Project Scarabat: new prototypes made from textile waste

  • Can textile waste become a new resource?

    This question continues to guide the Scarabat project. After studying textile microwaste and exploring its transformation into new materials, we have moved on to the next phase: testing how these materials could be used in practical applications.

From material to prototype

During this stage, we have focused on two areas of research:

  • Developing small components using 3D printing.
  • Creating paper from recovered textile fibres for packaging and communication materials.

The aim was to explore possibilities, create prototypes and better understand how the materials we developed behave, rather than present finished products.

This work builds on the earlier phases of the project, which we shared in Scarabat: turning microwaste into new opportunities and Project Scarabat: when textile microwaste becomes new materials.

  • A component integrated into an Arpe product

    One of our tests involved creating a 3D-printed button and incorporating it into a prototype for a new microfiber hair wrap.

    This proof of concept allowed us to see how recovered waste could return to the value chain as a functional component.


    The result is still experimental and needs further development before production can be considered. It nevertheless represents a first step towards understanding the potential of this area of research.

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  • New possibilities for packaging

    The second area of research focused on paper made from recovered textile fibres.


    We used this material to develop a range of prototypes for packaging and product communication. Its texture, natural colour and visible fibres give it a distinctive identity that connects directly with its origins.


    The tests revealed promising potential for further applications within Arpe.


    Catalan visual artist Jordi Alcaraz also contributed his creative perspective, helping us look at the material in a new way and better understand its expressive possibilities. We are especially grateful for his generosity and involvement in the project.

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Innovation also means learning

Scarabat is helping us understand how certain types of textile waste can open up new design opportunities, which applications show the most promise and which aspects still need further research.

We will continue working to improve these materials and explore how they can be responsibly integrated into new products and solutions.

Because turning waste into a resource takes time, collaboration and a willingness to keep experimenting.

With the support of

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