Our Work
Projects
Applied research and pilot programmes turning textile and agro-waste innovation into on-the-ground impact across Pakistan.
Improving Access to Sustainable Energy in Rural Pakistan Using Food and Fiber Agro-Waste as a Renewable Fuel (SAFER)
Consortium PartnersProject SAFER addresses rural energy access in Pakistan by converting food and fiber agricultural crop waste into clean, renewable fuel. Operating in the Saleh Pat region of Sindh province, the project builds sustainable local energy solutions to support rural communities. KnowTex leads local community outreach, facilitates stakeholder dialogues, and builds collaborative frameworks to drive community participation and project adoption.
Demonstrator for High-Energy Bio-Coal and Other Carbon-Negative Products in Rural South Punjab using Sustainable Agro-waste (SAFER Plus)
Consortium PartnersSAFER PLUS establishes a BioHub in rural South Punjab to convert sustainable agricultural waste into high-energy bio-coal pellets and carbon-negative products. The project replaces conventional and imported fossil fuels with locally produced renewable alternatives for industrial consumption. KnowTex supports industrial offtake partnerships, leads stakeholder engagement, drives capacity-building workshops, and facilitates field-level deployment.
Read the £1.25M grant announcementA Blueprint for Sustainable Solutions for Textile Waste Recycling in Pakistan (Satiana Recycling Cluster)
Consortium PartnersThis project enhances circularity, chemical safety, and sustainable waste management within the Satiana industrial textile waste cluster. It includes ZDHC chemical assessments, GRS gap analyses, and pilot trials for optimized, eco-friendly textile waste decolourization technologies. Nature-based wastewater treatment solutions such as floating wetlands were also investigated, and an important component of the project is formulating policy recommendations for cluster-wide scaling.
The Global Trace Protocol Project (GTP) — Pakistan Cotton Traceability Pilot
This initiative transfers and hosts the Global Trace Protocol (GTP) cotton supply chain software platform on local servers in Pakistan. It aims to enhance supply chain transparency and assist textile stakeholders in maintaining labor rights due diligence, specifically targeting child and forced labor risks. KnowTex manages a dedicated web portal, coordinates dialogue through stakeholder blogs, and integrates the traceability tool into the University's educational and research framework.
Enhancing Circular Business Models for Post-Consumer Textiles in Pakistan (Project Rewear)
Consortium PartnersThis project evaluates and maps the post-consumer textile landscape in Pakistan to accelerate circular economy practices. The initiative conducts in-depth studies on the volumes, quality, economic values, and socio-environmental impacts of imported and exported post-consumer textiles. Through comprehensive stakeholder engagement and field research, it delivers actionable recommendations to optimize infrastructure for textile sorting, repair, and resale.