American Roller Company And Precision Roll Solutions Announce Merger — A Stronger Platform, Built For Customers

UNION GROVE, WI — July 10, 2026 — Precision Roll Solutions (PRS) and American Roller Company (ARCO) announced their merger, forming North America’s most complete precision roll manufacturing platform. The merger marks a new chapter for both businesses, the teams who built them, and the customers they serve.

The combined organization brings together PRS’s precision roll and cylinder manufacturing – including laser-engraved anilox rolls, gravure and embossing rolls, specialty base rolls, and web handling equipment, with American Roller Company’s deep expertise in engineered roll coverings and cores, industrial coatings, and broad field service capability.

As part of the merger, Scott Vuchetich will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer, effective July 6th.  Scott brings more than 30 years of experience leading growth-stage organizations and is uniquely positioned to guide the combined company through its next chapter.

Dan Cahalane, who has served as CEO since 2005 and whose vision has been instrumental in building American Roller into the organization it is today, will transition to Executive Vice President. Dan will work closely with Scott and the broader leadership team, ensuring continuity and direction as the company integrates and scales.

“What the team at American Roller has accomplished over the years is remarkable,” said Dan Cahalane. “To now merge with an equally accomplished team at PRS dramatically accelerates the possibilities for our customers and our combined teammates.”

Justin Glass, who has served as CEO of Precision Roll Solutions since 2024, will become the Chief Commercial Officer of the combined company. “This merger gives our customers immediate access to a broader set of capabilities, backed by the same teams and the same standard of precision they’ve always counted on. I couldn’t be more energized about what this team builds next.”

“I’m honored to step into this role at such an exciting inflection point,” said Scott Vuchetich. “The foundation Dan, Justin, and their respective teams have built is exceptional, and I’m committed to building on that momentum for our employees, customers, and partners.”

Together, ARCO and PRS deliver an integrated capability set that spans the full roll lifecycle: precision-engineered base rolls and cylinders, laser-engraved and mechanically engraved surfaces, specialty rubber and elastomer coverings, thermal and UV-cure coatings, and the service infrastructure to support them. These capabilities serve flexographic, gravure, laminating, coating, embossing, metal, and industrial converting applications.

Posted: July 10, 2026

Source: Precision Roll Solutions (PRS)

Wrangler® Introduces Toughlite™: Next Gen Denim Engineered To Be Lighter, Built To Last

GREENSBORO, N.C.— July 9, 2026 — Global denim icon Wrangler® today announced the launch of Toughlite, a denim innovation that brings enhanced airflow to the brand’s legendary Cowboy Cut® family. Engineered to prove that a lighter weight jean does not mean a weaker jean, Toughlite delivers made-to-move comfort without sacrificing the quality that has defined Wrangler for almost 80 years.

Weighing less than traditional 14.75 oz heavyweight denim, the Toughlite collection is constructed from a premium 99% cotton and 1% elastane blend. This tech-driven denim provides two key benefits tailored to a fast-paced lifestyle:

  • Lighter Weight: Built for premium comfort and enhanced airflow without the heavy bulk.
  • Made to Move: Durable, flexible, and ready for action right off the shelf with zero break-in time needed.

With the introduction of Toughlite, Wrangler is addressing the demands of a new generation of consumers who look for effortless comfort and go-anywhere versatility. Toughlite delivers a zero-break-in jean that seamlessly transitions from work, to a tailgate or a night out with friends.

“Wrangler has always stood for durability you can trust,” said Holly Wheeler, Vice President of Global Brand Marketing at Kontoor Brands. “With Toughlite, we pushed ourselves further, engineering a fabric that’s up to 20% lighter, has enhanced airflow, and is incredibly flexible, while not sacrificing durability. It’s innovation you can feel immediately, without giving up the authenticity that defines Wrangler.”

Designed for the guy seeking a simple, authentic aesthetic backed by high-quality performance, Toughlite honors the trusted five-pocket styling, relaxed seat and thigh, and over-the-boot fit that put Wrangler on the map, now re-engineered for a new era of comfort.

Wrangler Toughlite will debut in the brand’s most iconic, globally best-selling fits: the 13MWZ Original Fit Cowboy Cut® and the 936 Slim Fit Cowboy Cut®. They will be offered in four classic washes: Rinse, Stone, Faded Stone, and Light Wash.

Starting July 9th, Wrangler Toughlite will be available for $69.99 on Wrangler.com and at select Western and apparel retailers nationwide. To learn more about the Toughlite collection and see how “Tough Jeans Just Got Lighter,” visit Wrangler.com or follow the brand on social media @Wrangler.

Posted: July 10, 2026

Source: Wrangler®, of Kontoor Brands

AFFOA Launches A Chemical Protective Textiles Challenge Sponsored By CPE CBRND Through SPARK To Accelerate Next-Generation Protective Materials

BEDFORD, Mass. — July 8, 2026 — Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) today announced the launch of the Chemical Protective Textile Challenge, a nationwide initiative sponsored by the Capability Program Executive for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (CPE CBRND) through its SPARK innovation incubator and administered by AFFOA. The challenge is designed to identify commercially available and high technology readiness level (TRL) textile-based materials capable of providing enhanced protection against hydrofluoric acid (HF), jet fuel, rocket fuel, and related operational hazards while maintaining the durability, flexibility, manufacturability, and comfort required for next-generation protective systems.

Material manufacturers, textile companies, startups, universities, research institutions, and other innovators are encouraged to participate by attending Industry Day on August 4, 2026, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where attendees will gain firsthand insight into the operational need, hear directly from government technical experts and operational end users, network, and participate in optional private pitch sessions to present their advanced material solutions.

“Protecting the Warfighter requires continuously identifying and advancing innovative materials that can address evolving operational threats,” said Dr. Sasha Stolyarov, CEO of AFFOA. “Through this challenge, AFFOA is bringing together innovators, manufacturers, government stakeholders, and operational end users to accelerate the evaluation of promising textile technologies. By combining our national innovation ecosystem with technical expertise and manufacturing knowledge, we can help identify solutions with the greatest potential to strengthen future chemical protective systems and reduce risk for warfighters when facing HF acid, gas and fuel hazards.”

Industry Day Provides Opportunities to Showcase Solutions and Engage with Challenge Stakeholders

The in-person Industry Day is designed to provide prospective participants with a deeper understanding of the challenge while creating opportunities for direct engagement with key stakeholders.

Participants will have the opportunity to:

  • Learn about the operational challenges driving the need for improved chemical protective materials.
  • Hear directly from CPE CBRND representatives, technical experts, and operational end users.
  • Participate in optional private pitch sessions to showcase their material solution(s).
  • Display material samples and engage with government stakeholders during the networking session.
  • Gain valuable insight that can strengthen their official challenge submission.

Participation in Industry Day is strongly encouraged but is not required to compete in the challenge.

Accelerating the Discovery and Transition of Advanced Textile Technologies
Following Industry Day, participants will submit Candidate Material Information and Sample Packages for technical evaluation by a panel composed of AFFOA, government, industry, and operational subject matter experts.

Up to three semifinalists will each receive a $5,000 prize award and advance to an independent testing and validation phase, where their materials will be evaluated against challenge performance objectives. Following testing and final evaluation, one Challenge Winner will receive an additional $5,000 prize award.

Beyond prize funding, participants have the opportunity to gain valuable visibility with government stakeholders, receive independent technical evaluation of their technologies, and contribute to the advancement of next-generation protective materials supporting future defense capabilities.

This Challenge aligns with AFFOA’s mission to accelerate the development and deployment of advanced textiles that address critical defense needs. As Challenge Administrator, AFFOA will leverage its nationwide Fabric Innovation Network and technical expertise to identify promising technologies, engage innovators from across the advanced textile ecosystem, coordinate technical evaluations and independent material testing, and support the identification of solutions with strong transition potential. The challenge demonstrates AFFOA’s ability to rapidly connect government needs with commercial innovation through a structured process that combines technology scouting, technical assessment, stakeholder engagement, and manufacturing expertise.

Organizations interested in participating are encouraged to review the Challenge Guidebook and register for Industry Day.

Participation Resources

Challenge Details, Submission Deadlines and Guidebook:

https: //affoa.org/chemical-protective-textiles-challenge/

Industry Day Information, Registration and Private Pitch Sign-Up:
https://affoa.org/Industryday

For additional information regarding eligibility, submission requirements, deadlines, or Industry Day, please visit the Challenge webpage or contact the AFFOA Challenge team at  challenges@affoa.org.

Posted: July 10, 2026

Source: Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA)

NCTO President And CEO Kim Glas To Testify At U.S. Trade Representative’s U.S. Industry Forced Labor Hearing

NCTO President and CEO Kim Glas

WASHINGTON, D.C. — July 9, 2026 — National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO President and CEO Kim Glas is set to testify this morning at the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) hearing on proposed actions in the Section 301 Forced Labor Investigations.

Glas will outline NCTO’s positions and recommendations at today’s hearing, taking place at the U.S. International Trade Commission at 10 a.m. in Washington D.C.

See her prepared remarks here.

NCTO has also filed a written submission to USTR, which can be found here, outlining the U.S. textile industry’s positions on the USTR forced labor investigations.

Posted: July 9, 2026

Source: National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO

Burlington Celebrates Commissioning Of State-Of-The-Art Dyehouse At Raeford, NC Manufacturing Facility

RAEFORD, N.C.— July 7, 2026 — Burlington Industries (“Burlington”), U.S. manufacturer of advanced textile solutions, today celebrated the commissioning of its newly modernized dyehouse at its manufacturing operation in Raeford, NC, marking a significant investment in the future of domestic textile production and the continued support of the U.S. military.

The commissioning ceremony (l to r): NC Rep Garland  Pierce, County Commissioners Chairman James Leach, County Commissioner Mary Blue McCollum, Raeford Mayor John McNeill, Elevate CEO Jeffrey P Pritchett, US Rep Richard Hudson, Burlington President Guy Lucas, and Raeford Plant Manager Keith Mims.

The commissioning ceremony brought together company leaders, employees, community partners, and elected officials to recognize the completion of the project and the important role the Raeford operation continues to play in America’s textile manufacturing base.

“Our Dyehouse investment demonstrates our confidence in the Raeford operation, our employees, and the critical role this facility plays in supporting those who protect our freedoms, ” said Jeffrey P. Pritchett, Chief Executive Officer of Elevate Textiles, the parent company for Burlington. “We are proud to continue a legacy of serving the military while strengthening American manufacturing capabilities right here in North Carolina. ”

The Raeford facility produces the specialized fabrics used in military dress uniforms and remains the only U.S. manufacturer producing these fabrics domestically. The Raeford operation currently supplies fabrics supporting dress uniform programs for the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy, and Space Force.

“As we celebrate this investment, we also celebrate the employees whose dedication and expertise have made the Raeford operation an industry leader for more than 70 years,” said Guy Lucas, President of Burlington. “Their commitment to excellence has helped ensure that military personnel across all six branches of the U.S. Armed Forces receive the highest-quality uniform fabrics. This new state-of-the-art dyehouse is an investment in our future, but it is also an investment in our people, giving them the tools and technology needed to continue that tradition well into the future.”

A ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring company leaders and attending officials formally marked the commissioning of the new dyehouse. Burlington extends its sincere thanks to U.S. Representative Richard Hudson, NC Representative Garland Pierce, Raeford Mayor John K. McNeill III, Hoke County Board of Commissioners Chairman James Leach, and Hoke County Commissioner Mary Blue McCollum for their attendance and continuing support.

As Burlington looks to the future, the company remains committed to investing in its employees, supporting the communities in which it operates, and preserving critical domestic manufacturing capabilities that serve both national defense and the U.S. textile industry.

Posted: July 9, 2026

Source: Burlington Industries LLC / Elevate Textiles

NCTO Recommends Additional Steps To Strengthen U.S. Textile Manufacturing In USTR Section 301 Forced Labor Investigations

WASHINGTON, D.C. — July 7, 2026 — The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), representing the full spectrum of the U.S. textile industry from fiber, yarn, and fabric production to finished sewn products, provided recommendations on the U.S. Trade Representative Office’s proposed actions as part of its Section 301 investigations of the acts, policies, and practices of various economies related to goods made with forced labor.

“Forced labor remains prevalent in global textile and apparel supply chains and unfairly disadvantages U.S. textile manufacturers. “The administration now has the opportunity to take meaningful actions in the investigations to revitalize the domestic textile industry and to defend it from unfair, predatory trade practices like forced labor,” NCTO states in its written comments. “The right approach could potentially double industry capacity; the wrong solution will cost U.S. jobs and create irreparable harm.”

See NCTO’s full written submission here. NCTO President and CEO Kim Glas is set to testify at the USTR hearings on the Section 301 forced labor investigations on July 9.

Among its recommendations, NCTO urged USTR to:

  • Impose Section 301 duties on imports of apparel and finished textile products from China and South and Southeast Asian countries that utilize forced labor in manufacturing.
  • Preserve critically important duty-free treatment for USMCA/CAFTA-DR qualified textiles and apparel.
  • Make necessary reforms to the proposed textile mechanism to support domestic industry growth.
  • Strengthen customs enforcement.

In response to the textile mechanism proposed by USTR as part of its forced labor investigations, NCTO voiced opposition to the mechanism “as it stands” and proposed three reforms to ensure it “does not harm U.S. textile manufacturers and instead encourages growth of the domestic industry:”

  • Exclude raw cotton from the proposed textile mechanism as it rewards offshoring of U.S. yarn, fabric and apparel production and rewards Asia.
  • Exempt textile manufacturing inputs and machinery not available domestically from additional Section 301 tariffs to enhance U.S. competitiveness.
  • Incentivize more sourcing of U.S. textiles and apparel from the Western Hemisphere to boost domestic textile manufacturing and reward supply chains without forced labor.

Further, the association urged USTR to adopt an alternative textile and apparel incentive program developed by textile, apparel, and retail industry groups to support the U.S.-Western Hemisphere textile and apparel supply chain and grow U.S. manufacturing jobs.

“USTR should include an innovative textile proposal that would reward the whole textile and apparel supply chain, including U.S. cotton through a novel program developed by NCTO and brands and retailers to create over 56,000 jobs in the United States,” the submission stated.

Posted: July 7, 2026

Source: The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)

 

Wipes Leaders Advanced Their Business At The 2026 World Of Wipes® Conference

CARY, N.C. — July 7, 2026 — The World of Wipes® (WOW) International Conference brought the global wipes industry together for four days of insights, innovation, and connections, June 29-July 2, at the Grand Hyatt Nashville, in Tennessee. WOW featured expert-led presentations, exhibits, and the presentation of the 2026 World of Wipes Innovation Award®.

World of Wipes Innovation Award

The 2026 World of Wipes Innovation Award was presented to Rockline Industries for their First Defense™ Fentanyl Detection Wipe. In collaboration with Visual Detection Systems, Rockline developed the First Defense Fentanyl Detection Wipe, a single-use presumptive test that rapidly detects trace fentanyl through a visible color change. Featuring specialized indicators bound to viscose fibers with a starch-based system, the wipe improves field usability and reliability. Tested with pharmaceutical and street-grade fentanyl and other opioids, it is designed for law enforcement, first responders, military, airports, schools, and correctional facilities.

“Rockline is honored to receive the 2026 World of Wipes Innovation Award for the First Defense Fentanyl Detection Wipe. This recognition reflects the innovation, passion, and dedication of our team to develop a first-of-its-kind solution that helps protect first responders, EMS, law enforcement, and others with a convenient, single-use product that performs effectively in real-world environments.” – Doug Cole, Vice President – Global Product Development, Rockline Industries

Fellow finalists The Clorox Company, with their Clorox™ Refreshables™, and Lenzing Fibers, Inc., with their Lenzing™ DualWipe, were also honored for their innovation and market potential. Nominations for the 2027 World of Wipes Innovation Award® will open August 7, 2026.

2026 Lifetime Technical Achievement Awards

INDA was proud to honor Tom Daugherty and Carey Hobbs with Lifetime Technical Achievement Awards, recognizing their lasting contributions to the advancement of nonwoven technologies, business innovation, and the continued growth of the industry.

“It has been a great privilege to spend nearly 45 years collaborating with so many talented individuals in this industry to improve the lives of consumers worldwide. I am truly humbled to receive the INDA Lifetime Technical Achievement Award. My deepest thanks to my colleagues at P&G, partners across the supply sector, The Nonwovens Institute at NC State, the INDA community, and my wife and family for their amazing partnership. Here’s to the next generation of innovation!” – Thomas Daugherty, Associate Director, Procter & Gamble, and Deputy / Operations Director, The Nonwovens Institute (retired)

“I was shocked to learn that I’m receiving this Lifetime Achievement Award. I have devoted my professional career to making cars quieter, making jackets warmer, defending our country, and helping families enjoy quilting. This honor humbles me and lets me know that my career has positively impacted people’s lives.” – Carey Hobbs, President, Hobbs Bonded Fibers (retired)

Thoughts from Wipes Leaders

“WOW brought together an excellent mix of people, ideas, and commercial opportunity. The quality of the presentations was very strong, but what stood out most was the value of the conversations — connecting with customers, suppliers, and industry leaders in a setting that was both highly engaging and commercially meaningful. The organization of the event was excellent, and the INDA team created a professional, welcoming environment that made it easy to engage, exchange ideas, and strengthen relationships across the wipes and nonwovens industry.” – Nigel Gautry, Corporate Marketing and Sales Director, Saudi German Co. for Nonwoven Products

“WOW provided a fantastic experience and a valuable opportunity to share Soane Materials’ technology platform with leaders across the wipes industry. The presentations offered meaningful insight into where the market is headed, and the networking breaks created high-value conversations around innovation and new business opportunities.” – Elizabeth Huth-Helreigel, Business Development Director, Soane Materials

“WOW was a great experience from the moment I arrived. Within the first hour, I was already connecting with industry colleagues, customers, and partners for meaningful conversations about current business trends and future opportunities. The quality of the networking made it clear very quickly that WOW brings the right people together in one place.” – Robert Langill, Senior Director Sales, Precision Concepts / Comar

“Participation in WOW26 was an energetic and highly productive event that made it possible to consolidate relationships with existing customers, develop new business opportunities and gather strategic indications on the evolution of the North American wet wipes market. The networking was excellent, and the conversations we had with customers, partners, and industry leaders create valuable opportunities.” – Michael Lynch, Director – North America, IMA Tissue & Nonwoven

WOW Program Highlights

The program featured presentations and panel discussions on:

  • Consumer trends, growth opportunities, and innovations in wipes
  • Standards, regulations, labeling, and policy issues
  • Sustainable substrates and flushable material design
  • Manufacturing, converting, and performance innovations
  • Packaging sustainability and EPR requirements
  • Formulation, preservation, and product development advances

The event opened with the Wipes Development Course, held June 29-30 and led by Heidi Beatty, CEO of Crown Abbey. This 12-session course provided a comprehensive overview of wipes development, from concept to commercialization, covering materials selection, formulation design, and packaging considerations.

INDA announced that the next edition of the World of Wipes® Conference will take place June 7-10, 2027, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Posted: July 7, 2026

Source INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

U.S. Textile, Apparel, And Retail Groups Unite Behind Innovative Textile And Apparel Trade Incentive Program To Strengthen U.S. Manufacturing

WASHINGTON, D.C.  — July 6, 2026 — Industry organizations representing U.S. textile manufacturers, apparel brands, and retailers urged the Trump administration to adopt a newly developed textile and apparel trade incentive program they proposed in a joint submission to the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office (USTR) today. This is the first time these organizations have teamed up to publicly advocate for a joint trade policy initiative.

In their written submission to USTR related to proposed actions in Section 301 investigations of various economies’ policies on goods made with forced labor, the groups—which normally take strongly divergent policy positions on trade—jointly proposed a program designed to “reshore domestic manufacturing, stabilize and grow Western Hemisphere textile and apparel supply chains, and help brands and retailers to diversify sourcing at a critical time.”

“Our joint efforts have resulted in the development of a novel trade incentive program that would achieve various important goals,” including “the revitalization and growth of U.S. textile manufacturing, exports, and investment, resulting in over 56,000 new jobs” in the United States.

Increased U.S. textile exports under the program could “drive billions of dollars of new domestic investment” and benefit the entire supply chain, including cotton farming.

The program is designed to “allow brands and retailers to earn tariff credits when they buy U.S. textiles and qualified apparel goods from key Western Hemisphere U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) partners. Brands and retailers could then apply those credits to offset potential Section 301 tariffs from eligible countries—a win-win strategy to unlock significant growth for U.S. textile manufacturers, brands, and retailers,” they state in their joint submission.

See a link to the full USTR submission here.

The associations developed and put forth the new incentive program in response to a textile mechanism proposed by USTR as part of the Section 301 investigations on forced labor.

“We believe with the right incentives we can grow jobs substantially in the United States, reopen shuttered factories, and make the critical investments needed to maintain and to grow America’s textile industry by also helping brands and retailers find new opportunities. As such, we respectfully request the United States Trade Representative to consider including our proposed incentive program as a component of any remedy that results from the Section 301 investigations currently underway.”

If adopted by the administration, the groups note their textile and apparel trade incentives program “has the potential of doubling U.S. textile exports to the Western Hemisphere, reaching a total of $29 billion annually. This significant increase in U.S. textile exports would create substantial new U.S. jobs and unleash a much-needed wave of textile sector investment in the United States.”

The public submission was filed by the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA), and the U.S. Industrial and Narrow Fabrics Institute (USINFI).

Learn more about the associations:

National Council of Textile Organizations : https://ncto.org/

American Apparel & Footwear Association : https://www.aafaglobal.org/

United States Fashion Industry Association  : https://www.usfashionindustry.com/

U.S. Industrial and Narrow Fabrics Institute : https://usinfi.textiles.org/

Posted: July 6, 2026

Source: National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA), and the U.S. Industrial and Narrow Fabrics Institute (USINFI)

Cygnet Texkimp Develops 500kg VHD PAN Precursor Unwinding Creel To Increase Efficiency In Carbon Fiber Production

CHESHIRE, England  — July 2, 2026 — Fiber handling and composites technology specialist Cygnet Texkimp has developed a VHD (very heavy duty) creel solution capable of handling 500kg packages of fibre as part of an industry collaboration to increase efficiency in carbon fibre manufacturing.

The large-scale creel will be used to unwind bobbins of PAN precursor fibre into carbon fibre production lines. Its development signals a major leap in capability for the carbon fibre manufacturing industry which has, for over a decade, relied on fibre packages weighing up to 350kg. The impact of the new technology will be to reduce operational downtime and increase efficiency by cutting the frequency of package changeovers and allowing longer continuous run cycles between package changes.

Cygnet Texkimp is a market leader in the manufacture and supply of VHD creels to the carbon fibre industry with over 70 VHD creels in operation globally, processing in excess of 24,000 bobbins of fibre.

Peter Stevenson, Director of Projects at Cygnet Texkimp, explains:

“A 500kg bobbin offers an immediate win over a 350kg bobbin in terms of line efficiency by extending the length of continuous operation that can be achieved. The creel also supports the work of manufacturers to process higher tow count fibres, such as 24k or 48k tows, and achieve faster line speeds by increasing the size and weight of the PAN precursor bobbin.

“We’ve developed this new capability as part of our ongoing consultation with the industry and driven by sustained growth in carbon fibre production capacity globally. In particular, the technology addresses the needs of a growing number of high-volume industrial applications around the world, many of which are designed to establish new sovereign capability.”

The solution uses an operator-managed lifter loader system to unload the packages of PAN fibre from the winding system and load them onto the creel, with the option of a bespoke handling solution incorporating a higher degree of automation. Like all Cygnet Texkimp’s VHD Creels, it is equipped with an electronic tension control system that uses a closed-loop dancer arm mechanism to maintain near-constant fibre tension while unwinding packages of fibre into the process.

Posted: July 4, 2026

Source: Cygnet Texkimp

EDANA: Joint Statement On The Single-Use Plastic Directive (SUPD) Evaluation

BRUSSELS, Belgium — July 1, 2026 — The undersigned associations, representing several European industrial sectors, call on EU institutions to maintain the current legal text of the Single-Use Plastic Directive (SUPD), adopted in 2019. While the signatories recognise the importance of ensuring that the SUPD delivers measurable and meaningful environmental outcomes, reopening the Directive now will create legal uncertainty, add disproportionate burden for economic operators that are already navigating partial and often divergent national transpositions, and increase the risk of regulatory overlaps or contradictions with existing and upcoming legislation. Moreover, there is currently insufficient evidence on the effectiveness of the current SUPD to justify a revision, as described below:

  • Insufficient evidence to inform a revision of the SUPD. An impact assessment of the SUPD cannot be carried out at a moment when several of its provisions are not yet in place. While a first report on the state of implementation of the SUPD was published in April 2026, it remains partial, and reporting is not harmonised, preventing meaningful comparison of data across countries. Taking the example of consumption reduction targets, Member States and other EEA countries only reported data on SUP products placed on the market in 2022 and, even for this report, did so using different indicators. Crucially, since the target on consumption reduction is set for 2026, no data are yet available on whether that target has been achieved. In summary, the partial application of the SUPD and the limited data available suggest that a revision of the SUPD would be premature at this time.
  • Preventing further fragmentation and gold-plating. The transposition of the SUPD has produced  significant regulatory fragmentation, uneven enforcement, and widespread instances of gold‑plating, creating persistent uncertainty for companies active across multiple Member States. The result is a patchwork of national rules that undermines the integrity of the Single Market, inflates compliance costs, and fails to deliver proportionate environmental benefits. These structural shortcomings must be fully recognised in the evaluation of the SUPD and effectively addressed prior to considering a reopening of the Directive.
  • Ensuring legal certainty for economic operators. A revision of the SUPD would create legal uncertainty for companies and Member States that are still implementing several of its provisions. While the SUPD entered into force in mid-2021, the date of application for most of its provisions is at a later stage. Furthermore, the EU Commission has only recently adopted some of the implementing decisions and guidelines on the current SUPD. Any change to the SUPD at a moment when companies are still adapting to new obligations, and Member States are still in the process of implementing some key provisions, would create legal uncertainty for economic operators who do not know whether targets or the scope of the SUPD may change. Legal uncertainty carries significant economic costs for economic operators, notably in terms of investment delays likely to persist throughout the entire SUPD revision process (2–3 years).
  • Avoiding overlaps with other legislation. Revising the SUPD while the Ecodesign and Packaging  Regulations are still being implemented, and as negotiations on the Circular Economy Act (CEA) begin, increases the risk of regulatory overlaps and contradictions. These frameworks cover intersecting areas[1] and a revision of the SUPD in parallel with the CEA would almost inevitably lead to duplicative or conflicting provisions. Even if the EU Commission ensured full coherence in its proposal, the co-legislators could still introduce provisions that diverge from or contradict the SUPD framework, further undermining legal certainty and the functioning of the Single Market.

At a time when EU leaders have made regulatory simplifications and a fully integrated Single Market central to Europe’s competitiveness agenda, we urge EU policymakers to focus legislative efforts where they are most needed and avoid reopening a framework that has yet to deliver concrete results.

[1] It should be recalled that the SUPD is a lex specialis in relation to Regulation (EU) 2025/40 and, in case of conflict, it should prevail within the scope of its application.

Posted: July 4, 2026

Source: EDANA

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