Lazarus Project

Hospital bedding made of lyocell and recycled polyester fibres

The Lazarus project aimed to establish a new local textile value chain "bed linen" for hospitals by replacing the traditional sheets made from environmentally unfriendly cotton, sometimes with a proportion of virgin polyester, with a new sustainable textile sheet made from lyocell (possibly with a proportion of recycled cotton) and recycled polyester fibre (R-PET, polyester fibres made from PET bottles).

By using European raw materials and recyclates on the one hand and direct cooperation between local companies and users on the other, we have created a "short" value chain. This reduces logistics costs, both during the production and the use phase. And we make the local textile industry competitive again for simple textile products.

A preliminary study decided on the choice of yarn, after which we extensively tested the sheets produced.

For the local production of 1 sheet, at least 4 recycled 1.5-litre coke bottles and 150g of cellulose from prunings are used. By replacing cotton and virgin polyester with environmentally friendly cellulose (lyocell) and PET recyclates, at least 75 g of pesticide chemicals, 50 l of water and 0.15 l of oil can be saved per sheet during the production phase. By increasing the proportion of recycled PET in a hospital sheet, water and energy consumption during washing and drying can be significantly reduced.

This project is circular by:

• using recycled materials and environmentally friendly biomass locally
• Avoiding intercontinental transport
• Using environmentally friendly washing and drying processes
• the circular maintenance of "reusable" bed linen

We use raw materials in a circular way, we organise different, more efficient logistics and improve the preconditions that make the circular economy possible.