Zorluteks, a company under the Zorlu Textile Group, has been accepted for the third time into the European Union-supported Horizon Europe Program with its “ORBIT” project, further demonstrating the international competence of its R&D Center.
According to a company statement, Zorluteks continues not only to transform its own operations but also to pioneer innovative practices that will shape the future of the textile industry. Projects developed in line with this vision have strengthened the company’s growing visibility and credibility on both national and international platforms.
Having previously carried out two separate projects under the Horizon 2020 framework, Zorluteks has now secured support for the third time through the ORBIT project under Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation funding program.
Through ORBIT, the company aims to bring its R&D activities—focused on sustainability, digital transformation, and environmental responsibility—to international platforms, while continuing to lead the textile sector’s green transformation.
Zorluteks General Manager Cemil Çiçek stated that their approach of integrating sustainability into production processes has yielded tangible results in international projects.
“We consider sustainability not merely as a target but as an integral part of all our business processes. From raw materials and process management to production and final products, we manage our entire value chain with this perspective, focusing on innovative solutions to reduce our environmental impact,” Çiçek said.
He emphasized that being accepted into the prestigious program for the third time is an international recognition of the company’s R&D capabilities and commitment to sustainability.
Çiçek noted that the ORBIT project is a critical initiative that will elevate the company’s strategic competencies to international standards, in line with the European Green Deal and circular economy objectives. He explained that the project will address technical bottlenecks and data gaps in the existing Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology through an artificial intelligence-supported, dynamic, and scalable infrastructure. This approach aims to ensure end-to-end traceability across the textile, chemical, and packaging sectors.
One of ORBIT’s key components will be the development of a “Digital Product Passport and Compliance Engine,” enabling automatic and proactive compliance with complex EU regulations such as ESPR and Green Claims. Çiçek added that, through machine learning-supported cradle-to-grave analyses and eco-design tools, the company aims to achieve more than a 30 percent reduction in carbon footprint in pilot processes.
He underlined that participating in the consortium will not only enhance Zorluteks’ technical capacity but also position the company as a competitive and pioneering player in circular economy innovation at the European level.
Source: Anadolu Ajansı/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök