like cutting remnants and defective products, industrial textile byproducts, agricultural residues from natural fibers, synthetic fiber production waste, recycled plastic bottles, composite materials, end-of-life products like carpets and footwear, and discarded accessories. The waste stream fraction type may relate to the sorted waste stream to be recycled by chemical, physical and / or mechanical recycling. In particular, the waste stream fraction type may be related to the sorted textile waste stream to be recycled by solvent-based recycling.

[0089] In another embodiment, polyester obtained by waste fraction separation may be used for preparing a product comprising (I) providing a polyester; and (II) preparing a textile, a fiber, a packaging, a plastic, an automotive part, or an electronic part from the polyester provided in step (I).

[0090] The demand for polymeric materials has drastically increased over the last decades. However, the poor biodegradability has led to large amounts of plastic waste which is worldwide usually incinerated thereby losing valuable materials and generating huge CO2 emissions. Even worse is landfill due to the poor biodegradability. Polymeric materials have been used extensively in the packaging sector, for example, in beverage packaging or food packaging. The vast majority of food and drink today is packaged within plastic bottles and containers, made from, for example, polymeric materials comprising polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET is also a main component of clothing nowadays. As these materials typically have poor biodegradability and are also still valuable products, it is desirable for these plastics to be recovered and recycled. The same applies for polymer blends comprising, for example, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), which are normally used in the electronic field, for example, as insulating sheath in cable applications.

[0091] Although recycling processes have been adopted to convert these waste materials into new production materials, there are still many problems associated with recycling and recovery of polymeric materials. Recycling of polyester, especially polyethylene terephthalate (PET), containing textiles is difficult due to mixture with other polymers, for example cotton, and other components, such as colorants etc. Therefore, a closed-loop mechanical recycling process is not possible without separation from other materials. Also, for other PET end-of-life sources, often mechanical recycling is hindered by contaminants and mixed polymer waste streams. The same problems exist for polymer blends with other polyesters, especially polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). 240968W001

[0092] 13

[0093] The approach of the present disclosure enables a simple separation of polyesters from other materials comprised in a polymer blend, which also enables high recovery rates of the polyester while not harming the relevant properties of the polymeric material such as its number average weight Mn, and which allows for reducing the energetic demand.

[0094] In a further embodiment, at least part of the textile to be recycled by the solvent based recycling process may comprise a textile waste stream, in particular a mixed textile waste stream, wherein the textile waste stream may include one or more textile pieces containing textile material(s) containing polymer blend(s), the solvent-based recycling process comprising solvent-based separation of the polymer blend(s), the polymer blend(s) comprising

[0095] (i) a polyester and

[0096] (ii) one or more component(s) selected from the group consisting of: a second polymer, a third polymer, a colorant, and an additive, wherein the one or more polymers are different from each other and different from the polyester of 0); the solvent-based separation comprising

[0097] (a) providing the polymer blend and providing a solvent comprising gamma valerolactone (GVL);

[0098] (b) contacting the polymer blend with the solvent comprising GVL at a temperature T1 of < 170 °C, thereby obtaining a solvent comprising GVL, which is enriched in dissolved optional second polymer, in optional colorant and in optional additive or a part thereof; and a residue of the polymer blend, which is depleted of optional second polymer, of optional colorant and of optional additive or part thereof; and comprises the polyester, optionally the third polymer; and the optional additive or a part thereof; and / or

[0099] (c) contacting the polymer blend provided in step (a) or the residue of the polymer blend obtained in step (b) with a solvent comprising GVL at a temperature T2 of>170°C, thereby obtaining a solvent, which comprises GVL and which is enriched in dissolved polyester compared to the solvent provided in step (a) and comprises optionally at least a part of the additive, and optionally a residue of the polymer blend, which is depleted of polyester and comprises optionally the third polymer and optionally the additive or a part thereof.

[0100] Gamma-valerolactone (C5H8O2; IUPAC: 5-methyloxolan-2-one, abbreviation: GVL) is obtainable from carbohydrate- based biomasses, for example, it is readily obtained from sugar, and is thus a "green" solvent. It has now been surprisingly found that using a solvent comprising GVL in the above-described method for separation of a polymer blend comprising polyester resulted in recovery of the polyester in good yields and purities. Furthermore, not only a stop of decrease regarding the mass average molecular weight Mw of the polyester, which is recovered from the polymer blend, could be achieved but also the number average molecular weight Mn increased. Additives, colorants and further polymers, if present, could effectively be removed and also a decrease of intrinsic viscosity could be avoided.

[0101] Contacting the polymer blend with the solvent comprising GVL is done in step (b) at a temperature T1 of < 170 °C. Preferably, T 1 according to step (b) is in the range of froml 10 to < 170°C, more preferably a temperature in the range of from 110 to 165 °C, more preferably a temperature in the range of from 120 to 160 °C. 240968W001

[0102] 14

[0103] Contacting the polymer blend provided in step (a) or the residue of the polymer blend obtained in step (b) is done in step (c) with a solvent comprising GVL at a temperature T2 of > 170°C. Preferably, T2 according to step (c) is in the range of from> 170°C to 200 °C, more preferably in the range of from 180 to 195 °C.

[0104] A "polymer blend” means a combination of at least one polymer - here a polyester (I) - with at least one further component, which is at least another component, selected from the group consisting of a second polymer, a third polymer, a colorant, and an additive, wherein second polymer and third polymer are different from each other and different from the polyester of (I). These components are combined in the polymer blend combined with each other in any suitable way.

[0105] "Contacting” in step (b) and step (c) preferably means that the polymer blend provided in step (a) or the residue of the polymer blend obtained in step (b) respectively is at least partially immersed in the solvent. Preferably, the polymer blend provided in step (a) or the residue of the polymer blend obtained in step (b) respectively is at least partially immersed in the (first or second) solvent in that at least 60 %, more preferably at least 70 %, more preferably at least 80 %, more preferably at least 90 %, more preferably at least 95 %, more preferably at least 99 % of the surface of the polymer blend provided in step (a) or of the surface of the residue of the polymer blend obtained in step (b) respectively are in contact with the solvent, based on the total respective surface being 100%.

[0106] "Depleted in said optional second polymer, of said optional colorant and optionally of additive or part thereof' in step (b) means that at least 50 weight-%, preferably at least 60 weight-%, more preferably at least 70 weight-%, more preferably at least 80 weight-%, more preferably at least 90 weight-%, more preferably at least 95 weight-%, of the respective component(s), based on the total amount of the respective component(s), which was initially comprised in the polymer blend provided in step (a) being 100 weight-%, are no longer comprised by the polymer blend but are rather dissolved in the solvent. Consequently, also "enriched in dissolved optional second polymer, in optional colorant and optionally the additive or a part thereof' regarding the solvent obtained in step (b) means that at least 50 weight-%, preferably at least 60 weight-%, more preferably at least 70 weight-%, more preferably at least 80 weight- %, more preferably at least 90 weight-%, more preferably at least 95 weight-%, of the respective component(s), based on the total amount of the respective component(s), which was initially comprised in the polymer blend provided in step (a) being 100 weight-%, are dissolved in the solvent. The same applies for "depleted of polyester” regarding the residue of the polymer blend obtained in step (c) and also for "enriched in dissolved polyester” regarding the solvent obtained in step (c).

[0107] The expression "optional additive or a part thereof' in step (b) means that, if one or more additive(s) is / are present in the polymer blend provided in step (a), which is / are soluble in a solvent comprising GVL at a temperature T1, said soluble additive(s) is / are also dissolved in the solvent, which is obtained in (b). In case that not only a soluble additive is present in the polymer blend provided in step (a) but also an additive, which is not soluble in a solvent comprising GVL at a temperature T1, said insoluble additive remains in the residue of the polymer blend, which is obtained in 240968W001

[0108] 15 step (b). In cases where the polymer blend provided in step (a) comprises only additive(s) soluble in a solvent comprising GVL at a temperature T1, no additive remains in the residue of the polymer blend. In cases where only addi- tive(s) insoluble in a solvent comprising GVL at a temperature T1 are contained in the polymer blend provided in step (a), all additive(s) remain(s) in the residue of the polymer blend obtained in step (b). In cases where the polymer blend provided in step (a) comprises additive(s) insoluble in a solvent comprising GVL at a temperature T2 and addi- tive(s) soluble in a solvent comprising GVL at a temperature T2, at least a part of the additives, i.e. the soluble addi- tive(s) is / are comprised in the solvent, which is obtained in step (c) and the residue of the polymer blend, which is obtained in step (c) still comprises the insoluble additive(s).

[0109] Contacting the polymer blend is done in step (b) with the solvent comprising GVL and contacting the polymer blend provided in step (a) or the residue of the polymer blend obtained in step (b) is done in step (c) with a solvent comprising GVL. Preferably, the solvent comprises GVL and optionally one or more solvent(s) selected from the group consisting of water and organic solvents having a log KOW in the range of from -1 .6 to +1 .6, more preferably selected from the group consisting of water, C5 to C12 alkane, aliphatic C1 to C10 alcohol, C3 to C10 ketone, C2 to C10 cyclic ketone, HO-[C1 to C10 alkyl-O-]n-H, with n being an integer in the range of from 2 to 1000, C1 to C10 alkyl-O-C3 to C10 alkyl ether, C3 to C10 cyclic ether, optionally substituted with one or more C1 to C6 alkyl group(s), C6 to C10 aromatic hydrocarbon, optionally substituted with one or more C1 to C6 alkyl group(s), C2 to C10 aliphatic ester, C8 to C11 aromatic ester, C5 to C10 cyclic carboxylic ester (lactone), C3 to C12 amide, preferably R1R2N-C(=O)-R3, wherein R1, R2 are independently a C1 to C4 alkyl group and R3 is selected from the group consisting of C1 to C9 alkyl group, C1 to C10 ester group and C1 to C6 ether group, C3 to C6 lactame, optionally substituted with one or more substituent selected from C1 to C6 alkyl group, C1 to C6 ester group and C1 to C6 ether group and C5 imidaz- olidine, optionally substituted with one or more C1 to C6 alkyl group(s), C5 to C7 imidazolidone, optionally substituted with one or more C1 to C6 alkyl group(s), wherein preferably at least 1 weight-%, more preferably at least 5 weight- %, more preferably at least 10 weight-%, more preferably at least 20 weight-%, more preferably at least 30 weight-%, more preferably at least 40 weight-%, more preferably at least 50 weight-%, more preferably at least 60 weight-%, more preferably at least 70 weight-%, more preferably at least 80 weight-%, more preferably at least 90 weight-%, more preferably at least 95 weight-% of the solvent consists of GVL, based on the total weight of the solvent being 100 weight-%.

[0110] Preferably, in step (b) and in step (c) the same solvent comprising GVL is used.

[0111] A polymer blend is provided in step (a), wherein the polymer blend comprises (i) a polyester and (ii) one or more component(s) selected from the group consisting of a second polymer, a third polymer, a colorant, and an additive, wherein second polymer and third polymer are different from each other and different from the polyester of (i). The polyester is preferably based on 1 ,4-butanediol or 1 ,2-ethandiol, more preferably the polyester according to (i) is selected from the group consisting of a polymer based on 1 ,4-butanediol and terephthalic acid (polybutylene terephthalate, PBT), a polymer based on 1 ,2-ethanediol and terephthalic acid (polyethylene terephthalate, PET), a co-poly- mer of 1 ,4-butanediol, adipic acid and terephthalic acid (polybutylenadipat-terephthalat, PBAT), a polymer of 1,2- 240968W001

[0112] 16 ethanediol and 2, 5-furandicarboxy lie acid (polyethylene furanoate, PEF) and mixtures of two or more of these (co)polymers, more preferably, the polyester comprises at least PET or PBT, more preferably the polyester is PET or PBT or a mixture of PET and PBT.

[0113] The second polymer is preferably selected from the group consisting of polyurethane (PU), polyethylene glycol (PEG), polytetrahydrofuran (pTHF), mixtures of these polymers and copolymers of these polymers. Preferably, the second polymer comprises a, preferably thermoplastic and / or elastomeric polyurethane or polyurea or mixture of both based on polymeric polyol(s) and diisocyanate(s). Further comprised may be aliphatic diol(s) and / or diamine(s). The polymeric polyol (s) may preferably comprise or be polyesterpolyol(s), polyetherpolyol (s) or a mixture of two or more thereof. For example, the polymeric polyol(s) may comprise or be polyethylene glycol (PEG) and / or polytetrahydrofuran (pTHF). pTHF may have, for example, a number average molecular weight in the range of from 1000 to 8000 g / mol, preferably in the range of from 1000 to 3000 g / mol, more preferably in the range of from 1000 to 1800g / mol. The diisocyanate(s) may preferably comprise or be aliphatic diisocyanate(s), aromatic diisocyanate(s) or a mixture of two or more thereof. For example, the diisocyanate(s) may comprise or be 1 ,T-methylenebis(4-isocya- natobenzene) (MDI). The aliphatic diol(s) may preferably comprise or be ethylene glycol, 1 ,3-propanediol, 1 ,4-bu- tanediol or a mix-ture of two or more thereof. The diamine(s) may preferably comprise or be aliphatic diamine(s), cycloaliphatic diamine(s) or a mixture of two or more thereof. For example, the diamine(s) may comprise or be 1 ,2-eth- ylene diamine. More preferably, the second polymer has > 85 weight-% polyurethane, polyurea or mixture of both based on the total weight on the second polymer being 100 weight-% (Spandex). Spandex preferably has an elongation at break in the range of from 250 to 700%, preferably 300 to 700%, more preferably 400 to 700 %, determined based on DIN 53835-2:2024-05. Spandex is presumably not only dissolved in step (b), but furthermore at least partially degraded - this is apparent from, for example, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) measurements. The third polymer is preferably selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, preferably polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), natural polymer, preferably wool, cotton or viscose, mixtures of two or more of these polymers and copolymers of two or more of these polymers, wherein the third polymer is preferably selected from PA, wool, cotton, viscose and mixtures of two or more of these polymers. PA comprises preferably PA6 and PA66; however, in some embodiments PA6 is excluded as third polymer and preferably, the polymer blend provided in step (a) does not comprise PA6. If present in the polymer blend, the solvent obtained in step (c), which is enriched in dissolved polyester is separated from the residue, which comprises at least one of PP, PE, PA and / or natural polymer. All polymers not soluble together with the polyester, preferably all polymers not soluble together with the polyester in a solvent comprising GVL under the conditions of step (c) as defined above, are called herein "insoluble polymers”.

[0114] The colorant is preferably selected from the group consisting of dye and optical brightener and mixtures of dye and optical brightener. A "colorant” is a substance that cause the change of color impression of a material. This comprises dyes, which absorb wavelength intervals of visible light (400 to 780 nm) and optical brighteners, which amplify the light emission of a material through UV light adsorption and emittance of visible light (through fluorescence), i.e. an optical brightener converts radiation that is not visible to the human eye (< 400nm) into visible fluorescence radiation of the blue-red spectral range (400 to 600 nm). Colorants usable or used for changing the color impression of 240968W001

[0115] 17 polymeric materials are known to the skilled person. In the context of the present disclosure, the term "dye” means any kind of dye such as dye, pigment, dispersion, wherein a dye is, for example, one or more selected from the group consisting of acid dye, basic dye, direct dye, disperse dye, azoic dye, food dye, solvent dye, organic dye, inorganic pigment, organic pigment, disperse ink, reactive ink, oxidation dye, reactive dye, sulfur dye, mordant dye and vat dye. The term "optical brightener” comprises optical brightening agents, fluorescent brightening agents, and fluorescent whitening agents.

[0116] Overviews of colorants for polymeric materials can be found, for example, in "Dyes and Pigments” Metin Agiky ildiz, Kubra Giines, Ahmet Giirses Springer, 2016 (ISBN: 10 : 3319338900); Industrial Organic Pigments - Klaus Hunger, Thomas Heber, Martin U. Schmidt, Friedrich Reisinger, Stefan Wanne Wiley-VCH, 4th edition, 2018 (ISBN: 978-3- 527-32608-2); Chemistry and Technology of Natural and Synthetic Dyes and Pigments - Ashis Kumar Samanta, Nasser Awwad, IntechOpen, 2020 (ISBN: 9781789859980, 9781789859973, 9781839687587); Encyclopedia of Color, Dyes, Pigments - Volume 1, Gerhard Pfaff, de Gruyter, 2021 (ISBN: 311058588X); Heinrich Zollinger: Color Chemistry: Syntheses, Properties, and Applications of Organic Dyes and Pigments. 3rd edition. WILEY-VCH Verlag, Weinheim 2003 (ISBN: 3-906390-23-3); Klaus Hunger (Ed.): Industrial Dyes: Chemistry, Properties, Applications. WILEY-VCH Verlag, Weinheim 2003 (ISBN: 3-662-01950-7); Hermann Rath: Lehrbuch der Textilchemie. einschl. der textilchemischen Technologie. 2nd edition. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg 1963 (ISBN: 978-3-662-00065-6); Wilfried Kratzert, Rasmus Peichert: Farbstoffe. Quelle & Meyer, Heidelberg 1981 (ISBN: 3-494-01021-8); Ullmann's Encyclopedia of industrial chemistry, Wiley-VCH, 2000, sections "dyes and pigments” and "dyes, general survey” (ISBN: 9783527303854).

[0117] Preferably, colorants in the context of the present disclosure are colorants which are not covalently bound to the polyester and / or the third polymer if present.

[0118] In one embodiment, depleted in colorant regarding the residue of the polymer blend obtained in step (b) means that the L*a*b* values of the residue, which is depleted in colorant compared to the polymer blend provided in step (a), change in that: the absolute value of a* changes, preferably by at least 0.2; and / or, preferably and, the absolute value of b* changes, preferably by at least 0.2; and / or, preferably and, the L* value increases, preferably by at least 4, each compared to the L*a*b* values of the polymer blend provided in step (a), wherein L*a*b* values are determined according to DIN 5033 and DIN EN ISO 11664-1.6.

[0119] In another embodiment, a residue of the polymer blend in step (b) with L*a*b* values of the residue which are changed compared to the polymer blend provided in step (a) may be achieved in that: the absolute value of a* changes, preferably by at least 0.2, more preferably by at least 0.3, more preferably by at least 0.4, more preferably by at least 0.5, more preferably by at least 0.6, more preferably by at least 0.7, more preferably by at least 0.8, more preferably by at least 0.9, more preferably by at least 1.0, more preferably by at least 1.1, 240968W001

[0120] 18 more preferably by at least 1.2, more preferably by at least 1.3, more preferably by at least 1.4, more preferably by at least 1.5, more preferably by at least 1.6; and / or, preferably and, the absolute value of b* changes, preferably by at least 0.2, more preferably by at least 1, more preferably by at least 2, more preferably by at least 3, more preferably by at least 4, more preferably by at least 5, more preferably by at least 6, more preferably by at least 7, more preferably by at least 8, more preferably by at least 9; and / or, preferably and, the L* value increases, preferably by at least 4, more preferably by at least 5, more preferably by at least 10, more preferably by at least 15, more preferably by at least 20, more preferably by at least 25, more preferably by at least 30, more preferably by at least 35, more preferably by at least 40, each compared to the L*a*b* values of the polymer blend provided in step (a), wherein L*a*b* values are determined according to DIN 5033 and DIN EN ISO 11664-1.6.

[0121] These L*a*b* value changes may especially apply for dark colored starting material having an L*of < 80, preferably of < 50.

[0122] The expression "irrespective of the color” means that, even if analytics are normally done for materials of each color separately, the definitions given above apply for single-colored polymeric materials, but also for polymeric materials having a plurality of colors and mixtures of pieces of polymeric materials, wherein each piece has its own color or its own color mix.

[0123] The condition of being "depleted in colorant”, which is expressed above based on quantitative L*a*b* values is also identifiable visually by the eye: The polymer blend provided in step (a), if not being white, i.e. colorless, has a certain color, wherein the residue obtained is lighter and whiter respectively. This applies especially for all colorants not being optical brighteners. Depleted in colorant regarding the residue obtained means, especially with respect to optical brighteners being the colorant, that the intensity of emitted fluorescence radiation (emission), preferably in the range of from 400 to 600 nm, is reduced for the residue obtained when irradiated with light with a wavelength in the range of from 250 to 400 nm compared to the intensity of emitted fluorescence radiation (emission), preferably in the range of from 400-600 nm, of the polymer blend provided in step (a).

[0124] Methods for determination of the intensity of emitted fluorescence radiation are known to the skilled person, for example, the determination can be made visually by using an UV lamp, by fluorescence determination or determination of quantum yield.

[0125] The additive is preferably selected from the group consisting of softener, water repellent, flame retardant, UV filter, plasticizer, filler and mixtures of two or more thereof. A softener is preferably selected from the group consisting of silicone based softener, fatty alcohol, fatty acid, fatty amino acid, fatty acid derivate, fatty amino acid derivate, polyethylene, alkyl imidazolinium salt, bisquaternary ammonium salt and mixtures of two or more thereof, wherein "fatty” 240968W001

[0126] 19 refers to an alkyl chain having in the range of from 8 to 22 C atoms; more preferably selected from the group consisting of polydiorganosiloxane (preferably polydimethylsiloxane and / or derivative of polydimethylsiloxane), fatty alcohol, condensation product of fatty amino acid with ethylene oxide, ethoxylated fatty acid, ethoxylated fatty alcohol, paraffin, oxidized polyethylene wax, optionally in combination with quaternary ammonium compounds, wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is preferably selected from the group of N+R1R2R3R4, wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from C1 to C3 alkyl and , optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group, and R3 and R4 are independently selected from C8 to C22 alkyl and C2 to C4 alkyl-C(=O)-O- C8 to C22 alkyl; wherein the ammo-nium compound is more preferably selected from dimethyl (dihydrogenated tallow) ammonium, dimethyl distearyl ammonium and mixtures of these two, wherein the positive charge of the quaternary ammonium compound is preferably compensated by one or more anions, preferably selected from chloride, methyl sulfate and mixture of these two anions. A water repellent is preferably selected from the group consisting of siloxane (preferably unsaturated (e.g. vinyl-terminated) polydialkylsiloxane, hexamethyldisiloxane or a mixture of two or more thereof), silane (preferably hexatrimethoxysilane), paraffin (preferably in dispersion with aluminum salts, more referably stearic acid with aluminum or zirconium salts), fat modified melamine (preferably stearic acid-melamine derivate), silicone, tin octoate, fluorocarbon (preferably selected from perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), per-fluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and mixtures of two or more thereof), acrylic polymers containing perfluoroalkyl chains, alkylphenol ethoxylate (APEO), and mixtures of two or more thereof. Regarding the acrylic polymers containing perfluoroalkyl chains, the length of the perfluorinated alkyl side chains is in the range of from 8 to 10 carbon atoms. The small spacer group, mostly ethylene, can be modified to improve emulsification and solubility of the polymer. Comonomers such as stearyl- or laurylmethacrylate, butylacrylate, methylol- or epoxy-functional acrylates and block copolymers from a,w dihydroxydimethylpolysiloxane. A flame retardant is preferably selected from the group consisting of halogenated flame retardant (preferably hexabromocyclododecane, decabromodiphenyl ether, bis(hexachlorocyclopentadieno)cy- clooctane, trisdibromopropylphosphate, decabromodiphenyl oxide (DBDPO) and mixtures of two or more thereof), non-halogenated flame retardant, phosphor-containing flame retardant, phosphor-free flame retardant (preferably selected from the group consisting of tetraethoxysilane (TECS), (3-ami nopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES), 3-glyc- idyloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (GPTMS) and mixtures of two or more thereof), compound without halogenates and phormol, compound with halogenates or phormol, metal hydroxide, and mixtures of two or more thereof; more preferably from the group consisting of oligomeric reaction products with urea of hydroxymethyl phosphonium chloride, alu- miniumhydroxid, calcium carbonate, and mixtures of two or more thereof. A UV filter is preferably selected from the group of hydroxyphenone derivative (preferably from the group of hydroxyphenyl triazines), benzotriazole (preferably 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-bis(1-methyl-1-phenylethyl)), oxanilide, hydroxyphenyl benzotriazole, derivative of Hindered Amine Light UV stabilizers (HALS derivatives), benzothiazinone, salicyclic acid ester, cinnamic acid ester, resorcinol monobenzoate, hydroxybenzoic acid ester, cyanoacrylate, benzophenone, and mixtures of two or more thereof. A plastiziser is preferably selected from the group consisting of phthalic acid ester, adipic acid ester, terephthalic acid diester, trialkyl trimellitate, 1 ,2-cyclohexandicarboxylic diester, 1 ,3-cyclohexandicarboxylic diester, 1,4-cy- clohexandicarboxylic diester, and mixtures of two or more thereof. 240968W001

[0127] 20

[0128] Further additives are adhesive, thickener, antifoam agent, finishing agent (for example water / oil / stain repellent, flame retardant, anticrease agent, biocide), binder, surfactant (for example, softener, scouring agent, antistatic agent), desizing agent, bleaching agent, oxidant, UV filter, emulsionant, fixing agent, washing dispersant, profiling agent.

[0129] A "filler” is, for example, glass fiber, coal fiber, carbon black, inorganic salt (for example, talc, disodium carbonate). These components are known to the skilled person. Filler(s), if present, form part of the residue of the polymer blend, which is depleted of polyester and comprises optionally the third polymer and optionally the additive or a part thereof, obtained in step c).

[0130] As indicated above, contacting of the polymer blend is done in step (b) with the solvent comprising GVL and contacting of the polymer blend provided in step (a) or the residue of the polymer blend obtained in step (b) is done in step (c) with a solvent comprising GVL. Preferably, step (b) and / or step (c) are done in a gaseous atmosphere comprising at least one inert gas, more preferably in a gaseous atmosphere comprising nitrogen. Preferably, step (b) and / or step (c) are done at a pressure in the range of from 800 to 1200 hPa, preferably in the range of from 900 to 1100 hPa, more preferably in the range of from 1000 to 1100 hPa or at a pressure in the range of from 1013 to 200,000 hPa, preferably in the range of from 1013 to 100,000 hPa.

[0131] In one embodiment, at least one of step (b) and step (c), preferably step (b) and / or step (c), is / are conducted in continuous manner or discontinuous manner. According to this embodiment, step (b) and / or step (c) is either carried out under a flow of the solvent comprising GVL (continuous manner) or in a stationary mode (discontinuous manner, batch mode). The contacting is done in one or more vessel(s), for example, one or more vessels are filled with colored polymer blend material and the solvent comprising GVL is directed through this vessel / these vessels with a specific flow. A preferred example is a, preferably stirred, vessel cascade. In one embodiment, at least one of step (b) and step (c), preferably step (b) and / or step (c), is / are in counter current mode. According to this embodiment, step (b) and / or step (c) is carried out in counter current mode. For example, if the contacting of step (b) is done within a vessel, the solvent comprising GVL enters the vessel from one direction (either side or top / bottom) and the polymer blend enters the vessel from another, preferably an opposite, direction. In a preferred arrangement wherein a vertically arranged vessel is used, the solvent comprising GVL enters the vessel from the bottom and the polymer blend enters the vessel from the top.

[0132] Irrespective whether step (b) and step (c), preferably step (b) and / or step (c), is / are conducted in continuous manner or discontinuous manner and irrespective whether co current mode or counter current mode are applied, it is preferred that the solvent is preheated to the respective temperature (T1 , T2) and then contacted with the polymer blend or the respective residue.

[0133] In one embodiment, at least one of step (b) and step (c), preferably both step (b) and step (c), is / are conducted under mechanical intermixing, wherein mechanical intermixing preferably comprises one or more methods selected from stirring, blending, and ultrasound. 240968W001

[0134] 21

[0135] As indicated above, contacting of the polymer blend is done in step (b) with the solvent comprising GVL and contacting of the polymer blend provided in step (a) or the residue of the polymer blend obtained in step (b) is done in step (c) with a solvent comprising GVL. Preferably, the mass-based ratio polymer blend: solvent in step (b) and / or in step (c) is in the range of 1 :1 to 1 :100, preferably in the range of from 1 :1 to 1 :20.

[0136] Preferably, step (b) comprises:

[0137] (b.1) contacting the polymer blend with the solvent comprising GVL at a temperature T1 of < 170 °C, thereby obtaining a solvent comprising GVL, which is enriched in dissolved optional second polymer, in optional colorant and optionally the additive or a part thereof; and a residue of the polymer blend, which is depleted of said optional second polymer, of said optional colorant and optionally of additive or part thereof; and comprises the polyester, optionally the third polymer; and the optional additive or a part thereof;

[0138] (b.2) separating the solvent, which is enriched in dissolved optional second polymer, in optional colorant and optionally the additive or a part thereof, and the residue of the polymer blend, which is depleted of said optional second polymer, of said optional colorant and optionally of additive or part thereof; and comprises the polyester, optionally the third polymer; and the optional additive or a part thereof obtained in step (b.1 ), preferably by a physical separation method, thereby obtaining a separated solvent, which is enriched in dissolved optional second polymer, in optional colorant and optionally the additive or a part thereof compared to the solvent provided in step (a) and the residue of the polymer blend, which is depleted of said optional second polymer, of said optional colorant and optionally of additive or part thereof; and comprises the polyester, optionally the third polymer; and the optional additive or a part thereof.

[0139] Physical separation methods may comprise mechanical separation methods, thermal separation methods and mixed forms of mechanical and thermal separation.

[0140] The separation in step (b.2) is done by methods and means known to the skilled person, especially solid-liquid separation methods such as filtration, for example, heated pressure filtration, sedimentation or centrifugation (see Hand- buch der mechanischen Fest-Flussig-Trennung Taschenbuch - 29. April 2004 von Klaus Luckert (Herausgeber)). Colorants and / or second polymer, if present in the polymer blend, especially in the polyester, remain at least partially in the separated solvent obtained in step (b.2). In some preferred embodiments of the process, step (b.2) is done at a pressure in the range of from 800 to 200,000 hPa.

[0141] Preferably, step (b) further comprises:

[0142] (b.3) washing the separated residue of the polymer blend obtained in step (b.2) at least once with a washing solvent comprising GVL and optionally one or more solvent(s) selected from the group indicated above, thereby obtaining a washed residue;

[0143] (b.4) optionally drying the washed residue obtained in step (b.3). 240968W001

[0144] 22

[0145] Step (b.3) and optional step (b.4) are conducted preferably if the polymer blend provided in step (a) comprises a colorant and / or a second polymer, in order to reduce the amount of colorant and / or a second polymer carried along by the residue obtained in step (b.2). In some preferred embodiments of the process, step (b.3), step (b.4) is / are done at a pressure in the range of from 800 to 200,000 hPa.

[0146] When a polymer blend comprises at least a third polymer, the solvent-based recycling preferably comprises d) separation of the solvent system, which is enriched in dissolved polyester obtained in step (c) from the residue obtained in step (c), thereby obtaining a solvent enriched in dissolved polyester, which is free of third polymer, and a residue comprising at least the third polymer, wherein the separation is done by heated solid-liquid separation, preferably at a temperature in the range of T2 ± 20°C, more preferably at a temperature in the range of T2 ± 10°C.

[0147] Heated solid-liquid separation is, for example, heated filtration, wherein the solution, filter, and funnel are heated, preferably heated so that each has temperature T2 ± 20°C or T2 ± 10°C. In some embodiments, it is preferred that the heated filtration is done under a pressure of >1 bar, more preferably at a pressure in the range of from 1 bar to 30 bar, preferably in the range of from 1 to 10 bar, more preferably in the range of from 1 to 6 bar (heated pressure filtration). Other means and methods for the separation are known to the skilled person such as non-heated filtration. Further methods and means for solid-liquid separation are known to the skilled person, especially sedimentation or centrifugation (see Handbuch der mechanischen Fest-Flussig-Trennung Taschenbuch - 29. April 2004 von Klaus Lucked (Herausgeber) In some preferred embodiments with heated filtration, the filter and the residue comprising at least the third polymer (which is retained on the filter), preferably after the solvent system, which is enriched in dissolved polyester, has passed through the filter, is rinsed with solvent for one or more times, preferably with a solvent having the same composition as used in step (c).

[0148] The solvent-based recycling process preferably further comprises

[0149] (e) optionally after heated solid-liquid separation according to step (d), cooling the solvent obtained in step (c) or in step (d), which is enriched in dissolved polyester compared to the solvent provided in step (a), to a temperature below T2 preferably below 150°C, more preferably below 140°C, more preferably below 120°C; thereby obtaining a precipitated polyester and a solvent, which is depleted in dissolved polyester.

[0150] The temperature to which the cooling is done is a temperature below T2°C, preferably below 150°C, more preferably below 140°C, more preferably below 120°C and, in each case, above 0 °C, preferably above 5 °C, more preferably above 10 °C. The optional solid-liquid separation according to step (d) and the precipitation according to step (e) are preferably done at a pressure in the range of from 800 to 1200 hPa, preferably in the range of from 900 to 1100 hPa, more preferably in the range of from 1000 to 1100 hPa. Cooling in step (e) is preferably done without addition of antisolvents. In some embodiments, only a small amount of one or more antisolvent(s) is / are added to and / or is / are present in the solvent in step (c), wherein a small amount means that less than 5 weight-%, preferably less than 4 weight-%, more preferably less than 3 weight-%, more preferably less than 2 weight-%, more preferably less than 1 weight-% of antisolvent(s) is / are added and / or is / are present based on the total weight of the solvent including the 240968W001

[0151] 23 antisolvent(s) being 100 weight-%. Cooling is done by any suitable method, for example, by letting the solvent obtained in step (e) stand under ambient conditions (1013 hPa and room temperature 20-25 °C), preferably with a cooling rate in the range of from 20 to 80 K / h, or by applying cooling means such as slow cooling, preferably in a crystallizer, preferably with a cooling rate in the range of from 3 to 25 K / h, in some preferred embodiments with a cooling rate in the range of from 3 to 60 K / h, fast cooling, preferably with a cooling rate > 100 K / h, dripping into a solvent, which has a temperature below 30 °C, wherein the solvent for dripping is the same or different as the solvent(s) of the solvent provided in step (a) but is in any case also a solvent selected from the group indicated above. In some embodiments, cooling is done with a cooling rate of < 3.0 °C / min, preferably < 1 .5 °C / min, more preferably in the range of from 0.05 to 3.0 °C / min, more preferably in the range of from 0.13 to 3.0 °C / min, more preferably in the range of from 0.15 to 1.5 °C / min, more preferably in the range of from 0.15 to 1.0 °C / min.

[0152] An "antisolvent” is a solvent having a solubility regarding the polyester < 1g / kg at a temperature in the range of from 20 to 25 °C.

[0153] In some embodiments, the solvent-based recycling process comprises after (d), if a residue is present, and before step (e)

[0154] (x.1) optionally contacting the residue comprising at least the third polymer of step (d) with solvent system, preferably at a temperature T2 ± 20°C, more preferably at a temperature in the range of T2 ± 10°C, as defined above in (d), followed by solid-liquid separation, preferably heated solid-liquid separation at a temperature T2 ± 20°C, more preferably at a temperature in the range of T2 ± 10°C, as defined above in (d), thereby obtaining a residue comprising at least the third polymer, which is further depleted of polyester and comprises the third polymer; and a solvent system, which contains further amount of the polyester;

[0155] (x.2) optionally combining the solvent system, which contains the further amount of the polyester obtained in (x.1) with the solvent system, which is enriched in dissolved polyester, separated in (d).

[0156] Preferably, the contacting in (x.1) is done in that, especially in cases where heated solid-liquid separation is used in (d), the residue of the polymer blend obtained in (d) remains on the filter and is there brought into contact with solvent system, wherein the solvent system, which contains the remaining amount of the polyester obtained in (x.1), is separated thereof due to solid-liquid separation.

[0157] The solvent system used in (x.1) comprises GVL and optionally one or more solvent(s) selected from the group indicated above for the contacting in step (c). Preferably, the solvent system used in (x.1) is the same solvent system as the solvent system used in step (c). More preferably, in step (b) and in step (c) and in optional step (x.1), the same solvent comprising GVL is used.

[0158] If step (x.1) and step (x.2) are conducted, cooling the solvent system in step (e) is preferably done based on the separated solvent system obtained in (d) or based on the combined solvent system obtained in (x.2). 240968W001

[0159] 24

[0160] The solvent-based recycling process preferably further comprises

[0161] (f) separating the precipitated polyester obtained in step (e) from the solvent, which is depleted in dissolved polyester, thereby obtaining a precipitated polyester and the solvent, which is depleted in dissolved polyester.

[0162] The solvent-based recycling process preferably further comprises

[0163] (g) optionally washing the precipitated polyester obtained in step (f);

[0164] (h) drying the precipitated polyester obtained in step (f) or the washed precipitated polyester obtained in step (g).

[0165] The separation in step (f) is done by methods and means known to the skilled person, especially solid-liquid separation methods such as filtration, for example, heated pressure filtration, sedimentation or centrifugation (see Hand- buch der mechanischen Fest-Fliissig-Trennung Taschenbuch - 29. April 2004 von Klaus Luckert (Herausgeber)).

[0166] Washing in optional step (g) is preferably done with a solvent comprising one or more of the solvent(s) of the group defined above. In some embodiments, washing is done with a solvent selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, acetonitrile, ethyl acetate, acetone, water or a mixture of two or more of these solvents. In some embodiments, the washing in optional step (g) is done with a solvent selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, acetonitrile, ethyl acetate, acetone, water, GVL or a mixture of two or more of these solvents. Drying in step (h) is preferably done under one or more conditions selected from the group consisting of a pressure in the range of from 1 to 1013 mbar; a temperature in the range of from 50 to 210 °C, preferably in the range of from 60 to 180°C, more preferably in the range of from 80 to 160 °C; drying time in the range of from 30 minutes to 24 hours; drying in an atmosphere comprising nitrogen, preferably in an atmosphere having at least 90 volume-%, more preferably 95 volume-%, more preferably at least 98 volume-% nitrogen. Drying is done by one or more methods selected from the group consisting of contact drying, convection drying and radiation drying.

[0167] In some preferred embodiments of the process, step (f), step (g) and step (h) are done at a pressure in the range of from 800 to 200,000 hPa.

[0168] Preferably, the solvent-based recycling process comprises recycling solvent re-obtained from one or more step(s), preferably the separated solvent obtained in step (b.2), the washing solvent from step (b.3), the separated solvent of step (d), the separated solvent of step (f), and / or the washing solvent of step (g) at least partially to step (b) and / or step (c), optionally after one or more work-up step(s) such as distillation.

[0169] The solvent-based recycling process preferably further comprises i) preparing a textile, a fiber, a packaging, a plastic, an automotive part, an electronic part from the polyester obtained from the method as described herein above, preferably part from the polyester obtained from step (b), step (b.2), step (b.3), step (b.4), step (c), step (d), step (e), step (f), step (g) and / or from step (h) as described herein above. 240968W001

[0170] 25

[0171] In one embodiment, a polyester may be obtained or obtainable from the method as recited herein, preferably from step (b), step (b.2), step (b.3), step (b.4), step (c), step (d), step (e), step (f), step (g) and / or from step (h) method as recited herein. A polyester may be prepared according to the method as described herein above, preferably from step (b), step (b.2), step (b.3), step (b.4), step (c), step (d), step (e), step (f), step (g) and / or from step (h).

[0172] In another embodiment, the disclosure also relates to using the polyester as described herein for preparation of textile applications, fiber applications, packaging applications, plastic applications, automotive applications, electronic applications, preferably for the production of food packaging, beverage packaging, clothing, foot wear, wire, cable, wherein preferably in case that the polyester is selected from PBAT, PEF and PET, preferably PET, the polyester is used for textile applications, fiber applications, packaging applications, plastic applications, more preferably for the production of food packaging, beverage packaging, clothing and foot wear; wherein in case that the polyester is PBT, the polyester is used in textile applications, automotive applications, electronic applications, more preferably for the production of a wire and / or a cable.

[0173] In another embodiment, the apparatus for sorting a textile waste stream, in particular a mixed textile waste stream, wherein the textile waste stream includes one or more piece(s) containing textile material, may comprise:

[0174] - an identifier reader configured to detect at least one identifier element per piece, wherein the at least one identifier element is related to at least one decentral identifier associated with the piece;

[0175] - a decentral network communication interface configured to provide the decentral identifier associated with the one or more piece(s) and to provide based on the decentral identifier material composition data and / or piece history data, wherein the material composition data and / or piece history data is provided based on the provided decentral identifier by one or more network node(s) of a decentral network;

[0176] - a fractioning unit configured to assign the one or more piece(s) based on the material composition data and / or piece history data to one or more waste fraction(s), wherein the one or more waste fraction(s) relate to a waste fraction to be processed by a solvent-based recycling process;

[0177] - a control signal generator configured to generate, based on the assigned waste fraction, control data for sorting the one or more piece(s) to the assigned waste fraction(s);

[0178] - a control interface configured to provide the generated control data for sorting the one or more piece(s) to the assigned waste fraction(s).

[0179] In another embodiment the property data includes at least one property of the textile associated with at least one origin, at least one condition associated with the generation of the textile, at least one environmental attribute, and / or at least one allocation scheme. Origin may relate to a supplier or provider of the one or more input material stream(s). Origin may relate to a location the one or more input material stream(s) are sourced from. Condition associated with the generation of the textile may relate to process conditions such as production and / or recycling process used to generate the textile or process conditions of such production and / or recycling process used to generate the textile. Environmental attribute may relate to any property associated with environmental impact of the textile and / or 240968W001

[0180] 26 the generation of the textile. Allocation scheme allocation schemes may specify the allocation of property data according to segregated allocation, non-segregated allocation like book and claim, mass balance with free attribution, mass balance without free attribution or combinations thereof.

[0181] In another embodiment the property data includes one or more dataset(s) associated with a set of properties, wherein the one or more dataset(s) are related to a type of participant associated with the data consuming network node requesting access and / or accessing to the property data. The property data may include one or more dataset(s) wherein the one or more dataset(s) are related relating a set of properties to a type of participant associated with the data consuming network node requesting access to the property data. The type of participant may be related to a decentral participant identifier associated with the data consuming network node requesting access to the property data. The decentral participant identifier may be provided by the data consuming network node requesting access to the property data.

[0182] In another embodiment the access element relates to authorization rules that provide access to one or more datasets) of the property data depending on a type of participant associated with the data consuming network node requesting access to the property data. The access element may be provided for access to one or more dataset(s) related to or are generated by a participant or type of participant of the textile / input material generation, e.g., production and / or recycling, chain executing one or more process(es) for generating the textile. The access element may be provided for access to one or more dataset(s) by a type of participant of the textile use chain executing one or more process(es) using the textile. The access element may be provided for access to property data including one or more dataset(s) related to a type of participant of the textile generation and / or use chain executing one or more processes) for generating and / or using the textile. The access element may relate to authorization rules that provide access to property dataset(s) depending on participant type(s). The access element may relate to authorization rules that provide access to property dataset(s) depending on participant identifier. The access element may relate to authorization rules that provide access to property dataset(s) depending on the decentral participant identifier, such as the decentral participant identifier of the data consuming network node e.g., associated with the recycled textile producer and / or textile production. The access element may relate to authorization rules that provide access to property dataset(s) to selected participants of the textile use chain or material chain, in particular recycled textile producer(s) and / or textile production(s).

[0183] In another embodiment the one or more data consuming network node(s) are associated with one or more recycled textile producer(s) attributing the at least one property of the textile to recycled textile(s) produced by the textile production. Such attribution may include accessing and gathering the property data as disclosed herein, registering the property data by way of balancing account(s), and assigning registered properties of the textile to recycled textile(s) produced by the textile production.

[0184] In another embodiment the property data or dataset(s) may be accessed by one or more participant(s) of the production or textile use chain, in particular the recycled textile producer(s) and / or textile production(s), through the one or 240968W001

[0185] 27 more access element(s) generated according to the methods disclosed herein. The property data may be accessed per generation stage of the textile by one or more participant(s) of the textile generation chain, in particular the textile and / or component producer(s). The property data may be accessed per generation stage of the textile from one or more participant(s) of the textile use chain or production chain, in particular recycled textile producer(s) and / or textile production(s). The property data may be accessed recursively based on one or more relationship representation (s) provided by one or more participant(s) of the textile generation chain, in particular textile or component producer(s). The one or more relationship representation(s) provided by one or more participant(s) of the textile generation chain, in particular textile or component producer(s), to the decentral network may be accessed recursively by one or more participant(s) of the textile use chain or production chain, in particular recycled textile producer(s) and / or textile productions).

[0186] In another embodiment providing access element(s) for access to property data by data consuming nodes includes requesting the data providing node to provide access to the property data by the data consuming node, authenticating and / or authorizing the request and / or accessing the property data by transferring the property data from data providing node to the data consuming node.

[0187] In an embodiment, the method may be for tracking a recycling property associated with a textile in an industrial process, the method may comprise: providing a decentral identifier associated with at least one of a production input associated with producing the textile, a recycling input associated with recycling the textile and a process property associated with the industrial process; collecting, based on the decentral identifier, recycling property data associated with at least one of a production input property associated with the production input, recycling input property associated with the recycling input and process property associated with the industrial process; determining, based on the collected recycling property data, other recycling property data associated with the recycling property in the industrial process; providing another decentral identifier associated with the textile; and assigning the other recycling property data to the other decentral identifier.

[0188] The method may be applied in a plurality of applications and / or for a plurality of purposes. For example, in recycling, the method may be used to monitor an environmental impact, such as the product carbon footprint (PCF), of the textile and / or generation of products, such as textiles. In production, the method may be used to control quality of the textile and / or generations of products. Further, the method may be used to detect fraud related to the textile and / or generations of products. The method may use and / or generate data associated with the textile, such as analytical data. The data may be used for ensuring at least one of that a particular textile may be suitable for a process, that a particular textile may be suitable for an intended use with regard to quality, a property such as chemical property or mechanical property, and that a particular process may be suitable for the textile, for example. The method may allow for digital twinning of the textile(s) and / or industrial process(es). The decentral identifier may be represented as a mark, machine-readable code or bar code or quick response (QR) code, for example. The decentral identifier, mark, machine-readable code, bar code or QR code may be represented on at least one of a textile product, label, tag or packaging. The textile product may comprise the textile. The label or tag may be attached to the textile or textile 240968W001

[0189] 28 product. The packaging may comprise the textile or textile product. The decentral identifier, mark, machine-readable code, bar code or QR code may also be associated with the DPP, for example.

[0190] In another embodiment, the disclosure relates to an apparatus for tracking a recycling property associated with a textile in an industrial process, the apparatus may comprise: a first input interface configured to provide a decentral identifier associated with at least one of a production input associated with producing the textile, a recycling input associated with recycling the textile and a process property associated with the industrial process; a second input interface configured to collect, based on the decentral identifier, recycling property data associated with at least one of a production input property associated with the production input, recycling input property associated with the recycling input and process property associated with the industrial process; a recycling property data determining unit configured to determine, based on the collected recycling property data, other recycling property data associated with the recycling property in the industrial process; a third input interface configured to provide another decentral identifier associated with the textile; and an assigning unit configured to assign the other recycling property data to the other decentral identifier.

[0191] The apparatus may be configured to carry out the steps of the method as recited herein. Hence, the apparatus may comprise specific units, components, interfaces and / module configured to perform the steps of the method as recited herein.

[0192] The apparatus may be applied in a plurality of applications and / or for a plurality of purposes. For example, in recycling, the apparatus may be used to monitor an environmental impact, such as the PCF, of the textile and / or generation of products, such as textiles. In production, the apparatus may be used to control quality of the textile and / or generations of products. Further, the apparatus may be used to detect fraud related to the textile and / or generations of products. The apparatus may use and / or generate data associated with the textile, such as analytical data. The data may be used for ensuring at least one of that a particular textile may be suitable for a process, that a particular textile may be suitable for an intended use with regard to quality, a property such as chemical property or mechanical property, and that a particular process may be suitable for the textile, for example. The apparatus may allow for digital twinning of the textile(s) and / or industrial process(es). The decentral identifier may be represented as a mark, machine-readable code or bar code or QR code, for example. The decentral identifier, mark, machine-readable code, bar code or QR code may be represented on at least one of a textile product, label, tag or packaging. The textile product may comprise the textile. The label or tag may be attached to the textile or textile product. The packaging may comprise the textile or textile product. The decentral identifier, mark, machine-readable code, bar code or QR code may also be associated with the DPP, for example.

[0193] In another embodiment, the decentral identifier as provided according to one of the computer-implemented methods for tracking the recycling property associated with the textile in the industrial process may be use. 240968W001

[0194] 29

[0195] The decentral identifier may be used in a plurality of applications and / or for a plurality of purposes. For example, in recycling, the decentral identifier may be used to monitor an environmental impact, such as the PCF of the textile and / or generations of products, such as textiles. In production, the decentral identifier may be used to control quality of the textile and / or generations of products. Further, the decentral identifier may be used to detect fraud related to the textile and / or generations of products. The decentral identifier may be used for using and / or generating data associated with the textile, such as analytical data. The data may be used for ensuring at least one of that a particular textile may be suitable for a process, that a particular textile may be suitable for an intended use with regard to quality, a property such as chemical property or mechanical property, and that a particular process may be suitable for the textile, for example. The decentral identifier may allow for digital twinning of the textile(s) and / or industrial processes). The decentral identifier may be represented as a mark, machine-readable code or bar code or QR code, for example. The decentral identifier, mark, machine-readable code, bar code or QR code may be represented on at least one of a textile product, label, tag or packaging. The textile product may comprise the textile. The label or tag may be attached to the textile or textile product. The packaging may comprise the textile or textile product. The decentral identifier, mark, machine-readable code, bar code or QR code may also be associated with the DPP, for example.

[0196] In another embodiment, a system may be implemented, the system comprising the textile processed and decentral identifier provided according to one of the computer-implemented methods for tracking the recycling property associated with the textile in the industrial process.

[0197] In another embodiment, a computer program element with instructions, which when executed on a computer may be configured to carry out one of the computer-implemented methods for tracking the recycling property associated with the textile in the industrial process. The computer may be a computing node, for example.

[0198] In another embodiment, a computer-readable medium storing data may be generated according to one of the computer-implemented methods for tracking the recycling property associated with the textile in the industrial process.

[0199] In an embodiment of the computer-implemented method, the textile may be one of a plurality of textiles being processed in the industrial process. The method and / or corresponding apparatus may allow processing the plurality of textiles. Thus, the method and / or corresponding apparatus may provide for larger industrial processes and or more efficient processing. In another embodiment of the computer-implemented method, the textiles of the plurality of textiles have a common origin. The method and / or corresponding apparatus may allow processing of the plurality of textiles in a closed loop. The method and / or corresponding apparatus may allow same and / or synchronic processing of the plurality of textiles. The method and / or corresponding apparatus may allow improving at least one of quality, purity and traceability. 240968W001

[0200] 30

[0201] In another embodiment of the computer-implemented method, the common origin may be associated with at least one of a source, a country, a manufacture and a brand. The method and / or corresponding apparatus may allow adapting the industrial process to the plurality of textiles.

[0202] In another embodiment of the computer-implemented method, the textiles of the plurality of textiles have different origins. The method and / or corresponding apparatus may allow processing of the plurality of textiles in an open loop. In another embodiment of the computer-implemented method, the different origins are associated with at least one of different sources, different countries, different manufactures and different brands. The method and / or corresponding apparatus may allow adapting the industrial process to the plurality of textiles.

[0203] In another embodiment of the computer-implemented method, the other recycling property data may be associated with at least one of a recycled content, a specificity of the recycled content, a property of the recycled content, a chemical property of the recycled content, a physical property of the recycled content, a mechanical property of the recycled content, a quality, a specificity of the quality, a purity, a specificity of the purity, a toxicity, a specificity of the toxicity, a process property, a specificity of the process property, an environmental process property, a specificity of the environmental process property, a product carbon footprint, a specificity of the product carbon footprint, a process result, and a specificity of the process result. The method and / or corresponding apparatus may allow improving representation of the textile. Thus, the method and / or corresponding apparatus may allow improving at least one of quality, purity and traceability.

[0204] In another embodiment of the computer-implemented method, the other recycling property data may be associated with at least one of a field of application for the recycled content, a range of use for the recycled content, and directions of use for the recycled content. The method and / or corresponding apparatus may allow improving movements of the products around the circular economy. In another embodiment of the computer-implemented method, the other recycling property data may be associated with a chain of custody for the recycled content. The method and / or corresponding apparatus may allow controlling and tracking of the textile and / or its environmental impact along a lifecycle in the circular economy.

[0205] In an embodiment of the apparatus, the textile may be one of a plurality of textiles being processed in the industrial process. The method and / or corresponding apparatus may allow increasing efficiency of and / or decreasing time required for processing and / or recycling of the textiles.

[0206] In another embodiment of the apparatus, the textiles of the plurality of textiles have a common origin.

[0207] In another embodiment of the apparatus, the common origin may be associated with at least one of a source, a country, a manufacture and a brand.

[0208] In another embodiment of the apparatus, the textiles of the plurality of textiles have different origins. 240968W001

[0209] 31

[0210] In another embodiment of the apparatus, the different origins are associated with at least one of different sources, different countries, different manufactures and different brands.

[0211] In another embodiment of the apparatus, the other recycling property data may be associated with at least one of a recycled content, a specificity of the recycled content, a property of the recycled content, a chemical property of the recycled content, a physical property of the recycled content, a mechanical property of the recycled content, a quality, a specificity of the quality, a purity, a specificity of the purity, a toxicity, a specificity of the toxicity, a process property, a specificity of the process property, an environmental process property, a specificity of the environmental process property, a product carbon footprint, a specificity of the product carbon footprint, a process result, and a specificity of the process result.

[0212] In another embodiment of the apparatus, the other recycling property data may be associated with at least one of a field of application for the recycled content, a range of use for the recycled content, and directions of use for the recycled content.

[0213] In another embodiment of the apparatus, the other recycling property data may be associated with a chain of custody for the recycled content.

[0214] Textile may refer to any fiber-based material (fiber material), for example, fibers, natural fibers, synthetic fibers, yarns, filaments, threads, fabrics, woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, felt, knitted fabrics, crocheted fabrics, textile products, textile goods and clothes. Textiles may be divided in groups comprising, for example, consumer textiles and technical textiles. The consumer textiles may be used for domestic purposes. For the consumer textiles, important embodiments may include, for example, aesthetics and comfort. The technical textiles may include, for example, geotextiles, industrial textiles and medical textiles. For technical textiles, important embodiments may include, for example, functional properties.

[0215] Textile waste and / or textile waste streams may refer to discarded and / or unwanted materials generated during production, consumption and disposal of textiles. Textile waste may arise from various stages within a textile supply chain, comprising manufacturing, retail and consumer use. Textile waste may be categorized into two main waste streams: a post-industrial (PI) I pre-consumer waste stream and a post-consumer (PC) waste stream. PI waste, also known as industrial waste or factory waste, may occur during a manufacturing process. The PI waste may include at least one of production scraps, cutting room leftovers, defective fabrics, rejected fabrics, and other materials that do not meet quality standards. The PI waste may also may include excess inventory or unsold product(s) from manufacturers) or retailer(s). PC waste represents textile waste generated by end-users such as consumers. The PC waste may include discarded clothing, household textiles, and other textile products that have reached their end-of-life (EoL) cycle. The PC waste may result from factors comprising at least one of fashion trends, changes in personal preferences, wear and tear, and product obsolescence. Textile waste may have a significant environmental impact 240968W001

[0216] 32 and / or social impact. Textile waste may contribute to landfill waste, consume valuable resources, and / or release harmful substances when disposed of improperly. However, textile waste also presents an opportunity for recycling, reusing and / or repurposing materials to reduce an environmental footprint of the textile industry.

[0217] Textile and / or fiber may include one or more polymer(s). Polymer may refer to any very large molecule (macromolecule) forming fiber-based material, for example, a natural polymer, cellulose, cotton, silk, wool, synthetic polymer, polyamide (PA), polycaprolactam (poly(azepan-2-one), poly(hexano-6-lactam), PA 6, Nylon 6), poly(hexamethylene adipamide) (poly[imino(1 ,6-dioxohexamethylene) iminohexamethylene], PA 66, Nylon 66), polyester, polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), recycled PET (rPET), and polypropylene (PP). Polymer blend may refer to combination of one or more polymer(s) and / or one or more polymer(s) with another, for instance, non-polymeric component. The polymer blend may include a plurality of (different) fiber materials. The other component may be an additive. The polymer blend may include a plurality of (different) additives. The polymer and the other component may be combined with each other in any suitable way. For example, in case of two polymers, the polymers may be intermixed. Additionally or alternatively, the polymer may be embedded in and / or interwoven with the other polymer. Additionally or alternatively, the polymers may be aligned in separate layers or in a hybrid form of these combinations. For example, a polymer blend may be a textile comprising elastic fibers and polyamide or a natural polymer such as cotton, viscose or linen. The textile may further include a filler or fillers. Additionally or alternatively, the textile may include a further polymer, such as polyacrylonitrile (poly(1 -acrylonitrile), PAN), for example. The filler may include at least one of glass fiber, coal fiber, carbon black, inorganic salt, talc, disodium carbonate, adhesive, thickener, antifoam agent, finishing agent, water / oil / stain repellent, flame retardant, anti-crease agent, biocide, binder, surfactant, softener, scouring agent, antistatic agent, desizing agent, bleaching agent, oxidant, UV filter, emulsionant, fixing agent, washing dispersant, and profiling agent, for example.

[0218] Solvent may refer any substance that dissolves a solute, in particular a textile or polymer, resulting in a solution, for example a solvent obtained from a biological source, gamma-valerolactone (GVL), dimethylacetamide (DMAc), dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), n-butylpyrrolidone (NBP), and n-methylpyrrolidone (NMP).

[0219] Various units, circuits, entities, nodes or other computing components may be described as ''configured to” perform a task or tasks. The wording "configured to” shall recite structure meaning "having circuitry that” performs the task or tasks on operation. The units, circuits, entities, nodes or other computing components can be configured to perform the task even when the unit I circuit I component may be not operating. The units, circuits, entities, nodes or other computing components that form the structure corresponding to "configured to” may include hardware circuits and / or memory storing program instructions executable to implement the operation.

[0220] The units, circuits, entities, nodes or other computing components may be described as performing a task or tasks, for convenience in the description. Such descriptions shall be interpreted as including the phrase "configured to”. 240968W001

[0221] 33

[0222] In general, the methods, apparatuses, systems, computer elements, nodes or other computing components described herein may include memory, software components and hardware components. The memory can include volatile memory such as random-access memory (RAM), static random-access memory (SRAM) or dynamic randomaccess memory (DRAM) and / or non-volatile memory such as optical or magnetic disk storage, flash memory, readonly memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), etc. The hardware components may include any combination of combinatorial logic circuitry, clocked storage devices such as flops, registers, latches, etc., finite-state machines, memory such as static random-access memory or embedded dynamic random-access memory, custom- designed circuitry, programmable logic arrays, etc.

[0223] Any disclosure and embodiments described herein relate to the methods, systems, apparatuses, devices, chemicals, materials, services, uses, computer program elements outlined above and vice versa. Advantageously, the benefits provided by any of the embodiments and examples equally apply to all other embodiments and examples and vice versa.

[0224] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0225] In the following, the present disclosure is further described with reference to the enclosed figures.

[0226] Fig.1 illustrates an example embodiment of a circular material loop including material participants connected through a decentral network with decentral network nodes associated with material participants.

[0227] Fig. 2 illustrates an example method for generating an access element for monitoring the production of the textile or components thereof by at least one material participant of the decentral network.

[0228] Fig. 3 illustrates another example method for generating an access element for monitoring the production of the textile by at least one material participant of the decentral network.

[0229] Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a method for accessing property data related to the production of the textile by one or more data consuming network node(s) under control of a data providing network node associated with the producer of the textile.

[0230] Fig. 5 illustrates a method for of obtaining property data related to the production of the textile based on decentral product identifier(s) and relationships.

[0231] Fig. 6 illustrates relationship representations specifying relationships between textile or a component thereof and components used to produce the textile.

[0232] Fig. 7 illustrates an example of a decentral network including several decentral network nodes which may be accessed by a computing device. 240968W001

[0233] 34

[0234] Fig. 8 illustrates an example system for obtaining property data related to the production based on a decentral textile identifier.

[0235] Fig. 9 illustrates an example of a method or apparatus for providing property data via a decentral network.

[0236] Fig. 10 illustrates schematically an example of balancing or attributing textile properties to recycled textiles of the textile production.

[0237] Fig. 11 illustrates an example of a chemical production network with multiple input material streams and multiple processes.

[0238] Fig. 12 illustrates another example of a chemical production network with multiple input material streams and multiple processes.

[0239] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0240] The following embodiments are mere examples for implementing the method, the apparatus, the system, or applications disclosed herein and shall not be considered limiting.

[0241] Fig. 1 illustrates an example embodiment of a circular material loop 100 including mate-rial participants 101.1-6 connected through a decentral network 102 with decentral net-work nodes 103.1-6 associated with material participants 101.1-6.

[0242] The participant network shown in Fig. 1 may be a material chain network. The material chain network may include one or more linear material chain(s), such as production chain(s) and / or recycling chain(s). The linear material chain(s) may include one or more material production chain(s), in which the material is produced by a material producer 101.1 and used to produce an end-product by an original equipment manufacturer 101.3 (OEM). The linear material chain(s) may include a material recycling chain, in which the produced end-product is collected, sorted, and recycled up to a recycling system operator 101.6 and the recyclate is used to produce new material by the material producer 101.1. The material chain may include one or more production and / or recycling chain(s). The material chain may include one or more connected production and / or recycling chain(s). One or more linear material chain(s) may be connected to the material loop 100.

[0243] The material chain network may include a material loop network 100 including the use of recycled material(s) to produce new materials. One or more material loop(s) 100 may allow to use materials resulting from recycling of end-of- life products to produce new products, such as textiles or materials, associated with one or more material chain(s). The material chain network, preferably the material loop 100, may include the production, use and / or recycling of 240968W001

[0244] 35 physical materials or products produced by using such materials or containing such materials. The product may be a material, a textile, an intermediate textile, a discrete component containing material, a discrete component assembly, an end-product, an end-of-life product, a product to be recycled, a recycled product or a recyclate.

[0245] Material or textile may refer to a chemical compound, a chemical ingredient, a chemical molecule, a chemical composition, a chemical mixture, a chemical formulation, an intermediate textile, or a chemical base material that may be used to produce discrete products. Chemical material or product flows may include non-discrete material flows that may be further processed to produce discrete products or components. Chemical material or product flows may include liquids, pellets, beats, powders, or the like. The discrete product may include the discrete component, the discrete component assembly, the end-product, the end-of-life product, the product to be recycled, or the recycled product.

[0246] The chemical material or product may be produced using raw materials and / or recyclate. The recyclate may refer to a mechanically or chemically recycled material. Recyclate or recycled material flows may include non-discrete material flows that may be further processed to produce new materials or textiles. Recyclate or recycled material flows may include liquids, pellets, beats, powders, or the like. The raw materials may include or refer to starting materials used to produce the material or textile, such as virgin raw material(s). Virgin raw material may be unused raw material that has not been subjected to any processing other than for its production.

[0247] End product may refer to a product that is the result of a material chain. End product may refer to a product that is used by the end-product user. End-of-life (EOL) product may refer to a product that has been used by end-product user. End-of-life product may refer to a product that does no longer fulfill the requirements for its use. End-of-life product may refer to a product that is no longer required. End-of-life products may be products disposed in waste, such as plastic waste. A recycled product may refer to any product or material that has been produced using end-of- life product(s). A recycled product may refer to a new product or material that has been produced using end-of-life product(s).

[0248] The material loop 100 illustrated in Fig. 1 may include multiple participants 101.1-6 forming the material loop 100.

[0249] The material loop 100 may include all stages of the material from production of the material via use of the material to re-use of the material. The material may hence flow in a closed loop from production of constituents, the end-product via use to re-use. Re-use may include re-purposing of the end-of-life product, re-furbishing of the end-of-life product and / or recycling of the end-of-life product to refeed recyclate into material production.

[0250] The participant(s) 101.1-6 of the material loop may be associated with the production of any material or product and / or recycling of any material or product. The participant(s) of the material loop 100 may include the recycled tex- tile / fiber-based product producer 103.1 , the textile user 103.2, the original equipment manufacturer, OEM 103.3, the 240968W001

[0251] 36 end-product user 103.4, the EOL product collector and / or sorter 103.5, the recycling system operator 103.6 or combinations thereof. The participant(s) may include various participant(s) of the material chain or loop not shown in Fig. 1.

[0252] The participant(s) 101.1-6 of the material loop 100 may be connected through material flow(s) 104. The material flow 104 may correspond to the flow of product or material from one participant 101 .1-6 of the material loop to the downstream participant 101.1-6 of the material loop 100. The material flow 104 may refer to a continuous or a discontinuous flow of product or material. The flow of product or material may include any means of transportation suitable to transport the product from one participant 101.1-6 to another downstream participant 101.1-6. The means of transportation may include pipes, containers, barrels, packages, or the like. The material flow 104 may be a one-sided flow, such as a directional material flow 104. The material flow 104 may flow from the up-stream participant 101.1-6 to the downstream participant 101.1-6 of the material loop 100, such as the material flow 104 from the recycling system operator 101.6 to the textile producer 101.1. The material flow may include reverse material flow 104 from the downstream participant 101.1-6 to the upstream participant 101.1-6 of the material loop 100. For example, material may flow 104 from the textile producer 101.1 to the recycling system 101.6, e.g., when the recycled product or recy- clate does not adhere to quality specifications and needs further treatment.

[0253] The material flow 106 may be associated with raw materials used to produce the material or textile, such as virgin raw material(s). Virgin raw material may be unused raw material that has not been subjected to any processing other than for its production. Instead of virgin raw material(s) the material flow 104 may include recycled material(s). Recycled material(s) may be made from waste material that can be recycled. The raw and recycled materials may be provided to the textile producer for producing material(s), textile(s), and / or intermediate textile(s) (not shown).

[0254] The material loop 100 illustrated in Fig. 1 is based on the example of textiles for textile productions and their circular loop. Textiles for textile productions may include any type of textile entering textile productions. The textile may include raw materials used to produce the material or textile used to produce textiles, such as virgin raw material(s). Examples for bio-based or renewable material are bio-based pyrolysis oil, bio-based pyrolysis gas, bio-based synthesis gas, bio-based hydrogen, bio-based naphtha, bio-based methane, bio-based ethane, bio-based propane, biobased textiles, renewable pyrolysis oil, renewable pyrolysis gas, renewable synthesis gas, renewable hydrogen, renewable naphtha, renewable methane, renewable ethane, renewable propane or renewable textiles or any combinations thereof.

[0255] The material participants may include the recycled textile producer 101.1 , the textile user 101.2, the end-product producer or original equipment manufacturer 101.3, the textile / fiber product user or end-product user 101.4 such as the retailer or the consumer, the waste collector and / or sorter 101.5, the recycling system operator 101.6.

[0256] The virgin raw materials may be provided to the recycled textile producer 101.1 as virgin textile. Alternatively or additionally, non-recycled textile may be provided to the recycled textile producer as textile input material. The textiles 240968W001

[0257] 37 may be produced by the recycled textile producer using the recycled and / or non-recycled textile. The textiles may be provided to a textile user 101.2. The textiles may be used to produce any intermediate product. Any intermediate product may be provided to the end-product producer 101.3 (Original Equipment Manufacturer - OEM). The endproduct may be produced using any intermediate produced upstream. The end-product may be provided to the endproduct user. The end-product may be used by the end-product user 101.4. At the end-of-life, the end-product may be disposed by the user. The disposed end-product may be provided to the end-product collector and / or sorter 101.5. The disposed end-product may be collected in a waste stream 108. The waste stream 108 may be sorted. The waste stream 108 may be provided to the end-product sorter 101 .5 for sorting fractions of end-products to be recycled. The sorted fractions of end-products may be provided to a recycler 101 .6 for recycling the end-product fraction. The recycled fraction may be provided to the recycled textile producer 101.1 for producing new textiles thus closing the material loop 100. The material flow 104 may close the loop between the material participants 101.1-6. The material loop may include multiple production chains 110 including material supplier (not shown), recycled textile producer 101.1, textile user 101.2 and end-product producer 101.3. The material loop may include multiple recycling chains 112 including textile waste stream collector and / or sorter101 .5 and / or sorter, recycling operator 101.6 and recycled textile producer 101.1.

[0258] In addition to the connection through material flows 104, the material participants 101.1-6 of the circular material loop 100 may be connected through data flows 105 via the decentral network 102. The decentral network 102 may include one or more decentral network nodes 103.1-6 associated with material participants 101.1-6 of the material loop 100. In a decentralized or decentral network 102, the decentral network nodes 103.1-6, in contrast to a centralized network, do not exclusively rely on a central network node. In other words, no single entity is the sole authority of the network. The decentral network 102 may include decentral and central network nodes. The decentral network 102 may include central network nodes that may control and / or monitor the decentral network nodes 103.1-6. For example, central network node(s) may provide authentication information, which allow at least two decentral network nodes 103.1-6 to establish a peer-to-peer communication channel between respective decentral network nodes 103.1-6.

[0259] The network nodes 103.1-6 may be computing nodes. The computing node may be any device or system that includes at least one physical and tangible processor, and a physical and tangible memory capable of having thereon computer-executable instructions that are executed by a processor. Computing nodes are now increasingly taking a wide variety of forms. Computing nodes may, for example, be handheld devices, monitoring systems, control systems, laptop computers, desktop computers, mainframes, and / or data centers. The memory may take any form and depends on the nature and form of the computing node. The decentral network nodes 103.1-6 may be connected via a wired and / or wireless connection such as one of Ethernet, USB, LAN, WLAN and the like. Wireless communication may use, for example, WLAN, Wi-Fi, cellular, and / or Blue-tooth. The decentral network nodes 103.1-6 may be configured to perform peer-to-peer data transactions, illustrated by the arrows 105 indicating data flow. 240968W001

[0260] 38

[0261] The decentral network nodes 103.1-6 may be configured as data consuming and / or providing network nodes. The decentral network nodes 103.1-6 may be configured to provide data to other network node(s) of the decentral network 102 and / or to consume data from other nodes of the decentral network 102. For instance, the decentral network node 103.1,3 associated with the recycled textile producer 101.1, textile user 101.2 or the end-product producer 101 .3 may be configured to provide data related to the production of the respective components to downstream participants such as the plastic waste collector or sorter 101 .5 or the recycling system operator 101 .6. Further for instance, the decentral network node 103.5,6 associated with the plastic waste collector or sorter 101 .5 or the recycling system operator 101.6 may be configured to access data from the network node 103.1-5 associated with upstream participants such as the recycled textile producer 101.1 or the end-product producer 101.3.

[0262] The decentral network node(s) 103.1-6 may comprise computer-executable instructions configured to provide, consume and / or process data, such as property data associated with the chemical, intermediate or end-product produced or processed within the circular loop 100. The network node(s) may run a data providing service configured to provide data to another decentral network node 103.1-6 of the decentral network 102. The decentral network node(s) 103.1-6 configured to provide data may be associated with a data owner or a data generating node associated with a material or product produced or processed within the circular loop 100. The decentral network node(s) 103.1-6 may be connected to one or more dedicated data storage(s) storing the data associated with material or product produced or processed in the circular loop 100 (see for example Fig. 9). The dedicated data storage(s) may be under control of the data owner or data generating node associated with the material or product produced or processed in the circular loop 100. The data owner may be the respective participant 101.1-6 of the circular loop 100, the data generating node 103.1-6 is associated with. The data generating node 103.1-6 may have access to the dedicated data storage . Access to data associated with material or product produced or processed within the circular loop 100 may hence be under control of the data owner the respective decentral network node 103.1-6 is associated with. This allows to retain full control over data associated with material or product produced or processed within the circular loop 100 by the data owner. At the same time this enables sharing of data associated with material or product produced or processed within the circular loop 100 under controlled conditions, for ex-ample by using appropriate protocols including authorization and authentication mechanisms or schemes to establish peer-to-peer communication.

[0263] The decentral network node 103.1-6 configured to consume data may comprise computer-executable instructions for accessing and / or processing data within the decentral network 102, such as data associated with material produced or processed within the circular loop 100 and provided by a decentral data providing network node 103.1-6. The decentral data consuming network node 103.1-6 may be controlled or owned by or associated with any upstream or downstream participant of the circular loop 100. For instance, the decentral data consuming network node 103.4 may be associated with end-product user 103.4 to allow access to property data associated with the supplied chemical through the decentral data providing network node 103.1 associated with the recycled textile producer 101.1. 240968W001

[0264] 39

[0265] The decentral network 102 may include further decentral network nodes 103.1-6. The further decentral network nodes 103.1-6 may not be associated with further participants of the circular loop 100. The further nodes may be decentral infrastructure service nodes (not shown in Fig. 1). The decentral infrastructure service nodes may provide services for decentral participant nodes 103.1-6, such as verifying the identity of the decentral network participant nodes 103.1-6 prior to performing a data ex-change. The decentral network participant node(s) 103.1-6 may be associated with or include certificate(s), such as X.509 certificate(s). The certificate(s) may be associated with an identity manager including e.g., a certificate issuing service and / or a dynamic provisioning service providing dynamic attribute tokens (e.g., OAuth Access Tokens). This way the decentral network node(s) 103.1-6 may be associated or connected to a unique identifier embedded in a X.509 certificate that identifies the respective decentral network node(s)

[0266] 103.1-6. The information required to verify the certificate may be provided via an authentication registry associated with the certificate issuing service and / or a dynamic provisioning service. For instance, in the IDSA Reference Architecture Model, Version 3.0 of April 2019, a decentral data providing network node associated with the data owner, a Certification Authority (CA), a Dynamic Attribute Provisioning Service (DAPS) and a decentral data consuming network node associated with the data consumer are used to verify the identity prior to performing a data exchange (not shown).

[0267] The material or product produced by participant(s) 101.1-6 of the circular loop 100 may be associated with material or product data associated with properties of the material or product produced by participant(s) 101.1-6 of the circular loop 100. The material or product data may be provided for access by the decentral data providing network node

[0268] 103.1-6 associated with the material or product producer. Access to the material or product data may be controlled by the decentral data providing network node 103.1-6. The material or product data may be accessed by decentral data consuming network node(s) 103.1-6 associated with further participants 101.1-6 of the material loop 100, such as any upstream or downstream participant 101.1-6.

[0269] The data flow 105 between decentral network nodes 103.1-6 may be directly or indirectly associated with the material flow 104, 106 between the participants 101.1-6 of the material loop 100. For instance, the data flow 105 may be directly associated with the material flow 104, 105, if data associated with a textile provided from the recycled tex- tile / fiber-based product producer 103.1 to the textile user 103.2 is accessed by a decentral data consuming network node 103.1-6 associated with said recycled textile / fiber user 101.2. For instance, the data flow 105 may be indirectly associated with the material flow 104, 106, if data associated with a textile produced by recycled textile / fiber-based product producer 103.1 is accessed by a decentral data consuming network node 103.1-6 associated with the recycling system operator 101.6.

[0270] Data transactions between decentral network nodes 103.1-6 may be based on a decentral identifier associated with the material or product data to be accessed. The decentral identifier may be associated with the physical entity of the material or product. The de-central identifier may be uniquely associated with the physical entity of the material or product. The decentral identifier may uniquely identify the material or product within the decentral network 102. The decentral identifier may be associated with further decentral identifier(s), such as decentral identifier(s) of material(s) 240968W001

[0271] 40 or product(s) used to produce the end-product. This may allow to track the material(s) or product(s) used to produce a product, such as an end-product. The decentral identifier may be included in a material access element associated with the material or product as is described in more detail in the context of Figs. 2-9.

[0272] In particular, the generation of access elements associated with data related to the production of the textile at each stage of the production chain allow for monitoring material flows through the decentral network. Such monitoring by providing access to property data related to the production of the textile will be described in more detail by way of examples in the following Figs. 2-9.

[0273] Fig. 2 illustrates an example method for generating an access element for monitoring the textile or components thereof in the production and / or recycling chain by at least one material participant of the decentral network.

[0274] Data related to the production, of the textile may be collected. The data may be collected prior to, during and / or after production and / or recycling of the textile. The component may include any discrete or non-discrete component produced by any material participant of the production and / or recycling chain such as recyclate, waste fraction, waste product, end-product or any intermediate product used to produce the end-product. The textile may refer to the material entering the production chain at the recycled textile producer. The component may refer to any stage in the recycling and / or production chain. The production chain may include stages such as recycled textile, non-recycled textile for producing the end-product and / or the production of the end-product. The recycling chain may include stages such as recyclate, the production of recyclate, waste fractions, waste products and / or end-products to be recycled. The lifecycle chain of the end-product may be part of the production and / or recycling chain.

[0275] The data may be generated in association with one or more network nodes 103.1-6, e.g., in relation to data generating node(s), associated with the respective participant 101.1-6. The data may relate to different stages of the production and / or recycling chain of the textile. The data may relate to the production of the textile, the use of the textile in production of any intermediate product, the production of the end-product. The data may relate to the recycling of the end-product, any component of the end-product, the sorting of waste streams, the recyclate production of waste fractions. The data may be specific to components or individual entities or batches of the produced or recycled entities.

[0276] The data related to the generation of the textile, or any component thereof may include property data. The property data may relate to properties of the textile or any component thereof. The property data may relate to or specify the material composition of the textile or any component thereof. For example, the material composition data may relate to or specify the composition of the end-product or any component thereof, the waste stream, the waste fraction sorted from the waste stream or the recyclate produced from the waste fraction. Such data may be accessed by participants of the recycling and / or production chain, such as sorters, collectors, recyclers, and / or recycled textile producers prior, on and / or after processing, such as sorting, collecting, recycling, and / or producing, to determine the composition of the textile. This way the textiles entering the textile production may be monitored reliably. 240968W001

[0277] 41

[0278] Depending on the textile, the property data may relate to, and are not limited to, end-product e.g. end-product type, end-product use or end-product application, component e.g. component type, component use or component application, material used for end-product or component, waste product or component, waste stream, biomass type, renewable type, origin, and / or environmental attribute.

[0279] For recycled textile, the property data may relate to the end-product or any component of the end-product. This may include end-product type, use and / or application, component type, use and / or application. For example, the endproduct may be food product in plastic packaging. The recycled textile may be recycled from the plastic packaging. The end-product type may by food product, the component may be the packaging, the type of end-product may be food product, the use of the component may be packaging for food, the application of the plastic used to produce the packaging may be the film.

[0280] For recycled textile, the property data may relate to the raw material used to generate the recycled textile, the waste the textile is generated from, the waste stream the textile is generated from, the origin of the raw materials or waste. Recycled textiles, fibers, and fabrics may be produced from a variety of waste materials, including post-consumer textile waste such as used clothing and home textiles, manufacturing scraps like cutting remnants and defective products, industrial textile byproducts, agricultural residues from natural fibers, synthetic fiber production waste, recycled plastic bottles, composite materials, end-of-life products like carpets and footwear, and discarded accessories.

[0281] The waste stream types may be linked to recycled textile. The waste stream types may relate to one or more waste materials or waste categories. Waste categories may include, and are not limited to, non-synthetic waste such as animal waste, vegetable or wooden waste, or synthetic waste, such as textile waste, paper waste, plastics waste, or rubber waste. The waste stream types may relate to the origin of the waste, such as the end-of-life product, the producer of the end-of-life product, the geolocation of the end-of-life product, the habitat of the end-of-life product, the consumer of the end-of-life product, or combinations thereof and may not be limited thereto. For example, in the case of recycled textile the waste type may specify textile waste from vegan fabrics.

[0282] Similar to the examples above other property data for recycled and other non-recycled textile may be specified.

[0283] The data related to the generation of the textile, or any component thereof may include decentral identifier(s) associated with one or more production / recycling input(s) used to produce the textile. The data may relate to one or more production / recycling input(s) used to generate the respective textile in the production and / or recycling chain. Collecting data related to the generation of the textile or any component thereof may include gathering decentral identifier(s) associated with one or more production / recycling input(s) used to generate the textile. The decentral identifier(s) associated with one or more production / recycling input(s) used to generate the textile or any component may be collected by reading an identifier element, such as a bar code or QR code, connected to the production / recycling input . 240968W001

[0284] 42

[0285] The data may include further property data such as a performance property, a chemical property, such as flammability, toxicity, acidity, reactivity, heat of combustion or the like, and / or a physical property such as density, color, hardness, melting points, boiling points, electrical conductivity or the like.

[0286] By collecting the data related to the generation of the textile or any component thereof per production and / or recycling stage of the product and / or recycling chain, digital twins of the respective entities produced by one or more production or recycling participant(s) of the production or recycling chain may be generated. This way the entities from end-product to recyclate may be tracked in the material production and / or recycling chain.

[0287] The data related to the generation of the textile, or any component thereof may be stored in a dedicated storage associated with the respective participant of the production and / or recycling chain producing the textile or component thereof. The data related to the generation of the textile, or any component thereof may include different datasets related to the production or recycling. Such datasets may refer to the datasets described above such as parts of the property data.

[0288] One or more decentral identifier(s) associated with the generated textile, or the component thereof may be provided. The one or more decentral identifier(s) may be uniquely associated with the physical entity of the generated textile or a component thereof. The one or more decentral identifier(s) may be uniquely associated with any entity produced by any participant of the production and / or recycling chain. The one or more decentral identifier(s) may comprise any unique identifier uniquely associated with the textile or component thereof, the production participant(s) of the production chain producing the entity, the recycling participant(s) of the recycling chain recycling the entity and / or the data related to the generation of the textile. The decentral identifier may include or relate to one or more Universally Unique Identifier(s) (UUID) or a Digital Identifier(s) (DID). Via the decentral identifier(s) and the unique association with the textile or component thereof, the data access to the data may be controlled by the participant such as the producer or recycler. This contrasts with central authority schemes, where identifiers are provided by such central authority and access to data is controlled by such central authority. Decentral in this context refers to the usage of the identifier in implementation as controlled by the data owner.

[0289] The decentral identifier(s) may include one or more identifier(s) used in the decentral network and allowing for data exchange or peer-to-peer communication via the decentral network. Data exchange may include discovery of the decentral identifier for participant nodes of the decentral network, authentication of participant nodes of the decentral network and / or authorization of data transfers via the peer-to-peer communication between participant nodes of the decentral network. The decentral identifier(s) may be as-sociated with any participant of the production chain and the respective entity produced by such participant.

[0290] One or more digital representation (s) of the data related to the production and / or recycling of the textile may be generated. The digital representation may be generated per dataset included in the data related to the generation of the textile. The digital representation (s) may point to the collected data or parts thereof. The digital representation(s) may 240968W001

[0291] 43 relate to the dedicated storage associated with the participant of the production and / or recycling chain generating the textile or any component thereof and storing the data related to the generation of the textile. The digital representations) may include a locator or pointer locating or pointing to the dedicated storage associated with the participant of the production and / or recycling chain generating the textile or component thereof and storing the data related to the generation of the textile. The digital representation may include one or more digital link(s) pointing to data related to the generation of the textile. The digital representation (s) may include a locator or pointer, such as am url or uri, to a dedicated storage address associated with the participant of the production and / or recycling chain generating the textile or component thereof and storing the data related to the generation of the textile. The digital representation may comprise at least one interface to a data providing network node or a data providing service. The digital representation may include at least one interface to a data consuming network node or a data consuming service. It may include an endpoint for data exchange or sharing (resource endpoint) or an endpoint for service interaction (service endpoint), that may be uniquely identified via the data transaction protocol. The digital representation (s) pointing to the collected data or parts thereof may be uniquely associated with the decentral identifier. The decentral identifier may be connected to the digital representation of the collected data or parts thereof.

[0292] An access element including the one or more decentral identifier(s), and the one or more digital representation(s) may be generated. The access element may include or be associated with the digital representation (s) of the collected data or parts thereof related to the generation of the textile. The access element may be associated with the textile. The digital representation of the collected data or parts thereof may be provided to the data consuming network node or the data consuming service. The digital representation(s) of the collected data or parts thereof may be provided by a decentral network database, a database associated with the data consuming network node, the data providing network node associated with the participant generating the respective entity or combinations thereof. The digital representation may include the locator or pointer for accessing the collected data or parts thereof. The access element may include or be associated with the digital representation of the collected data or parts thereof related to the generation of the textile, and the decentral identifier. The access element may include or be associated with the digital representation of the collected data or parts thereof related to the generation of the textile, the decentral identifier and authentication information.

[0293] The access element may include one or more authentication mechanism(s) associated with the decentral identifier(s) and the digital article representation (s). The one or more authentication mechanism(s) may be associated with or linked to decentral identifier(s), such as decentral participant identifier(s), decentral textile identifier(s), decentral component identifier(s), decentral waste stream identifier(s) or decentral end-product identifier(s). The one or more authentication mechanism(s) associated with the decentral identifier(s) may be accessible by the decentral participant network node(s). The digital access element may further relate to authorization information linked to the decentral identifier(s). The authorization information may be associated with the decentral identifier(s) and the digital representations). The authorization information may include access rules depending on the dataset to be accessed and the role of the accessing data consuming network node. 240968W001

[0294] 44

[0295] The access element may be provided for access to the data related to the generation of the textile by one or more data consuming network node(s) under control of a data providing network node associated with the participant generating the textile. The access element may be provided to a decentral registry node, for example as described further below. Decentral registry node may store decentral access element(s).

[0296] Fig. 3 illustrates another example method for generating an access element for monitoring the generation of the textile or components thereof by at least one material participant of the decentral network.

[0297] Data may be collected as described in the context of Figs. 1 or 2. Collecting data related to the generation of the textile may include gathering decentral identifier(s) associated with one or more production / recycling input(s) used to generate the textile. The decentral identifier(s) associated with one or more production / recycling input(s) used to generate the textile may be collected by reading an identifier element, such as a bar code or QR code, connected to the production / recycling input(s).

[0298] One or more decentral identifier(s) associated with the generated textile, or any component thereof may be provided and one or more digital representation (s) of the data related to the generation of the textile may be generated as for example described in the context of Fig. 1. The data related to the generation of the textile may include at least one dataset associated with or including the decentral identifier(s) associated with one or more production / recycling input used to generate the textile. Based on the decentral identifier(s) associated with one or more production / recycling input(s) used to produce the textile and decentral identifier(s) associated with the generated textile or a component thereof a digital relationship may be generated. For example, the decentral identifier(s) associated with the generated textile, or a component thereof may be a parent identifier(s) and the decentral identifier(s) associated with one or more production / recycling input(s) used to generate the textile may be the child identifier(s). Generating the digital representation may include generating a relationship representation based on the decentral identifier(s) associated with one or more production / recycling input(s) used to generate the textile. The relationship representation may include one or more digital link(s) pointing to data related to relationship between input and textile or component thereof. A decentral relationship identifier associated with the digital relationship may be provided. The providing may include providing the relationship representation.

[0299] The access element including the one or more decentral identifier(s), and the digital representation (s) may be generated and provided as described in the context of Fig. 1. In addition, a relationship access element including the decentral relationship identifier associated with the digital relationship and the relationship representation may be generated. The relationship access element may include the decentral relationship identifier and the relationship representation. Access elements may be provided to one or more access element management node(s) configured to provide access elements or parts thereof on request of data consuming network nodes. 240968W001

[0300] 45

[0301] The relationship access element may be provided for access to the digital relationship between the textile and the production / recycling input(s) by one or more data consuming network node(s) under control of a data providing network node associated with the participant generating the textile. The relationship access element may be provided to a decentral registry node, for example as described further below. Decentral registry node may store access ele- ment(s) associated with the textile and relationship access element(s).

[0302] By way of the relationship access elements per stage of the production and / or recycling chain, the material flow may be recursively accessed for monitoring material flow by accessing respective data packages. The property data may include one or more dataset(s) associated with any entity of the production and / or recycling chain contributing to the generation of the textile or any component, such as end-product and its components, waste products, waste streams, sorted or collected waste fractions or the like. Such properties may be provided prior, on and / or after generation of the textile or component thereof and may be accessed recursively in a targeted manner, e.g., depending on decentral participant ID. Such recursive access may be provided to specific participants of the material production and / or recycling chain to protect sensitive recipe data or bill of material data of producers or recyclers. The recursive access via relationship IDs and representations is described in more detail below.

[0303] Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a method for accessing data related to the generation of the textile by one or more data consuming network node(s) under control of a data providing network node associated with the participant generating the textile or any component thereof.

[0304] The data related to the generation of the textile, such as property data, may be accessed by a decentral data consuming network node in communication with the decentral network node receiving an indication to gather data related to the generation of the textile, in particular property data. The access may be requested at a decentral data providing network node being associated with a storage environment storing the data related to the generation of the textile, in particular property data, as described in the context of Figs. 2 and 3.

[0305] The decentral data providing network node may receive an indication to access the data related to the generation of the textile, in particular property data, associated with a determined decentral identifier. The decentral identifier may be determined as described for example in more detail below in the context of Figs. 5-8 based on the relationship representation.

[0306] Before access may be provided to the data related to the generation of the textile, in particular property data, the request may be authenticated. In particular, the decentral network node requesting to access the data related to the generation of the textile and / or the decentral data providing network node providing access to the data related to the generation of the textile may be authenticating. Such authentication may be based on the decentral identifiers associated with the decentral network nodes. The decentral identifiers may be associated with authentication mechanisms or identity tokens, such as a device certificate (X.509v3), a TLS connection certificate (X.509v3) and a ‘Dynamic Attribute Token' (OAuth Access Token). The decentral network node requesting to access the data may be associated 240968W001

[0307] 46 with any participant of the recycling chain such as collector, sorter, recycler, or any combination thereof. The decentral data providing network node providing access to the data may be associated with any participant of the production and / or recycling chain.

[0308] If the authentication fails, access to the data related to the generation of the textile, in particular property data, may be denied. If the authentication is valid, an authorization step may follow. Such authorization may be based on the decentral identifier associated with the decentral network nodes and the authorization rules associated with the data related to the generation of the textile, in particular property data. Authorization rules may be associated with access to and / or usage of the data related to the generation of the textile, in particular property data. Authorization rules may include access rules associated with decentral identifier(s) of the decentral network nodes controlling access to the data related to the generation of the textile, in particular property data.

[0309] If the authorization fails, access to the data related to the generation of the textile, in particular property data, may be denied or access may be adapted. In particular, the authorization as requested may be adapted to be in line with the applicable authorization rules. If the authorization is valid, access to the data related to the generation of the textile, in particular property data, may be granted according to the authorization rules as requested. The provided data related to the generation of the textile, in particular property data, may be stored in a storage environment associated with the decentral network node requesting access to the data related to the generation of the textile, in particular property data.

[0310] Fig. 5 illustrates a method for of obtaining data related to the generation of the textile based on decentral product identifier(s) and relationships. The method may be implemented in a decentral network, for example as described in the context of Figs. 1 to 4.

[0311] A decentral identifier associated with a decentral network participant may be provided to the decentral network node providing access to data e.g., of the end-product producer or the recycler of the material chain as for example illustrated in Fig. 1 . The decentral network participant may be a participant of the production and / or recycling chain. The decentral network participant may be any participant of the material loop illustrated in the example of Fig. 1 , e.g., including production and recycling chain. The decentral identifier associated with a decentral network participant requesting access may include a string and / or numbers. The decentral identifier associated with the decentral network participant requesting access may be associated with authentication schemes, such as a private-public key scheme. Use of a decentral identifier associated with a decentral network participant requesting access allows to improve security with respect to access of data related to the generation of the textile, since access to data related to the generation of the textile may be restricted and only defined decentral network participants may be allowed to access such data, for example as illustrated in the context of Fig. 8. The decentral identifier associated with a decentral network participant requesting access may be provided to a decentral identity management access node of the decentral network. The decentral identity management access node may be configured to perform authentication steps with the 240968W001

[0312] 47 provider of the decentral participant identifier. The decentral identity management access node may provide an access token if authorization is performed successfully. This access token may be presented to the decentral network node providing access to data. Authentication ensures that gathering of data related to the generation of the textile using the decentral network node requesting access can only be initiated by authenticated decentral network participants. This allows to improve security since it avoids that complete bill of material trees for any material entity of the material chain which may contain sensitive data with respect to supply chain information is obtained by unauthenticated entities.

[0313] The decentral network node requesting access may obtain data related to relationship representation (s) based on the decentral identifier(s) associated with the textile, one or more component(s) of the textile or combinations thereof provided for the decentral registry node. The decentral registry node may store decentral identifier(s) associated with data related to respective relationship representations as for example described in the context of Fig. 3. Relationship representations or the equivalent digital relationships are, for example, illustrated in Fig. 7.

[0314] The decentral network node requesting access may access said decentral registry using the decentral identifier(s) associated with the textile to determine data related to relationship representation (s) associated with said decentral identifier(s). Data related to the relationship representation may include a decentral relationship representation identifier and a relationship representation pointing to the respective digital relationship. The relationship representation pointing to the digital relationship may comprise at least one interface to a decentral data providing network node associated with said digital relationship. It may further include at least one interface to the decentral data consuming network node being associated with said digital relationship. It may include an endpoint for data exchange or sharing (resource endpoint) or an endpoint for service interaction (service Endpoint), that is uniquely identified via a communication protocol. The relationship representation (s) pointing to the digital relationship may hence be uniquely associated with the decentral relationship identifier and the decentral identifier associated with the textile. The relationship representation pointing to the digital relationship may be regarded as locator indicating the location or dedicated data storage(s) where the respective digital relationship is stored.

[0315] The digital relationship(s) may specify relationship(s) between the textile and components thereof and production / re- cycling input(s), such as materials, used to generate the textile. The digital relationship may be directly or indirectly associated with the decentral identifier associated with the textile or component thereof. This allows to determine the respective digital relationship(s) using the decentral identifier associated with the textile or component thereof. The digital relationship(s) may specify that the production / recycling input, such as input components, was used to generate the textile and / or that the textile was generated using the input components. The digital relationship may be associated with a relationship between the textile and each production / recycling input, such as input component, used to produce the textile, for example using the decentral identifier associated with the textile and component identifier(s) associated with production / recycling input(s), such as input components, used to produce the textile. Hence, such relationship may also specify raw materials and intermediate products used in the generation of the textile. The digital relationship may be associated with the relationship between input material(s) and recycled textile(s) of a single 240968W001

[0316] 48 production step or stage of the production chain. The digital relationship may be associated with the relationship between input material(s) and recycled textile(s) of a single recycling step or stage of the recycling chain. Such relationship may be linked to mirror the whole production and / or recycling chain. Examples of digital relationships which may be used to determine the decentral component identifier(s) are, for example, illustrated in Fig. 7. Determining decentral identifier(s) associated with the textile or components thereof using the digital relationship may allow to construct a bill of material tree structure for the textile or components thereof.

[0317] The decentral network node requesting access to data may be configured to access relationship(s) based on the data related to the digital relationship(s) retrieved from the decentral registry node. The decentral network node may be in communication with a decentral data consuming network node configured to access digital relationship(s) and data related to the production of the textile, such as property data. The digital relationship(s) may be accessed from decentral data providing network node(s) associated with a storage environment storing the respective relationship. The decentral data providing network node may be associated with the owner of the data. The decentral data providing network node may be associated with any participant of the production and / or recycling chain, such as the endproduct producer or the end-product collector, sorter, or recycler. The digital relationship may include the decentral textile identifier, and one or more decentral component identifier(s) associated with production input(s), such as input components, used to generate the textile (denoted as child identifier(s) hereinafter).

[0318] Decentral child identifier(s) associated with the decentral textile identifier may be determined based on the obtained digital relationship(s). The decentral textile identifier may be regarded as decentral parent identifier. The decentral child identifier(s) may correspond to component identifier(s) associated with materials used to generate the textile or component thereof. The relationship may contain one or more decentral child identifier(s). The relationship may include the decentral textile identifier. This allows to link the decentral textile identifier to respective child identifier(s).

[0319] It may be determined whether to obtain data associated with the decentral child identifier(s) depending on the decentral child identifier having further child identifiers. For example, if the child identifier(s) are associated with property data, data may be obtained. If the child identifier(s) are not associated with property data, no data may be obtained. The determination may be made based on data provided to the decentral network node. For instance, data associated with a defined dataset (also called asset hereinafter) may be provided and this data may be used to determine whether to retrieve further data or not. The dataset may relate to property data. The property data may include one or more dataset(s) associated with decentral participant identifier associated with the data consuming network node requesting access to the property data. Based on such information provided to the registry node and / or the data providing network node, it may be determined if data is to be provided. If property data is to be obtained, the method obtains data. Otherwise, it proceeds to check for decentral child identifiers.

[0320] Data related to generation of textile, such as the property data may be obtained based on the determined decentral child identifier(s). The data related to generation, such as the property data may be obtained from decentral data providing network nodes associated with said data related to textile generation. Respective decentral data providing 240968W001

[0321] 49 network nodes may be determined by the decentral network node using the determined decentral child identifier(s). For instance, the decentral child identifier(s) may be associated with a digital representation pointing to the data related to textile generation or parts thereof. Said digital representation may correspond to an endpoint address associated with a respective decentral data providing network node. The digital representation may be stored on the decentral registry node and may be determined using the decentral child identifier(s) determined before. The digital representation may be used to access the data related to textile generation at the decentral data providing network node associated with said digital representation. The decentral data providing network node may be associated with a storage environment storing the data related to textile generation or parts thereof. The decentral data providing network node may be associated with a data owner of the data related to textile generation. The decentral data providing network node may be associated with the participant generating the textile or component thereof. Data exchange may be performed after respective authentication and authorization processes. Authorization may be based on the decentral participant identifier. For instance, the decentral data providing network node may determine whether the data related to textile generation may be accessed using authorization or access rules associated with the provided decentral participant identifier. The accessed data related to production may be transferred to and stored in a storage environment associated with the decentral network node requesting access to said data.

[0322] It may be determined whether relationships of determined decentral child identifier(s) are existing. For this purpose, the decentral network node requesting data may access the decentral registry node and may determine whether relationship representation(s) associated with the determined decentral child identifier(s) is existing in said registry. If this is the case, the method proceeds to determine child identifier(s). If this is not the case, the method proceeds to access and obtain data.

[0323] Data related to relationship representation (s) associated with determined decentral child identifier(s) may be obtained from the decentral registry network node as described above. The relationship representation (s) may be used to access associated digital relationship(s) as described above. The decentral child identifier(s) determined may be regarded as decentral parent identifier(s). The method may return to such determination and repeat the steps using the decentral child identifier(s) determined until no further decentral child identifier(s) are existing, e.g., until the leaf nodes of the bill of material tree (see for example Fig. 6) are reached. Recursively determining decentral child identi- fier(s) associated with a decentral material identifier allows to obtain the complete bill of material tree structure associated with a textile or component thereof, e.g., allows to determine the relationships between input components used to generate the textile.

[0324] In the last step, the data related to the generation, such as property data, gathered may be provided. Gathered data may include all data related to textile generation gathered based on child identifiers from different participant network nodes. The gathered data related to textile generation may be provided to a storage environment associated with network node requesting data. The network node requesting data related to textile generation may be a part of the decentral network, e.g., may be a decentral data consuming network node. 240968W001

[0325] 50

[0326] Fig. 6 illustrates relationship representations specifying relationships between textile or component thereof and input components used to produce the textile.

[0327] In this example, the textile is recycled textile such as textile produced using recycled PA. The digital twin (DT) of the textile may include the digital relationship containing the decentral digital twin identifier ID5 and a decentral identifier ID4 associated with the waste fraction used to produce the textile. The digital relationship may be associated with data related to the relationship. Said data may be used by the decentral network node to gather the relationship representation from the decentral data consuming network node associated with said relationship representation (e.g., associated with a storage environment storing said relationship representation) as described in the context of Fig. 5. The data related to the relationship representation may include a decentral relationship identifier and a relationship representation pointing to said digital relationship. The data related to the relationship may be associated with data related to the digital twin. Data related to the digital twin may include the decentral digital twin identifier and relationship representation pointing to the digital twin with digital relationships or parts thereof. Data related to the digital twin may further include decentral identifier(s) associated with dataset(s) contained in the digital twin and respective relationship representations pointing to said dataset(s) or parts thereof. One such dataset may correspond to the relationship based on the decentral identifiers.

[0328] Similarly, the digital twin (DT) of the waste fraction may include a relationship containing the digital twin identifier ID4 and a decentral identifier ID3 associated with the end-product used to produce the waste fraction. The digital twin (DT) of the end-product may include the digital relationship containing the decentral digital twin identifier ID3 and a decentral identifier ID2 associated with the chemical used to produce the end-product. Lastly the chemical may include a relationship to the raw material / recyclate ID1 used to produce the chemical.

[0329] Based on the digital relationships shown in Fig. 6 part of a bill of material tree may be obtained from the relationship representations as described above. The bill of material tree may include the textile as input material to the textile production at the top level down to the raw material / recyclate as input material to produce the chemical that was used for the end-product on the bottom level. To not expose the full bill of material to one participant, the property data including one or more dataset(s) associated with different sets of properties of the textile may be accessed in a controlled manner based on the decentral participant identifier as described in the context of Figs. 3 and 5.

[0330] Fig. 7 illustrates an example of a decentral network including several decentral network nodes which may be accessed by a computing device. The computing device may be a mobile computing device, such as a laptop, a smartphone, a tablet, or the like. The computing device may be a stationary computing device, such as a desktop computer or the like. The computing device may comprise a screen configured to display information provided by the decentral network. For instance, the screen may display a graphical user interface displaying the data received via the decentral network. 240968W001

[0331] 51

[0332] The decentral network may be a decentral peer-to-peer communication network. The decentral network may include decentral network nodes associated with participants of the textile ecosystem and may be configured to perform data transactions. The textile ecosystem may include the production chain. The textile ecosystem may include the recycling chain. The network nodes associated with participants of the textile ecosystem may be associated with raw textile suppliers, intermediate textiles manufacturers, intermediate part manufacturers, component manufacturers, component assembly manufacturers, end-product manufacturers and participants of the recycling chain as described for example in the context of Fig. 1 . The end-product production may include supply chains for producing the materials used to produce textiles.

[0333] The data transactions may be based on a transaction protocol including authentication and / or authorization mecha- nism(s). Based on the authentication and / or authorization mechanism(s) a peer-to-peer communication between decentral participant network nodes associated with participants of the textile ecosystem may be established. The one or more authentication mechanism(s) may be associated with or linked to decentral identifier(s), such as decentral textile identifier(s), decentral component identifier(s) and / or decentral end-product or waste product identifier(s). The one or more authentication mechanism(s) associated with the decentral identifier(s) may be accessible by the decentral participant network node(s).

[0334] Decentral network nodes associated with participants of the textile ecosystem may include decentral data providing network nodes. Decentral data providing network nodes may be configured to provide data, such as property data, upon a request to access this data. The data may be provided upon successful authentication and authorization, for example as described in the context of FIG. 4. The decentral data providing network nodes may be associated with a data owner of the property data, for example as described in the context of Figs. 2 to 6. Such decentral network nodes associated with participants of the textile ecosystem may include decentral data consuming network nodes, such as decentral network node. Decentral data consuming network nodes may be configured to request access to data, such as property data or material data, at respective decentral data providing network node(s). Decentral data consuming network nodes may be configured to access data pointing to the respective property data, such as the decentral textile identifier / decentral component identifier / decentral end-product or waste product identifier and associated digital representations pointing to the property data, from decentral registry node. Decentral registry node may be configured to store decentral identifiers associated with respective digital representations pointing to data or part(s) thereof. Access to said data allows decentral data consuming network nodes to determine the decentral data providing network node associated with the data to be obtained. For instance, decentral data consuming network node(s) may access decentral registry node with the decentral textile identifier associated with the textile or part thereof or the decentral component identifier associated with the component of the textile and may retrieve respective digital representations pointing to the respective property data.

[0335] The decentral network nodes may include decentral infrastructure nodes. Such infrastructure nodes may not be associated with participants of the textile ecosystem. Such infrastructure nodes may provide services to participants of the textile ecosystem. For instance, such infrastructure nodes may be configured to provide authentication services 240968W001

[0336] 52 for decentral network nodes, such as decentral IAM network nodes. Decentral IAM network nodes may be configured to provide identity and access management services for decentral network nodes and / or for computing devices requesting data from the decentral network. For instance, decentral IAM network node(s) may be configured to generate access tokens to authorized decentral network node(s) and / or computing devices and to provide such access tokens to the decentral network node or computing device requesting said tokens. Such access tokens may be used during authentication processes. In another instance, such infrastructure nodes may be configured to gather data upon receiving a request from a computing device, such as computing device (e.g., decentral network node). In yet another instance, such infrastructure nodes may serve as a repository storing data available to one or more decentral network nodes, such as decentral registry node.

[0337] The decentral configuration allows for more efficient use of computing resources, strengthens control by the data owners of the decentral network and enable targeted data sharing.

[0338] Fig. 8 illustrates an example system for obtaining property data based on a decentral textile identifier as described for example in the context of Figs. 4-7. the textile or component thereof may be associated with a digital twin. The digital twin of the textile or component thereof may include the decentral textile identifier and data related to production / recycling, such as property data. Data related to production / recycling may include the data structure described for example in the context of Fig. 2. The digital twin of the component may include the decentral component identifier and data related to production / recycling, such as property data. The data related to production / recycling may include property data associated with waste composition for recycling of the end-product or component thereof.

[0339] A digital access element may be generated prior, upon or after production and / or recycling of the textile or component thereof. The digital access element may be associated with the respective digital twin or a part thereof. The digital access element may contain a decentral access element identifier and access data. The decentral access element identifier may correspond to or be associated with the decentral textile identifier or the decentral component identifier. The access data may include digital representation(s) pointing to the respective digital twin or a part thereof. The access data may include or relate to relationship representation(s) pointing to the respective digital rela- tionship(s) or a part thereof. Examples of digital access element generation are illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The digital access element may further include or relate to authentication and / or authorization information linked to the decentral access element identifier. The authentication and / or authorization information may be provided for authentication and / or authorization of the decentral network node, decentral data consuming network nodes and / or decentral data providing network nodes. The digital access element may be provided to a decentral registry node, for example as described in the context of Figs. 2, 3, 6 or 7. Decentral registry node may store decentral access element identifier(s) and associated access data. 240968W001

[0340] 53 the textile may be provided in association with the digital access element to a company performing at least one production step of a textile production process, such as described in the context of Fig. 1. The company may perform the production step to produce textiles from textile or recyclate produced waste streams. The textile may be connected to an identifier element, such as a bar code or QR-code, having encoded the decentral access element identifier. The production company receiving the textile may read the code through a code reader. The code reader may be a smartphone running a code reading application, such as a QR code reader app. The data obtained by the code reading application may be used to determine the decentral access element identifier (denoted hereinafter as DID1). The data obtained by the code reading application may be used to determine the decentral textile identifier or decentral component identifier (hereinafter denoted as UUID1). The data obtained by the code reading application may be used to determine the end-product / component identifier(s). The data obtained by the code reading application may be used to determine the access data. The decentral access element identifier, decentral textile identifier or decentral component identifier and access data may be determined by code reader. For instance, the decentral access element identifier determined by the code reader may be a DID and the code reader may be configured to retrieve the associated DID document containing the decentral textile identifier or decentral component identifier and the access data, for example using a DID resolver. In another instance, the textile identifier / component identifier is determined by code reader and used to retrieve the decentral access element identifier and associated access data, for example from decentral registry node. Hence, code reader may be configured to retrieve the digital access element containing the decentral access element identifier and access data from decentral registry node. Code reader may be configured to perform an authentication step with decentral registry node. For instance, code reader may access a decentral IAM network node, and decentral IAM network node may be configured to provide an access token to code reader upon successful authentication. This access token may be used by code reader to access decentral registry node. Code reader may provide a decentral participant identifier associated with a participant of the textile ecosystem to decentral IAM network node for authentication.

[0341] Code reader may be configured to provide the decentral textile identifier / decentral component identifier (e.g., UUID1) to decentral network node. Code reader may be configured to provide authentication data, such as a decentral participant identifier and optionally authentication data, such as an access token, to decentral network node.

[0342] Decentral network node may be configured to verify the authentication data received from computing device with decentral IAM network node. Upon successful authentication, decentral network node may be configured to access decentral registry node using decentral product identifier / decentral recycled material identifier received from computing device and to retrieve data related to relationship representation (s) associated with the decentral textile identifier / decentral component identifier. Data related to a relationship representation may include a decentral relationship representation identifier and a relationship representation pointing to the respective digital relationship. The relationship representation pointing to the digital relationship may point to the decentral data providing network node associated with the respective digital relationship. For instance, the data related to the relationship representation associated with the textile may comprise a relationship representation pointing to decentral data providing network node(s) associated with property data of the components or production input(s) used to produce the textile. In another instance, 240968W001

[0343] 54 the data related to the relationship representation associated with the component may comprise a relationship representation pointing to a decentral data providing network node associated with the property data of the component or production input(s) used to produce the component. Decentral network node or a decentral data consuming network node associated with any participant of the production and / or recycling chain, such as the recycled textile producer, may be configured to access respective decentral data providing network node(s) associated with the relationship representation (s) and to request relationship representation (s) associated with the decentral relationship representation identifier(s) from said decentral data providing network node(s), for example as illustrated in Fig. 7. Examples of relationship representations are illustrated in Fig. 6. Decentral network node may be configured to determine decentral material identifier(s) contained in said relationship representation(s), for example as described in the context of Fig. 5. Decentral network node may be configured to access decentral registry node using the determined decentral child identifier(s) to determine access data associated with said decentral child identifier(s). Decentral network node may be configured to access property data using the decentral article / component identifier, the access data and optionally the decentral participant identifier provided by computing device from respective decentral data providing network node(s). Decentral network node may be configured to determine data related to relationship representation (s) associated with the determined decentral textile / component identifiers as described previously.

[0344] In this example, decentral network node may receive a decentral textile identifier associated with the textile from computing device. The decentral network node may access decentral registry node using said decentral textile identifier to determine data related to relationship representation (s) associated with the decentral article identifier. The determined data related to relationship representation(s) may contain a relationship representation pointing to a decentral data providing network node associated with digital relationship. The digital relationship may be stored on a storage environment associated with the decentral data providing network node. The digital relationship may include a relationship indicating decentral component identifier(s) associated with component(s) used to produce the textile, such as the plastic or bio-based textile waste fractions, etc. Decentral network node or a decentral data consuming network node associated with decentral network node may be configured to access the digital relationship from the decentral data providing network node. Decentral network node or a decentral data consuming network node associated with decentral network node may be configured to access material configuration data from the decentral data providing network node. Access to the material configuration data may be authorized based on the decentral participant identifier provided by computing device. Access to the material configuration data may be controlled by the decentral data providing network node associated with said property data. This ensures that property data can only be accessed by authorized participants of the textile ecosystem, hence avoiding uncontrolled access to the property data.

[0345] Decentral network node may be configured to retrieve decentral component identifier(s) associated with components) used to produce the textile, such as the textile waste fraction, the bio-based textile waste fraction, etc. from the accessed digital relationship. Decentral network node may be configured to access data related to relationship representation (s) associated with said decentral component identifier(s) from decentral registry node using the determined decentral component identifier(s). Decentral network node or the decentral data consuming network node may 240968W001

[0346] 55 be configured to access digital relationship(s), for example from decentral data providing network node associated with material configuration data. The property data may be stored in a storage environment (DT storage 1) associated with the decentral data providing network node. DT storage may be associated with or under control of the component producer. Decentral network node or the decentral data consuming network node may be configured to access property data as described previously. The property dataset(s) may relate to recycling of waste fractions by recycling process, e.g., by the chemical recycling process.

[0347] Decentral network node may be configured to retrieve decentral component identifier(s) associated with end-product waste streams used to produce the component, from the accessed relationship representation. Decentral network node may be configured to access data related to relationship representation (s) associated with said decentral component identifier(s) from decentral registry node using the determined decentral component identifier(s). Decentral network node or the decentral data consuming network node may be configured to access digital relationship(s), for example from decentral data providing network node associated with property data. The property data may be stored in a storage environment (DT storage) associated with the decentral data providing network node. DT storage may be associated with or under control of the waste stream collector and / or sorter. Decentral network node or the decentral data consuming network node may be configured to access property data as described previously. The property dataset(s) may relate to the waste streams such as collecting and / or sorting process of end-products included in the waste streams.

[0348] The same procedure may be performed per component of the textile used to produce the textile. Hence, decentral network node may be configured to determine, based on the accessed digital relationship (s) and the linking between decentral identifier(s) of starting components and resulting components / textile, a bill of material tree associated with the textile. The bill of material tree may represent relationships between all components used to generate the textile or component thereof e.g., up to the end-product. Recursive determination of decentral component identifier(s) using digital relationship(s) hence allows to obtain a property data of components(s) used to generate the textile or component thereof and indicating specific to the textile or component thereof.

[0349] The property data gathered by decentral network node may be provided to computing device. Computing device may display the gathered property data, for example within a graphical user interface.

[0350] Fig. 9 illustrates an example of a method or apparatus for providing material composition and / or article history data via a decentral network 102. the textile 900 as provided by the textile producer may be provided in association with the access element as described for example in the context of Figs. 2, 3 or 4-8. The access element may relate to the textile identifier. The textile identifier may include one or more decentral identifier(s). The decentral identifier may be an identifier in the decentral network 102 allowing for data exchange via the decentral network 102. Data exchange may include discovery 240968W001

[0351] 56 of the decentral identifier for decentral network node(s) 103 associated with participant(s) 101 of the decentral network 102, authentication of decentral network node(s) 103 associated with participant(s) 101 of the decentral network 102 and / or authorization of data transfers via a peer-to-peer communication between decentral network node(s) 103 associated with participant(s) 101 of the decentral network 102.

[0352] The access element may include or be related to data related to the textile such as textile property data associated with the textile properties like composition, origin, recycling type and so on. The access element may include a digital representation of the property data associated with the article 900. The access element may further include or relate to authentication and / or authorization information linked to the textile identifier. The authentication and / or authorization information may be provided for authentication and / or authorization of a data providing service and / or data consuming service implemented by decentral network node(s) 103.6, 103.1. The textile identifier may include or relate to a decentral identifier, which is uniquely associated with the textile. The decentral identifier may be connected to the digital representation of the of the property data associated with the textile 904. The digital representation may include a representation for accessing the property data or parts thereof. The decentral identifier may include a Universally Unique IDentifier (UUID) or a Digital IDentifier (DID). The decentral identifier may include any unique identifier uniquely associated with a data owner and / or article.

[0353] The data owner may be the generator of the textile. Via the decentral identifier and its unique association with the data owner and / or textile access to the property data may be controlled by the data owner such as described in the context of Figs. 4-8.

[0354] The access element including the digital representation of property data may be stored in a decentral data base or registry node 910. The property data may be stored in a data base or dedicated storage 902 associated with the data owner, such as the recycler producing the textile 900.

[0355] For the production chain, the end-product 904 may be physically delivered to the user using the end-product. The end-product 900 may be physically collected and / or sorted by the end-product collector and / or sorter. The end-product may be connected with a QR-code having encoded the end-product identifier. The user, collector, or sorter of the end-product 904 may read the QR-code through a QR-code reader 906. The end-product identifier may be provided to a data base 910 associated with the producer producing the end-product 900. The end-product 904 may be physically delivered to the user using the end-product.

[0356] For the recycling chain, the textile 900 may be connected with a QR-code having encoded the textile identifier. The recycled textile producer using the textile 904 may read the QR-code through a QR-code reader 906. The textile identifier may be provided to a data base 910 associated with the recycling system producing the textile 900. 240968W001

[0357] 57

[0358] The data owner in these examples include the end-product producer, any intermediate product producer producing an intermediate product for the end-product, the textile producer, the waste stream sorter or collector, the waste fraction recycler. The data owner may comprise any entity generating data. The data generating node may be coupled to the data owner or the entity owning or producing physical products from or for which data is generated. The data may be generated by a third-party entity on behalf of the entity owning physical articles from or for which data is generated.

[0359] The data consuming service implemented by node 103.1 may comprise computer-executable instructions for accessing and / or processing data, such as property data, associated with the data owner. The data providing service implemented by node 103.6 may comprise computer-executable instructions for providing and / or processing data, such as property data, associated with the data owner for accessing and / or processing by the data consuming service implementing node 103.1.

[0360] Based on the received textile identifier a request to access the property data related to the property identifier may be triggered by the data consuming service implemented by node 103.1 as signified by arrow 912. The textile identifier may be provided to the data providing service implemented by node 103.6 associated with or of the recycler of the textile 900. In addition, authentication and / or authorization information may be provided. The request may be authenticated and / or authorized to access the property data related to the textile identifier. Based on successful authorization and / or authentication access to the property data related to the textile identifier may be granted.

[0361] For access the textile identifier may be provided to the data providing service implemented by node 103.6 as signified by arrow 912. The data providing service implemented by node 103.6 may use the received textile identifier to retrieve the property data associated with the textile 900 from a dedicated storage 902 as signified by arrows 918 and 920. The property data associated with the textile 904 provided to the data providing service implemented by node 103.6 may be provided to the data consuming service implemented by node 103.1 as signified by arrow 916. The property data associated with the textile 904 may be stored in the dedicated storage or data base 908 associated with the user of the textile 904 as signified by arrow 922.

[0362] Through the textile identifier or decentral identifier, the property data can be uniquely associated with the textile 900, 904. Through the decentral network the textile data may be transferred between the producer of the textile and the user of the textile. This way the property data can be shared with unique association to the textile and without central intermediary directly between the players of the decentral network 102. This allows for controlled transparency of property data across the material loop 100.

[0363] Fig. 10 illustrates schematically an example of balancing or attributing textile properties to recycled textiles of the textile production. 240968W001

[0364] 58

[0365] For producing one or more recycled textile(s) 104 different textiles or input materials 100 may be provided as physical inputs to the textile production 102. The physical input and recycled textile(s) 104 may be associated with one or more properties such as those related to environmental impact. The properties such as those related to environmental impact may be digitalized in the form of environmental attributes such as recycled or bio-based content of the textiles or input materials. The production operating system 106 may be configured to ingest such textile properties and to track the properties across the textile production 102 from textiles or input materials 100 to recycled textile(s).

[0366] The textile production 102 may include multiple interlinked processing steps. The textile production 102 may be an integrated textile production 102 with interrelated production chains. The textile production 102 may include multiple different production chains that have at least one intermediate product in common. The textile production 102 may include multiple stages of the chemical value chain. The textile production 102 may include the producing, refining, processing, and / or purification of output product(s) from solvent-based recycling of textile(s) such as polyamide (PA) including PA 6 and / or PA 66, polyester (PET), polyethylene (PE). The textile production 102 may also include repolymerization, reprocessing and / or upgrading of output product(s). The textile production 102 may include multiple production chains that output from textile 100 one or more recycled textile(s). The textile production 102 may include multiple tiers of a chemical value chain. The textile production 102 may include a physically interconnected arrangement of production sites. The production sites may be at the same location or at different locations. In the latter case the production sites may be interconnected by means of dedicated transportation systems such as pipelines, supply chain vehicles, like trucks, supply chain ships or other cargo transportation means.

[0367] The textile production 102 may chemically, physically, or thermally convert textiles or input materials 100 to one or more recycled textile(s) 104. The textile production 102 may convert textiles 100 by way of chemical, physical and / or thermal conversion to one or more recycled textile(s) 104.

[0368] The textiles 100 may be fed to the textile production 102 at any entry point marked by the system boundary of the textile production 102. The textiles 100 may be fed to the textile production 102 at the start of the textile production 102.

[0369] The textile production 102 may include multiple production steps. The production steps included in the textile production 102 may be defined by the system boundary of the textile production 102. The system boundary may be defined by location or control over production processes. The system boundary may be defined by the site of the textile production network 102. The system boundary may be defined by production processes controlled by one entity or multiple entities jointly. The system boundary may be defined by value chain with staggered production processes to an end-product, which may be controlled by multiple entities separately. The textile production 102 may include a waste collection and sorting step, a recycling step such solvent-based recycling, a separation step to separate intermediates of one process step and further processing steps to convert such intermediates to recycled textile(s) 104 leaving the system boundary of the textile production 102. 240968W001

[0370] 59

[0371] The production operating system 106 of the textile production 102 may be configured to monitor and / or control the textile production 102 based on operating parameters of the different processes. One process step monitored and / or controlled may be the feed of input materials 100 or the release of recycled textile(s) 104. Another process step monitored and / or controlled may be the registration of textile properties such as environmental attributes associated with textiles 100 entering the system boundary of the textile production 102. Yet another process step monitored and / or controlled may be the attribution of properties such as environmental attributes to recycled textile(s) 104 produced by the textile production 102. Yet another process step monitored and / or controlled may be the management of textile properties such as environmental attributes associated with textiles 100 and recycled textile(s) 104 of the textile production 102.

[0372] The production operating system 106 may be configured to register inbound textile properties such as environmental attributes, to assign outbound textile properties such as environmental attributes. The production operating system 106 may be configured to access property data related the textiles 100, the processes and / or the recycled textile(s) 104 of the textile production 102. For example, the production operating system 106 may be configured to register a recycled or bio-based content of the textile 100 used in the textile production 102 as environmental attribute. The production operating system 106 may be configured to allocate the textile property such as environmental attribute to at least one balancing account associated with the recycled or bio-based content of the textiles 100. The production operating system 106 may be configured to allocate at least a part of the textile property such as environmental attributes from the at least one balancing account to the at least one recycled textile(s) 104.

[0373] The production operating system 102 may be configured to handle textile properties such as environmental attributes related to the input and recycled textile(s) 100 / 104 of the textile production 102. For example, the production operating system 106 may be configured to determine textile properties such as environmental attributes associated with the use of input materials 100 impacting the environmental property of the textile production 102 and the recycled textile(s) 104 produced by the textile production 102. Further in particular, the production operating system 102 may be configured to determine textile properties such as environmental attributes associated with the recycled textile(s). This way the production operating system 102 may be configured to store textile properties such as environmental attributes in balancing accounts or to delete textile properties such as environmental attributes from the balancing accounts. The textile properties such as environmental attributes may hence be viewed as a credit that may be deposited in an account or deducted from an account related to the input and recycled textile(s) 104 of the textile production 102. This way the textile properties such as environmental impact of the production may be tracked and / or traced.

[0374] In textile productions 102 multiple value chains may be linked. Additionally different input materials 100 or chemical processes impacting the environmental property of recycled textile(s) 104 produced by the textile production 102 may be used. Examples of input materials 100 impacting at least one environmental property of recycled textile(s) 104 produced from such input materials 100 are recycled, renewable or bio-based input materials 104. 240968W001

[0375] 60

[0376] Owing to the processing of textiles in continuous or semi-continuous production and the complexity of textile productions 102, traceability of the textiles through the network may be hampered. In such scenarios, an equivalent textile property such as environmental attribute signifying the impact on the textile to the recycled textile(s) produced by the textile production may be allocated to balancing accounts 122 and assigned to one or more recycled textile(s) of the textile production 102. The textile properties such as environmental attributes may hence be decoupled from the physical material flow inside the textile production 102. Decoupling may be based on the mass balance model in that the equivalent amount assigned to the one or more recycled textile(s) may not exceed the equivalent amount provided by textiles or processes. If an equivalent amount has been allocated to the digital account of textile property type such as one environmental attribute type, it may not be allocated a second time to another digital account of the property type. Environmental attribute types may be recycled, bio-based, renewable or the like. Environmental attributes may be provided in the form of digital assets or textile passports attached to the physical entity of the recycled textile.

[0377] The textile production 102 and operations of the textile production 102 may be monitored and / or controlled by a production operating system 106. The production operating system 106 may be configured to track properties like environmental attributes from textiles 100 fed to the textile production 102 to recycled textile(s) 104 produced by the textile production 102. For tracking of textile properties, the operating system 106 may be configured to register properties such as environmental attributes associated with the textile 100 provided to the textile production 102 and to attribute textile properties such as environmental attributes to recycled textile(s) produced by the textile production 102.

[0378] The textiles 100 textile waste stream may be provided to the textile production 102. The textiles 100 may enter the textile production at the entry point, such as entry point of a solvent-based recycling process. The textiles 100 may be used in the textile production 102 to produce one or more recycled textile(s) from the textiles 100. Recycled textile 104 may be provided at exit points of the textile production 102.

[0379] On entry of the textile(s) 100, textile property data 108 may be provided via a communication network to a computing interface of the production operating system 106. A data provider, such as a QR code reader, may be configured to provide material data 108 related to the textile 100 and respective properties such as environmental attributes 108 to a computing interface configured to allocate the properties such as environmental attributes associated with the textile® 100. The property data 108 may include the textile identifier and properties such as environmental attributes associated with the textile® 100. The textile identifier may be associated with the physical entity of the textile 100 entering the textile production 102. The property data may be provided on, prior or after providing of the textile at entry points to the textile production 102.

[0380] The textile identifier may be linked to the properties of the textile such as environmental attribute® associated with the respective textile® 100, the amount of textile 100 and / or the certificate certifying the property such as environmental attribute®. The amount of textile may be a measured amount of textile 100 fed to a plant or storage of the 240968W001

[0381] 61 textile production 102 for producing one or more recycled textile(s) from the textile(s) 100. The textile identifier associated with the respective textile 100, the textile properties such as environmental attribute(s) associated with the respective textile(s) 100 and the amount of textile(s) 100 provided to the textile production 102 may be provided to the production operating system 106. Such data may be provided via a communication network on entry to textile production 102, or the data may be transferred from a computing system to the production operating system 106 such as the decentral data providing node 101.6 associated with the recycler 103.6.

[0382] An inbound allocator 110 may be configured to allocate textile properties such as one or more environmental attrib- ute(s) to at least one balancing account 112 associated with the respective property such as environmental attribute. For example, one balancing account 112 may relate to environmental attributes from recycled material and another balancing account 112 may relate to environmental attributes from bio-based or renewable material. The balancing account may be associated with the respective property type such as environmental attribute type, e.g., renewable, bio-based or recycled 100. Based on such association the balancing account associated with the property type such as environmental attribute type of the respective textile 100 may be selected. The textile property e.g., environmental attributes may be allocated to the selected balancing account. For example, the account 112 for recycled material may be selected and the environmental attribute for recycled material may be allocated to such account 122.

[0383] To allocate, the textile properties such as one or more environmental attribute(s) may be converted to balancing units and the balancing units may be allocated to the balancing account 122. The conversion may be based on a conversion factor such as mass, weight, carbon atoms, hydrogen atoms, methane equivalents or any other suitable measure for quantifying the environmental impact of the property such as environmental attribute. The conversion factor may hence take into account the difference between producing textiles from conventional textile(s) and producing textiles from non-conventional textile(s) or producing textiles from a mix of conventional and non-conventional textile . The conversion factor may relate to differences in chemical and / or physical properties of conventional and non-conventional textile(s).

[0384] By using the balancing accounts 112 it can be ensured that textile properties such as environmental attributes of textiles 100 are only used once for assignment to recycled textile(s) 104. This way double counting on input or output is avoided to ensure properties such as positive environmental impact can be reliable tracked and assigned to recycled textile(s) 104.

[0385] An identifier provider 116 may be configured to provide the recycled textile identifier associated with the recycled textile produced by the textile production 102 and provided at the exit point from the textile production 102.

[0386] An outbound assigner 114 may be configured to assign at least one property such as environmental attribute from the at least one balancing account 112 associated with the respective property such as environmental attribute to the recycled textile identifier ID2. Properties such as one or more environmental attribute(s) may be assigned to the at least one recycled textile identifier ID2. Assignment may include de-allocation of the property such as one or more 240968W001

[0387] 62 environmental attributes from the balancing account 112 associated with the respective property type such as environmental attribute type. Assignment may include converting one or more balancing unit(s) to the property such as one or more environmental attribute(s).

[0388] Assigning at least one environmental attribute associated with input material(s) to recycled textile(s) may include the linking of the recycled textile identifier ID2 with the property such as environmental attribute. The recycled textile identifier ID2 may be associated with the physical entity of the recycled textile. This way the digital identifier of a material may be uniquely linked to the physical material. Such linking may include a physical or virtual link of identifiers uniquely associated with the physical material. For physical linking a tag or code may be physically connected to the material, e.g., by printing a QR code on the packaging. For digital linking different identifiers associated with the physical material may be linked. For example, an order number, a batch number, LOT number or a combination thereof may be linked.

[0389] The outbound assigner 114 may be configured to provide the properties such as environmental attributes associated with the recycled textile to a data consumer, such as a system associated with a user of the chemical or recycled textile. The outbound assigner 114 may be configured to provide the property such as environmental attributes associated with the chemical to a decentral network as for example described in the example of Figs. 1 and 2 by generating the access element. Properties such as environmental attributes may be provided via the above ID based schema in the form of digital assets or textile passports associated with the physical entity of the chemical.

[0390] Fig. 11 illustrates an example of a chemical production network with multiple input material streams and multiple processes.

[0391] The example of Fig. 11 illustrates a segregated chemical production network with multiple input material streams Input 1 -Input 4. The segregated chemical production network may comprise three processes: sorting, de-polymeriza- tion, and purification I polymerization, i. e. re-polymerization. Each of the three processes may comprise multiple process steps.

[0392] The input material streams Input 1 -Input 4 may enter the chemical production network via the system boundary for sorting or recycling. The input material streams Input 1 -Input 4 may be routed to respective entries based on production attributes associated with the material input streams.

[0393] The input material streams Input 1 -Input 4 may comprise waste material, such as recycling material and textile recycling material. The waste material may originate from at least one of a PI waste stream, a PC waste stream, and an EoL waste stream. The waste material may be sorted waste material or unsorted waste material. Each of the input material streams Input 1 -Input 4 may be associated with a corresponding supplier Supplier 1 -Supplier 4. The Supplier 1 -Supplier 4 may be different suppliers. 240968W001

[0394] 63

[0395] For example, Input 1 and Input 2 may comprise mixed PET, and may thus enter the chemical production network for sorting. The input material streams Input 1 and Input 2 may be associated with production attributes relating a material type mixed PET, a product type EoL, and the supplier. The input material streams Input 1 and Input 2 may further be associated with production attributes relating a recycled input material type PI or PC, for example. Once sorting of Input 1 and I or Input 2 has been completed, the input material stream(s) may proceed to de-polymerization.

[0396] Further, Input 3 and Input 4 may comprise sorted PET, and may thus enter the chemical production network for depolymerization. The input material streams Input 3 and Input 4 may be associated with production attributes relating a material type sorted PET, and the supplier. The input material streams Input 3 and Input 4 may further be associated with production attributes relating the recycled input material type PI or PC, for example. Input 3 and I or Input 4 may proceed to de-polymerization.

[0397] The de-polymerization converts a polymer such as the PET in the input material streams into its building blocks. Purification may remove contaminations and I or constituents. Purification may be optional. Re-polymerization converts the building blocks back to a polymer. The recycled polymer may be the same polymer, i. e. rPET, or a different polymer. However, a constituent, such as cotton or elastane, may perturb the de-polymerization and subsequent repolymerization.

[0398] The chemical production network may produce two output materials Output 1 and Output 2. As the output materials have been produced from the waste material(s), Output 1 and Output 2 may have a lower PCF than materials produced from a non-recycled material, i. e. virgin material. Output 1 may be associated with Customer 1. Output 2 may be associated with Customer 2. The production properties associated with the input material streams Input 1 -Input 4 may be allocated to the output materials Output 1 and Output 2 by way of material accounts as disclosed herein.

[0399] Fig. 12 illustrates another example of a chemical production network with multiple input material streams and multiple processes.

[0400] The other example of Fig. 12 illustrates a segregated chemical production network with multiple input material streams Input 1 -Input 4. The segregated chemical production network may comprise three processes: sorting, solvolysis, and separation I purification. Each of the three processes may comprise multiple process steps.

[0401] The input material streams Input 1 -Input 4 may enter the chemical production network via the system boundary for sorting or recycling. The input material streams Input 1 -Input 4 may be routed to respective entries based on production attributes associated with the material input streams.

[0402] The input material streams Input 1 -Input 4 may comprise waste material, such as recycling material and textile recycling material. The textile material may be fiber material. The waste material may originate from at least one of a PI waste stream, a PC waste stream, and an EoL waste stream. The waste material may be sorted waste material or 240968W001

[0403] 64 unsorted waste material. Each of the input material streams Input 1 -Input 4 may be associated with a corresponding supplier Supplier 1 -Supplier 4. The Supplier 1 -Supplier 4 may be different suppliers.

[0404] For example, Input 1 and Input 2 may comprise mixed PET, and may thus enter the chemical production network for sorting. The input material streams Input 1 and Input 2 may be associated with production attributes relating a material type mixed PET, a product type EoL, and the supplier. The input material streams Input 1 and Input 2 may further be associated with production attributes relating a recycled input material type PI or PC, for example. Once sorting of Input 1 and I or Input 2 has been completed, the input material stream(s) may proceed to de-polymerization.

[0405] Further, Input 3 and Input 4 may comprise sorted PET, and may thus enter the chemical production network for solvolysis. The input material streams Input 3 and Input 4 may be associated with production attributes relating a material type sorted PET, and the supplier. The input material streams Input 3 and Input 4 may further be associated with production attributes relating the recycled input material type PI or PC, for example. Input 3 and I or Input 4 may proceed to solvolysis.

[0406] The solvolysis dissolves a fiber material in the input material streams. The fiber material may comprise PET. The solvolysis may use a solvent comprising at least one of a solvent obtained from a biological source, gamma-valerolac- tone, dimethylacetamide, dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, n-butylpyrrolidone, and n-methylpyrrolidone, for example. Separation separates contents of the fiber material. The fiber material may be separated in a plurality of fraction, each of which comprising fibers of the same type, or fibers of similar types or compatible types. The solvent may be removed from the fiber material. Removing the solvent may use evaporation and I heat. Purification may remove contaminations and I or constituents. Purification may be optional. The recycled fiber material may comprise the same polymer, i. e. rPET. Compared to de-polymerization and subsequent re-polymerization, a constituent, such as cotton or elastane, may have less effect on solvolysis.

[0407] The chemical production network may produce two output materials Output 1 and Output 2. As the output materials have been produced from the waste material(s), Output 1 and Output 2 may have a lower PCF than materials produced from a non-recycled material, i. e. virgin material. Output 1 and Output 2 may also have a lower PCF than materials produced from a recycled material by de-polymerization and subsequent re-polymerization. Output 1 may be associated with Customer 1. Output 2 may be associated with Customer 2. The production properties associated with the input material streams Input 1 -Input 4 may be allocated to the output materials Output 1 and Output 2 by way of material accounts as disclosed herein.

[0408] The examples of Figs. 11 and 12 are mere illustrative examples. Additional or alternative processes or production chains may be comprised in the chemical production network. Moreover, additional or alternative input material stream(s) such as a renewable input material stream or bio-based input material stream may enter the chemical production network. Additional or alternative production properties may be associated with the input material stream(s). Additional or alternative output material(s) may be produced. 240968W001

[0409] 65

[0410] The present disclosure has been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments and examples as well. However, other variations can be understood and effected by those persons skilled in the art and practicing the disclosure, from the studies of the drawings, this disclosure, and the claims.

[0411] Any steps presented herein can be performed in any order. The methods disclosed herein are not limited to a specific order of these steps. It is also not required that the different steps are performed at a certain place or in a certain computing node of a distributed system, i.e., each of the steps may be performed at different computing nodes using different equipment / data processing.

[0412] The present disclosure has been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments and examples as well. However, other variations can be understood and effected by those persons skilled in the art and practicing the disclosure, from the studies of the drawings, this disclosure, and the claims.

[0413] Any steps presented herein can be performed in any order. The methods disclosed herein are not limited to a specific order of these steps. It is also not required that the different steps be performed at a certain place or in a certain computing node of a distributed system, i.e., each of the steps may be performed at different computing nodes using different equipment / data processing.

[0414] As used herein ..determining" also includes ..initiating or causing to determine", "generating" also includes ..initiating and / or causing to generate" and "providing” also includes "initiating or causing to determine, generate, select, send and / or receive”. "Initiating or causing to perform an action” includes any processing signal that triggers a computing node or device to perform the respective action.

[0415] In the claims as well as in the description the word "comprising” or "including” or similar wording does not exclude other elements or steps and shall not be construed limiting to the elements or steps lined out. The indefinite article "a” or "an” does not exclude a plurality. A single element or other unit may fulfill the functions of several entities or items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in the mutual different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used in an advantageous implementation or further elements may be included.

[0416] Providing in the scope of this disclosure may include any interface configured to provide data. This may include an application programming interface, a human-machine interface such as a display and / or a software module interface. Providing may include communication of data or submission of data to the interface, in particular display to a user or use of the data by the receiving entity. 240968W001

[0417] 66

[0418] Any disclosure and embodiments described herein relate to the methods, the systems, apparatuses, devices, textiles, materials, computer program elements lined out above and vice versa. Advantageously, the benefits provided by any of the embodiments and examples equally apply to all other embodiments and examples and vice versa. All terms and definitions used herein are understood broadly and have their general meaning.

Claims

240968W00167CLAIMS1 . A method for monitoring at least one recycling property of a textile, wherein at least a part of the textile is to be recycled by a solvent-based recycling process, wherein at part of the recycled textile is used to produce one or more textiles, the method comprising the steps of: providing one or more decentral identifier(s) associated with one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s) used or usable to produce and / or recycle the textile; collecting - based on the provided decentral identifier(s) - recycling property data associated with recycling attributes of the textile associated with the one or more production input(s) and / or recycling inputs); determining - based on the collected recycling property data - total recycling property of the textile; providing a decentral identifier associated with the produced one or more textile(s); attributing the total recycling property data to the decentral identifier associated with the one or more textile(s) produced from the one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s), wherein the decentral identifier is linked to a digital representation of the recycling property data and wherein the total recycling property data is stored in a database associated with the data providing service of the sol- vent-based recycling process for access by one or more participants of the textile use chain.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least part of the textile to be recycled by the solvent based recycling process comprises a textile waste stream, in particular a mixed textile waste stream, wherein the textile waste stream includes one or more textile pieces containing textile material(s) containing polymer blend(s), the sol- vent-based recycling process comprising solvent-based separation of the polymer blend(s), the polymer blend(s) comprising(I) a polyester and(II) one or more component(s) selected from the group consisting of: a second polymer, a third polymer, a colorant, and an additive, wherein the one or more polymers are different from each other and different from the polyester of (I); the solvent-based separation comprising(a) providing the polymer blend and providing a solvent comprising gamma valerolactone;(b) contacting the polymer blend with the solvent comprising gamma valerolactone at a temperature T 1 of < 170 °C, thereby obtaining a solvent comprising gamma valerolactone, which is enriched in dissolved optional second polymer, optional third polymer, in optional colorant and in optional additive or a part thereof; and a residue of the polymer blend, which is depleted of optional second polymer, of optional colorant and of optional additive or part thereof; and comprises the polyester, optionally the third polymer; and the optional additive or a part thereof; and / or(c) contacting the polymer blend provided in step (a) or the residue of the polymer blend obtained in step (b) with a solvent comprising gamma valerolactone at a temperature T2 of > 170°C, thereby obtaining240968W00168 a solvent, which comprises gamma valerolactone and which is enriched in dissolved polyester compared to the solvent provided in step (a) and comprises optionally at least a part of the additive, and optionally a residue of the polymer blend, which is depleted of polyester and comprises optionally the third polymer and optionally the additive or a part thereof.

3. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein the polymer blend comprises at least a third polymer, the method comprising d) separation of the solvent system, which is enriched in dissolved polyester obtained in step (c) from the residue obtained in step (c), thereby obtaining a solvent enriched in dissolved polyester, which is free of third polymer, and a residue comprising at least the third polymer, wherein the separation is done by heated solid-liquid separation, preferably at a temperature in the range of T ± 20°C, more preferably at a temperature in the range of T ± 10°C.

4. The method of any of claim 2 or 3 further comprising(e) optionally after heated solid-liquid separation according to d), cooling the solvent obtained in step (c) or in step (d), which is enriched in dissolved polyester compared to the solvent provided in step (a), to a temperature below T2 preferably below 150°C, more preferably below 140°C, more preferably below 120°C; thereby obtaining a precipitated polyester and a solvent, which is depleted in dissolved polyester; wherein cooling in step (e) is preferably done without addition of antisolvents; and / or, preferably and, comprising(f) separating the precipitated polyester obtained in step (e) from the solvent, which is depleted in dissolved polyester, thereby obtaining a precipitated polyester and the solvent, which is depleted in dissolved polyester; and / or, preferably and, comprising(g) optionally washing the precipitated polyester obtained in step (f);(h) drying the precipitated polyester obtained in step (f) or the washed precipitated polyester obtained in step (g).

5. The method of any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the solvent comprises gamma valerolactone and optionally one or more solvent(s) selected from the group consisting of water and organic solvents having a log KOW in the range of from -1 .6 to +1 .6, more preferably selected from the group consisting of water, C5 to C12 alkane, aliphatic C1 to C10 alcohol, C3 to C10 ketone, C2 to C10 cyclic ketone, HO-[C1 to C10 alkyl-O-]n-H, with n being an integer in the range of from 2 to 1000, C1 to C10 alkyl-O-C3 to C10 alkyl ether, C3 to C10 cyclic ether, optionally substituted with one or more C1 to C6 alkyl group(s), C6 to C10 aromatic hydrocarbon, optionally substituted with one or more C1 to C6 alkyl group(s), C2 to C10 aliphatic ester, C8 to C11 aromatic240968W00169 ester, C5 to C10 cyclic carboxylic ester (lactone), C3 to C12 amide, preferably R1R2N-C(=O)-R3, wherein R1, R2 are independently a 01 to C4 alkyl group and R3 is selected from the group consisting of C1 to C9 alkyl group, 01 to C10 ester group and 01 to C6 ether group, C3 to C6 lactame, optionally substituted with one or more substituent selected from 01 to C6 alkyl group, 01 to C6 ester group and 01 to C6 ether group, and C5 imidazolidine, optionally substituted with one or more 01 to C6 alkyl group(s), C5 to 07 imidazolidone, optionally substituted with one or more 01 to C6 alkyl group(s), wherein preferably at least 1 weight-%, more preferably at least 5 weight-%, more preferably at least 10 weight-%, more preferably at least 20 weight-%, more preferably at least 30 weight-%, more preferably at least 40 weight-%, more preferably at least 50 weight- %,more preferably at least 60 weight-%, more preferably at least 70 weight-%, more preferably at least 80 weight-%, more preferably at least 90 weight-%, more preferably at least 95 weight-% of the solvent consists of gamma valerolactone, based on the total weight of the solvent being 100 weight-%.

6. The method according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the polyester is based on 1 ,4-butanediol or 1 ,2-ethan- diol, more preferably the polyester according to (i) is selected from the group consisting of a polymer based on 1 ,4-butanediol and terephthalic acid (polybutylene terephthalate, PBT), a polymer based on 1 ,2-ethanediol and terephthalic acid (polyethylene terephthalate, PET), a co-polymer of 1 ,4-butanediol, adipic acid and terephthalic acid (polybutylenadipatterephthalat, PBAT), a polymer of 1 ,2-ethanediol and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (polyethylene furanoate, PEF) and mixtures of two or more of these (co)polymers, more preferably, the polyester comprises at least PET or PBT, more preferably the polyester is PET or PBT or a mixture of PET and PBT; and / or, preferably and, wherein the second polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane (PU), polyethylene glycol (PEG), polytetrahydrofuran (pTHF), mixtures of these polymers and copolymers of these polymers; and / or, preferably and, wherein the third polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, preferably polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), natural polymer, preferably wool, cotton or viscose, mixtures of two or more of these polymers and copolymers of two or more of these polymers, wherein the third polymer is preferably selected from PA, wool, cotton, viscose and mixtures of two or more of these polymers; and / or, preferably and, wherein the colorant is selected from the group consisting of dye and optical brightener and mixtures of dye and optical brightener, and / or, preferably and, wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of softener, water repellent, flame retardant, UV filter, plasticizer, filler and mixtures of two or more thereof.

7. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the method further comprises generating one or more access element(s) including the decentral identifier associated with the one or more textile(s) produced from the one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s), the one or more access element(s) being configured to access to recycling property data from one or more participant(s) of the textile use chain, wherein the one or more access element(s) are configured for access to the recycling property data per generation stage of the textile generation chain by one or more participant(s) of the textile use chain,240968W00170 optionally configured to recursively access recycling property data per generation stage of the textile generation chain, wherein recursive access is based on one or more relationship representation(s) provided by one or more participant(s) of the textile generation chain.

8. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the recycling property data is collected in association with the generation of the textile by a participant of the textile generation chain, wherein property data associated with one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s) used or usable to generate the textile, including decentral identifier(s) associated with the one or production input(s) and / or recycling input(s), are collected.

9. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one digital representation is generated for access to a digital relationship between the textile at the generation stage of the textile and the respective one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s) at said the generation stage.

10. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the property data includes at least one property of the textile associated with at least one of: material flow type associated with the generation of the textile, origin, condition associated with the generation of the textile, environmental attribute, and / or allocation scheme.

11. An apparatus for monitoring at least one property of a textile for a recycled textile producer network or components) thereof, the apparatus comprising: a data collection interface configured to collect recycling property data associated with recycling attributes of the textile associated with the one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s); a providing interface configured to provide one or more decentral identifier(s) associated with the textile and / or one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s) used or usable to produce and / or recycle the textile and / or a decentral identifier associated with the produced textile(s); decentral identifier provider interface configured to provide one or more decentral identifier(s) associated with the textile; a determining unit configured to determining - based on collected recycling property data - total recycling property of the textile; an attributing interface configured to attribute the total recycling property data to a decentral identifier associated with the one or more textile(s) produced from the one or more production input(s) and / or recycling input(s), wherein the one or more decentral identifiers are linked to a digital representation of the recycling property data and wherein the total recycling property data is stored in a database associated with the data providing service of the solvent-based recycling process for access by one or more participants of the textile use chain.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising: an access element generator configured to generate one or more access element(s) including the one or more decentral identifier(s);240968W00171 a decentral network interface configured to provide the one or more access element(s) to a decentral network for access to the property data by one or more data consuming network node(s) of the decentral network under control of a data providing network node, wherein the one or more data consuming network node(s) are configured to register and / or attribute the at least one property of a textile to recycled textile(s) produced by the recycled textile producer network.

13. A method for registering and / or attributing at least one property of a textile for entering a recycled textile producer network, the method comprising the steps: providing one or more decentral identifier(s) associated with a textile to enter the recycled textile producer network; gathering based on one or more access element(s) generated and / or provided according to the methods of any of claims 1-10 or by the apparatuses of any of claims 11-12 property data from a producer of the textile to enter the recycled textile producer network and / or one or more producer(s) of components) of the textile to enter the recycled textile producer network; registering at least one property of a textile entering the recycled textile producer network based on the gathered property data; and providing at least one registered property of the textile or component(s) thereof for attributing the at least one property to one or more textile(s) produced by the recycled textile producer network.

14. An apparatus for registering and / or attributing at least one property of a textile for entering a recycled textile producer network, the apparatus comprising: an identifier providing interface configured to provide one or more decentral identifier(s) associated with a textile to enter the recycled textile producer network; a data gathering interface configured to gather based on one or more access element(s) generated and / or provided according to the methods of any of claims 1-10 or by the apparatuses of any of claims 11 to 12 property data from a producer of the textile to enter the recycled textile producer network and / or one or more producer(s) of component(s) of the textile to be fed to the recycled textile producer network; a registration interface configured to register at least one property of a textile entering the recycled textile producer network based on the gathered property data and to provide at least one registered property of the textile or component(s) thereof for attributing the at least one property to one or more textile® produced by the recycled textile producer network.

15. A textile associated with one or more access element(s) generated and provided according to the methods of any of claims 1-10 or by the apparatuses of any of claims 11-12 or a recycled textile producer network, wherein the textile associated with the access element generated and provided according to the methods of any of claims 1-10 or by the apparatuses of any of claims 11-12 is usable for the production of one or more textile(s) by a recycled textile producer network.