tExtended Conversations Series: RESTER OY

In today’s episode of our Conversations series, where we meet project partners and we discuss about their work in tExtended, we spoke with Kirsi Jaakkola from Rester Oy, a Finnish recycling company, who talked with us about the challenges of the project but also the enthusiasm that working with our European partners bring.

Thanks for speaking to us today. Could you start by introducing yourself and telling us where you are based?

My name is Kirsi Jaakkola, I am R&D Manager at Rester Oy. Rester is located at Paimio, in southwest Finland. 

Can you tell us something about the task that you are specifically working on in tExtended?

As Rester is a company that deals with used B&B textile streams, we are involved in tasks concerning digital tools and technologies to develop better identification and sorting, and in creating bigger scale demonstrators for the project.

What do you like the most about working on this project?

I like the big challenge of the project’s planned result: how to be able to significantly increase the amount of textiles that could be recycled. As I have a background in textile engineering, I also like the perspective that the research institute partners give to this project, and also all their knowledge and research possibilities that are available for us. 

What makes your organization ideal for participating in the research/activities of tExtended?

We are an important partner for the implementation of the real scale demonstrators: we can give practical, real-life contributions and feedback from the markets to this project.

What do you see as the biggest challenge for tExtended?

The variety of all textile materials, especially mixed materials and how the end results can be moved to bigger scale practices in real-life. 

What is one key thing you have learned from working on tExtended so far?

I have been thrilled since the start by the level of enthusiasm of all European partners within the project, how people are committed to the tasks and willing to help and support each other. It has also been great to learn what production possibilities and facilities we have in Europe. Personally, I have learned great much about NIR-technologies and its possibilities. 

How would you describe tExtended with three words only?

Challenge creates solutions.