Universidade Católica contributes to the sustainable transformation of the textile industry
From the development and characterisation of biomaterials to the promotion of more sustainable consumer behaviours, Universidade Católica Portuguesa has played an important role in transforming the textile industry through its participation in the be@t – Bioeconomy at Textiles project, funded by Portugal's Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP).
The initiative brought together companies, technology centres and higher education institutions with the aim of accelerating the transition towards a more sustainable and innovative textile sector. Universidade Católica participates through the Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (CBQF) of the Faculty of Biotechnology and the Human Neurobehavioral Laboratory (HNL) of the Faculty of Education and Psychology.
As part of the project, the University's Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry brought together four research groups dedicated to the study of new sustainable molecules and materials, as well as the validation of their properties. "Our contribution is grounded in extensive expertise in industrial biotechnology, the valorisation of agrifood by-products, the development of functional materials and the integration of circular economy principles, enabling us to play a strategic role in the creation and validation of new biomaterials for the textile sector," says Manuela Pintado, Director of CBQF.
The contribution of the Faculty of Education and Psychology, through the Human Neurobehavioral Laboratory (HNL), focused on "gaining a deeper understanding of consumers (their perceptions, motivations, barriers and diversity) and translating scientific knowledge into concrete actions that promote literacy, awareness and behavioural change," explains Patrícia Oliveira-Silva, faculty member and Coordinator of HNL.
The HNL team studied attitudes and behaviours related to sustainable consumption, analysed how companies in the textile sector communicate on social media, and developed several awareness-raising initiatives aimed at the wider community. These activities helped extend the project's impact beyond academic and industrial settings.
be@t – Bioeconomy at Textiles was a flagship collaborative project bringing together 54 organisations to accelerate the sustainable transformation of Portugal's textile and clothing industry. With an investment of approximately €100 million, the project promoted the development of biomaterials, circular solutions, new sustainability metrics and stronger links between technological innovation and society. These efforts were driven by a shared objective: reducing dependence on fossil-based raw materials, increasing material circularity and strengthening the competitiveness of the Portuguese textile industry.
Universidade Católica Portuguesa contributed to this endeavour through an integrated approach combining expertise in biotechnology, bioeconomy, materials science and behavioural sciences.