SKAPA Award
This year’s winner of Sweden’s largest innovation award, the “SKAPA Prize” of 500,000 SEK, is Åsa Strandberg from Jämtland County for her invention “RespinJenny” – a solution based on mechanical textile recycling.
The jury has decided to award a diploma and the SKAPA Prize of 500,000 SEK to:
Åsa Strandberg from Jämtland County for RespinJenny – mechanical textile recycling that generates fibers so long that no virgin fiber needs to be added. Textile waste is a highly pressing global issue. Current recycling methods for creating new threads and fabrics require vast amounts of energy, water, and chemicals. As a result, mountains of textile waste continue to grow. The fiber that is recycled today is typically of low quality and must be blended with a large proportion of virgin fiber to achieve acceptable performance.
Jury’s motivation:
RespinJenny is a solution based on mechanical textile recycling. It is energy-efficient and requires neither water nor chemicals in the recycling process. Furthermore, the textile fibers are recovered with their original qualities largely intact. These fibers can be reused to spin new yarn and thread, which can then be turned into new fabrics and textile products. RespinJenny takes textile recycling a step further – improving the quality of recycled fibers while being significantly more environmentally friendly.
That is why Åsa Strandberg is awarded the 2024 SKAPA Prize for her invention, RespinJenny.
The award was presented by Minister for Education Johan Pehrson and Minoo Akhtarzand, Chair of the SKAPA Foundation.