Between 2022 and 2025, Adalberto Textile Solutions completed one of the most significant decarbonization investments in the Portuguese textile industry. A €4 million programme designed to fundamentally transform the energy profile of its Santo Tirso manufacturing facility.

The project targets are clear: a 68.81% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a 48.50% decrease in total energy consumption, equivalent to savings of 2,063.80 tonnes of oil per year.

A Project Three Years in the Making

The Adalberto Decarbonization Project was part-financed by Portugal's Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR). It was built around three pillars: replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources, adopting high-efficiency technologies, and implementing intelligent digital systems for energy monitoring and control. At its core was a clear industrial logic: a cleaner operation is also a more competitive one.

As CEO Jorge Machado put it: "This investment strengthens our ability to grow sustainably, keeping production in Portugal and creating employment opportunities."

From Fossil Fuels to Biomass  and Beyond

The most impactful single measure was the complete replacement of fossil fuels in steam production. The facility's largest source of emissions with biomass-based energy. This shift fundamentally changes the carbon profile of the entire operation.

As COO Rui Cernadas explained: "We implemented solutions ranging from the replacement of fossil fuels with biomass to thermal optimisation, process digitalisation, and significant reductions in energy consumption across the entire production line.

What This Means in Practice

Decarbonizing an industrial textile facility is not a simple exercise. The processes involved steam generation, wet finishing, thermal drying  are energy-intensive by nature. Transitioning them requires technical expertise, capital commitment, and a willingness to rethink systems that have operated the same way for decades.

What this project demonstrates is that it can be done, systematically and measurably. By modernising its processes, Adalberto Textile Solutions is strengthening its operational resilience and international competitiveness simultaneously.

For the global brands and partners the company works with, this has a direct impact. Fabrics and garments produced in Santo Tirso are on track to carry a significantly lower carbon footprint. Supporting supply chain sustainability commitments and ESG reporting requirements across the value chain.

A Milestone, Not a Finish Line

Founded in 1969, Adalberto Textile Solutions employs more than 350 people across its Santo Tirso facility. Despite a challenging year for the global textile sector, the company maintained a stable and resilient business. A result of the long-term investments being made across operations, technology, and sustainability.

The decarbonization project is part of a broader vision: to build an industrial operation that is cleaner, more efficient, and prepared for the demands of the energy transition.

Learn more about the project

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