Lenzing Survey Shows That Transparency Is Key For Clothing And Home Textiles Brands To Win Consumer Trust And Confidence

LENZING, Austria— September 2, 2020 — Lenzing Group, a global supplier of sustainably produced wood-based specialty fibers, announced findings from its Global Consumer Perception Survey on Sustainable Raw Materials in Fashion and Home Textiles. The survey, which was conducted in early 2020, assessed the perceptions and behaviors of Conscious Consumers1 towards sustainable clothing and home textile products2, as well as their views towards sustainable raw materials and product features.

To understand consumer interest in sustainable materials and their current knowledge, a total of 9,000 respondents across nine countries aged between 18 and 64 were surveyed using online questionnaires. The key findings of the survey provided a glimpse into consumer habits towards pursuing a sustainable lifestyle, their knowledge of the raw materials used in clothing and home textile products, their perception towards brands, and preferred product descriptions.

The findings also reflected the imminent need for closer collaboration within the clothing and home textile industries to provide consumers with more transparent information about the products they purchase, in order to enhance consumer trust and maximize business potential.

Three key findings of the survey are outlined below:

  1. Conscious Consumers actively engage in pursuing a sustainable lifestyle and are constantly educating themselves about raw materials. 
Almost all (86 percent) respondents believe purchasing clothes made from sustainable raw materials is a key component of living a more sustainable lifestyle, and they frequently purchase products from brands that are committed to using sustainable raw materials (80 percent) or recycled materials (77 percent) in their products. The survey also revealed that majority of respondents actively learn about sustainability through researching the production process of products before purchasing (76 percent in clothing and 74 percent in bedding and home textiles). They also tend to read label hangtags (88 percent in clothing and 86 percent in bedding and home textiles), and most respondents are willing to pay an average of 40 percent more for clothing or home textile products with descriptions that reflect sustainability. When shopping for clothing and home textile products, respondents consider the material type to be their most important consideration (ranked in the top three factors for consideration by 44 percent of respondents), which is above price, design, brand reputation and function.
  1. Products described as “Eco-friendly” or “Natural” with a “Biodegradable” or “Recyclable” afterlife appeal to consumers.
 When asked about definition of sustainable clothing, respondents considered products being processed or manufactured using humane, eco-responsible production processes and products made from natural, organic or botanic materials as top considerations. More than 80 percent of respondents expressed that they are “extremely interested” or “very interested” in sustainable fashion and purchasing clothing made from sustainable raw materials. When asked about their preference for clothing and home textile products, half of the respondents said they would be more likely to purchase a product described as “eco-friendly” or “natural”, whereas over 60 percent of respondents are more likely to purchase products with a “recyclable” or “biodegradable” afterlife. Given the popularity of such terms, there are opportunities for brands to provide more descriptions and greater clarity to the materials, production processes and product afterlife information to their products as consumer education.
  1. Brands with greater transparency on raw materials and ingredients can gain consumer trust. Most respondents considered brands that are transparent with their ingredients (83 percent) and the origin of their raw materials (82 percent) as trustworthy. At the same time, respondents also consider brands that are transparent about their production processes (82 percent), sustainable practices (81 percent) and where their raw materials come from (82 percent) as trusted brands. While respondents believed that knowing what raw materials were used in their clothing and home textile products is important to build confidence in a brand (87 percent), they also believed that knowing the brand’s environmental impact when deciding to purchase (87 percent) is very important.

“The findings of this survey prove the value of Lenzing’s ongoing efforts in driving the sustainability dialogue across the textile supply chain, from yarn makers to consumer brands. Based on the survey, we gained a more comprehensive understanding of consumer perceptions globally. The rating of material type being the top consideration factor when shopping for clothing and home textile products has also echoed our belief that consumers value and actively look out for sustainable products. This survey provided us, our partners and brands with insights to curate more targeted strategies and programs to drive sustainability, not only on raw materials, but also product afterlife. In the long run, we hope to bring optimal value for the clothing and home textiles industry supply chain and help brands achieve new heights, drive sustainability and safeguard our planet.” said Florian Heubrandner, vice president of Global Business Management Textiles at Lenzing.

Collaboration in the fashion and textile industry is essential for driving greater transparency

Though sustainability has been a hot topic among brands, to enhance transparency, there is still room for the supply chain to evolve communications on raw materials, production process and product afterlife. Given consumers are already actively searching for sustainable products, it is important for the industry and brands to revolutionize how technical knowledge is translated into consumer language on websites, product tags and labels.

To drive change, Lenzing has been taking the lead with a three-pillar approach to increase industry collaboration and shift towards sustainability by ensuring a higher degree of transparency and enabling verification of raw material origin from production process to final garment. The three-pillar approach covers special fiber identification technology, a blockchain-based tracking system, and proactive supply chain collaboration and planning. Such approach is also complemented by Lenzing’s bespoke e-branding platform for manufacturers and brands, providing one-stop support for fabric certification, including fabric testing, identification numbers and hangtags to offer reassurance that sustainability is in every step of the supply chain.

“We are thrilled to see more consumers embrace a sustainable fashion lifestyle by making informed purchases based on research and reading product labels. With rising consumer expectations towards sustainability, over the past few years, we have been transforming and upgrading the TENCEL™ brand experience through proactive engagement programs on sustainable cellulosic fibers,” said Harold Weghorst, vice president of Global Brand Management at Lenzing.

“Consumer interest in eco-friendly and biodegradable products aligns with our ongoing commitment to bring brands and consumers more sustainable and biodegradable options to the clothing and home textile industries. Derived from sustainably sourced wood, Tencel branded fibers offer breathability, quality and biodegradability to clothing and home textile fabrics that are used in our everyday lives. While we continue to advocate for innovation in sustainable raw materials, we will continue to go beyond fibers and look for new ways to engage brands and consumers, enabling them to embrace sustainability anytime, anywhere,” Weghorst added.

The survey is commissioned by Lenzing in partnership with Wakefield Research, a market research firm, surveyed online a total of 9,000 respondents aged between 18 and 64 from nine countries including China, Japan, Korea, India, Indonesia, Turkey, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States in early 2020.

1Refers to consumers who: 1) Are image-conscious and value eco-friendly products; 2) Believe that brands play an important role by acting ethically, producing sustainable products and giving back to their communities; 3) Are influenced by deals, others’ opinions and environmentally friendly practices of companies and 4) Have purchased clothes and home textiles within the past 2 years.


2 Home textile products include bedding, draperies, carpets, towels, etc.

Posted September 2, 2020

Source: Lenzing Group

USTER Launches Automated Quality Monitoring For Nonwovens Producers

USTER, Switzerland — September 2, 2020 — Nonwovens producers are well aware of the potential threat posed by contamination in end-products. Not only does it damage user perceptions of quality, it could also prevent products from meeting important standards such as ‘flushability’. In some cases, hard particles in finished goods might even result in class actions and lawsuits by consumers. USTER can protect against these risks with its new fiber cleaning system — and offers full control of contamination and defects by combining two automated solutions for quality monitoring.

Nonwovens production lines demand tough standards. Material throughout is very high, while wear and tear on machines through abrasive fibers adds extra constraints. These challenges are met by the USTER® JOSSI VISION SHIELD N fiber cleaning system, which was especially developed for the high-output synthetic nonwovens industry. Thanks to its wide and deep channel, Uster Jossi Vision Shield N is designed to be installed on high-production lines. The machine is built with the most durable materials, using stainless steel to prevent abrasion in areas which come into contact with the fibers. For the record: Uster Jossi Vision Shield N is made in Uster, Switzerland.

Uster Jossi Vision Shield N is the result of surveys, close collaboration with international nonwovens companies and countless hours of field tests. Installation is easy, since the fiber cleaner’s slim design fits perfectly into existing lines — and it readily copes with the pace of standard production environments. For best detection results, the fiber cleaner is tuned to identify the typical disturbing contamination types in nonwovens, including colored fibers, metal or wood particles and grease deposits.

Proven detection technology

Though Uster Jossi Vision Shield N is brand new, it is based on well-proven technology. In fact, it’s acknowledged as the leading fiber cleaning system specifically adapted to the needs of the nonwovens industry. Introduced to the market 20 years ago, there are 3,500 systems currently installed worldwide and the technology has been continuously improved. The field of experience was in spinning mills processing cotton. In that sector, contamination is a serious issue — and is even more critical for producers of fleece for the hygiene and medical applications. Some nonwovens producers rely on Uster Jossi Vision Shield 2, the fiber cleaning system with the most sophisticated detection technology, to guarantee zero contamination standards. The same applies in security paper printing of cotton for currency, where specialist producers place complete trust in the Uster equipment.

While other technologies use conventional color cameras, the built-in spectroscopes of Uster Jossi Vision Shield N operate on a much greater wavelength. This enables it to find contamination even within the ‘invisible’ range of infrared and ultraviolet light, even detecting contamination fragments of the same or similar shade as the fibers themselves — down to the fineness of a human hair.

A further advantage is the positioning of the system. For fiber cleaning, bundle size is the key: small contaminant particles can hide inside bigger bundles, making them especially difficult to locate when the material is more compressed. Uster Jossi Vision Shield N is ideally located in the line to overcome this, directly behind the fine opener. This ensures that the fiber bundles pass the spectroscopes in their most open state.

No waste worries

Initially, nonwovens producers might be wary of applying the system’s outstanding contamination detection performance — the fear being that too much raw material would be wasted through contamination ejections. But that’s not the case with Uster Jossi Vision Shield N! The velocity of the fiber bundles is continuously measured. Precision valves then match the timing and duration of each ejection of contamination, so that a minimal amount of ‘good’ material is taken out each time, even at high production throughputs. “It is important to ensure a minimum of good fiber is lost. Trials have shown that the advanced Uster technology results in about 75-percent less waste comparing with other fiber cleaners — saving tons of raw material every year,” said Giacomo Frattesi, product manager, Uster Technologies.

Extra assurance comes with the Quick Teach feature, in which Uster Jossi Vision Shield N automatically ‘learns’ the correct color of each new raw material lot within seconds. This prevents any annoying false ejections when changing lots. Additionally, it is possible to view pictures of every ejected contaminant on the touchscreen, to verify that only the required material is removed.

An unbeatable combination

The nonwovens industry today faces constantly increasing quality requirements. Trends such as a greater focus on product quality by end-users are driving demands for more comprehensive control over contamination, and also over defects arising in the production process.

At the fiber preparation stage, Uster Jossi Vision Shield N ensures the best possible initial inspection and removal of contamination. Then, at the end of the production sequence, Uster EVS FABRIQ VISION N handles automated detection and marking of all the main defects caused during production — and of any remaining contamination.

This combined solution makes it possible today for nonwovens producers to protect quality, avoid material waste and take full advantage of the potential for process optimization. “The combination of Uster Jossi Vision Shield N and Uster EVS FabriQ Vision N means that Uster can offer a complete quality monitoring solution for the nonwovens industry,” Frattesi said.

Posted September 2, 2020

Source: Uster Technologies AG

Freudenberg Starts Up New Production Line In Taiwan With Focus On Technology And Sustainability

WEINHEIM, Germany — September 2, 2020 — Freudenberg Performance Materials completed the installation of a state-of-the-art spunlaid line in Taiwan and will begin production of nonwovens for diverse markets.

The new production line is the first to feature the latest spunlaid technology developed by Freudenberg. The technology enhances filament distribution for increased material uniformity, which in turn provides customers with ease of processing the nonwovens for a variety of applications. The line also utilizes AI technology to detect variances in the material and automatically adjust uniformity as well as a high-grade IR camera to identify small melt defects. “The expansion of our capabilities underscores our long-term commitment to Asia. We want to continue to support our customers in the automotive and carpet markets with innovative and sustainable solutions that will help them grow,” Dr. Frank Heislitz, CEO, Freudenberg Performance Materials.

In addition to new, proprietary technology, the production line features enhancements to reduce environmental impacts. All parts used in construction were selected based off their energy efficiency to lessen CO2 emissions during operation. The Taiwan site also invested in a new recycling system to recycle all start-up materials as well as scrap materials during normal operations; the recycling line will help the team in their goal to reach zero-waste operations. The spunlaid line will also run partially on solar energy supplied from panels installed on site early last year.

“The new production line will not only allow us to better serve our customers in Asia, but also do so in a sustainable way,” said Lin Gow Ming, president of Freudenberg Far Eastern Spunweb. “We are always researching and implementing new ways to reduce our carbon footprint and that was something we focused on heavily while building up the line — how we could make our operations better for the product and the environment.”

Posted September 2, 2020

Source: Freudenberg Performance Materials Holding SE & Co. KG

Filo At Milano Unica With FiloFlow

BIELLA, Italy — September 2, 2020 — As usual, Filo will be present at Milano Unica, scheduled at Milano Rho Fiera September 8-9, 2020. The presence of Filo at the textile’s Exhibition is based on sustainability and traceability, through the proposals of FiloFlow, the sustainability project successfully carried out by Filo.

The area of Milano Unica dedicated to Filo is an integral part of the Trend Area of the textiles and accessories’ exhibition. In this context, Filo brings the spinning industry’s contribution by showing the yarns proposed by its exhibiting companies in the scope of FiloFlow, the sustainability’s project. The choice of proposing the yarns of FiloFlow project at Milano Unica helps to strengthen the continuity between the two international fairs which are set upstream of the textile production supply chain. Once more — and especially during the current time, characterised by uncertainty — the aim is to highlight the power of Italian textile supply chain, based firstly on the quality of both materials products and on the sustainability and traceability of the production processes.

After Milano Unica, Filo will have its 54th edition, scheduled at MiCo – Milano Convention Centre October 7-8, 2020. For the spinning industry it will be the first opportunity to go back to direct contact with clients and buyers at an international level.

To accesss the 54th edition of Filo, it is mandatory to register online by September 30, at the site www.filo.it.

Posted September 2, 2020

Source: Filo

Toray Introduces Ecodear – An Environmentally Friendly, High Value-Added Nylon

TOKYO — September 2, 2020 — Toray Industries Inc. has developed a new, more sustainable nylon that represents a major step forward in the company’s Sustainability Vision and makes it possible to create bio-based versions of proven Toray technologies like Entrant® and Dermizax®.

  • Ecodear Nylon is 60-percent bio-based, developed with sebacic acid generated from Castor beans. The resulting fiber, initially available in 10, 20 and 50 denier versions, can be spun in the same process as conventional nylon.
  • Ecodear Nylon demonstrates the value of Toray’s vertically integrated structure. Because Toray is a chemical manufacturer in addition to a textile company, they can consistently control product quality from the creation of polymers to the production of finished yarns.
  • Ecodear Nylon is not just environmentally friendly, it also has the durability and soft hand that customers expect from Toray nylon products.
  • Ecodear Nylon can be used to make bio-based versions of proven Toray brand technologies like Dermizax and Entrant.

Toray’s development and launch of new bio-based textile technologies like Ecodear Nylon, in addition to continued progress with recycled materials reduces the amount of petroleum used in the fabric production supply chain, as well as carbon dioxide emissions – both vital goals detailed in the company’s Sustainability Vision.

Toray plans to market the textile in fall 2020, targeting the active outdoor sports and skiing markets, as well as athleisure.

In North America, Toray International America Inc. will provide the new textile.

Posted September 2, 2020

Source: Toray Industries Inc.

PolyQuest To Expand PET Recyling Operations In South Carolina

WILMINGTON, N.C. — September 2, 2020 — PolyQuest Inc. (PQ) today announced the company will further invest in its polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling operation in Darlington, S.C., to meet growing demand for post-consumer recycled content.

Since 2006, the Wilmington, N.C.-based company has produced high quality recycled PET (rPET) resins at the Darlington facility. Using either post-industrial or post-consumer rPET feedstocks, PolyQuest can manufacture amorphous, crystallized and solid state rPET resins that are either non-FDA or FDA approved for food contact. Plans call for building at least one additional FDA, rPET resin line in Darlington that is scheduled to be operational by Q3, 2021. The resin produced on this line will be of high quality and suitable for use in the vast majority of PET applications.

“This additional investment is ultimately driven by our customers’ commitments to sustainability,” said John Marinelli, CEO of PolyQuest. “They have entrusted PolyQuest with their current and future post-consumer RPET resin supply requirements. As such, we have chosen to pro-actively expand our recycle capabilities to support their strategic sustainability initiatives and stay ahead of the curve.”

“We have additional pelletizing capacity in Darlington as needed if we wish to ‘bolt on’ another IV enhancement line which we are considering as we grow our post-consumer recycle footprint in PET resins,” Marinelli added. “Our total corporate thermoplastics recycling capacity is approximately 150 million pounds per year, which includes post-consumer washed bottle flake plus post-consumer pelletizing and solid stating plus post-industrial pelletizing. Recycling is a key component of our value-added proposition to our customers and represents approximately 15 percent of our overall business if you factor in our virgin thermoplastics’ distribution. Consistent with our long-term vision, we would like to maintain the recycle component share of our total thermoplastics business portfolio over time. Part of this exercise may require us to step into the olefins post-consumer recycling realm shortly, specifically in recycled polypropylene (PP) resins. Even though the amount of post-consumer PP recycled pales in comparison with PET at present, the rapid growth of PolyQuest’s virgin PP distribution business requires that we intensively study and consider investing in post-consumer recycled PP in the near future. In summary, we aspire to replicate our very effective virgin PET distribution/recycle model in the olefins market, therefore, surgical investments in the appropriate post-consumer PP (and possibly polyethylene) recycle technologies seem appropriate.”

Posted September 2, 2020

Source: PolyQuest

Rhino Novi Inc. Acquires BioLife Sciences

TORONTO — September 1, 2020 — Rhino Novi Inc. announces that it has entered into a binding agreement for the purchase of Canada-based Biolife Sciences Corp. (BioLife). Biolife develops, licenses, and distributes antibacterial products and non-contact human temperature screening technology. Products include disinfecting wipes, UV sterilization technology, electrostatic disinfection services, anti-microbial textiles, and touchless vending/marketplaces.

The agreement calls for the issuance of 35,751,380 RNOV shares to BioLife’s current shareholders, the cancelation of 25,000,000 shares held by current RNOV shareholders, and transactional expenses for up to $50,000 CDN, in exchange for 100 percent of the shares of BioLife, which will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rhino Novi Inc. Upon completion of the agreement, all current officers and directors of BioLife will be appointed to the board of RNOV.

RNOV has filed a corporate action with FINRA to change its name to BioLife Sciences Corp. and has filed articles of amendment with the Nevada State. The corporate action is currently pending with FINRA.

Posted September 1, 2020

Source: Rhino Novi Inc.

Orion Engineered Carbons Appoints Robert Hrivnak As Chief Accounting Officer

HOUSTON — August 31, 2020 — Orion Engineered Carbons S.A., a worldwide supplier of specialty and high-performance carbon black, today announced the appointment of Bob Hrivnak as Chief Accounting Officer (CAO) of the company.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome a senior accounting and finance executive to the company with Bob’s capabilities, values and track record leading high performing teams,” said Lorin Crenshaw, CFO. “He brings a comprehensive understanding of financial operations, accounting functions and complex accounting treatments, along with deep experience with U.S. GAAP, SEC reporting, regulatory compliance and provisions of Sarbanes-Oxley.”

Hrivnak has over 30 years of experience as an accomplished financial executive with a tremendous track record in leading corporate finance and accounting control functions of public companies. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), who started his career as an auditor with KPMG, Bob joins the company from Clearwater Paper Corp., a manufacturer of paper products, where he served as CFO and CAO. Prior to Clearwater, Hrivnak served as CAO of Itron Inc., a provider of technology and services to public utilities and municipalities. Earlier in his career, he was CAO and chief tax officer for Education Management Corp., a for-profit education company and previously held accounting leadership positions at Fluor Corp. and Tyco International. Hrivnak holds a bachelor’s degree in business and accounting from Ohio State University and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Hrivnak will succeed André Schulze Isfort, who had a distinguished nine-year tenure as CAO of the company highlighted by several key milestones, including leading the accounting function through Orion’s transition from private to public ownership, the conversion of the company’s financial statements from IFRS to U.S. GAAP and from Euros to U.S. Dollars, and transitioning from a foreign filer to a domestic filer under SEC rules. Schulze Isfort will transition his duties to Hrivnak over the next four months.

Crenshaw added, “We truly appreciate André’s years of dedicated service to Orion. I want to thank him for his commitment and significant contributions during his tenure with the company. The Orion team wishes him the best as he moves on to his next opportunity.”

Posted September 1, 2020

Source: Orion Engineered Carbons S.A.

SDL Atlas Develops New Instrument For Testing Water Impact Penetration

ROCK HILL, S.C. — September 1, 2020 — SDL Atlas is pleased to introduce the Impact Penetration Tester, precisely designed to satisfy AATCC Test Method 42: Water Resistance: Impact Penetration. Originally developed to predict for rain penetration, AATCC TM 42 has been adopted by the medical industry as a measure of liquid barrier performance for personal protective equipment (PPE).

This Type II Design Impact Penetration Tester is specifically designed to meet AATCC TM42. The instrument is comprised of a sturdy frame, made of high-grade stainless steel, which allows for precise and repeatable test results.

The instrument features a number of attributes deigned to ensure accurate testing including a small blade inside the funnel to allow water to move smoothly through the funnel without any swirling motion, strong clamps to hold the sample firmly in place, a weighted bottom clamp to hold the sample flat and an integrated drip catcher to catch any leftover water from the previous test. An air-bubble on the base shows when the instrument is properly leveled.

The new Impact Penetration Tester is now available worldwide. SDL Atlas also supplies the specialized 6” x 9” Blotting Paper the test requires.

Posted September 1, 2020

Source: SDL Atlas LLC.

XG Sciences Announces New Leadership

LANSING, Mich. — August 31, 2020 — XG Sciences Inc. (XGS), a manufacturer of high-quality graphene nano-materials, today announced that it has appointed Robert M. Blinstrub as CEO and Andrew J. (AJ) Boechler as chief commercial officer. Dr. Philip Rose, CEO of XG Sciences Inc. for the past six years, has resigned to pursue other interests, but will continue to serve as an advisor to the company to ensure a smooth and successful transition.

XG Sciences’ Chairman Arnold A. Allemang said: “I am delighted to welcome Bob as our new CEO and AJ as our new CCO. Bob is a proven leader and an experienced CEO who has excelled at leading early-stage companies through periods of transformative growth. We believe AJ’s experience building and scaling global organizations and commercial teams will enable XGS to capitalize on a tremendous market opportunity. Finally, I want to thank Dr. Rose for his tireless service over the past six years.”

“I am honored and energized to assume leadership of XG Sciences,” said Blinstrub. “We have a very talented team at XGS, and I am excited to continue to innovate our products in new and diverse ways to better serve our customers. Both AJ and I feel XGS is extraordinarily well-positioned to address a significant market opportunity in coming years, and we look forward to unlocking growth opportunities and creating value for our shareholders.”

Blinstrub has been an investor in the company since 2018 and has served as a member of the board of directors since March 2019.  Blinstrub was founder, president and CEO of Applied Global Manufacturing Inc. (AGM), a company he started in 2000. Headquartered in Troy, Mich., AGM was a designer, innovator, and producer of engineered solutions for automobiles, with 9 production facilities around the world, including Austria, China, Costa Rica and Mexico. Under Blinstrub’s 17 years of leadership, AGM doubled its revenue every 18 months on average and had total revenue of approximately $500 million and 2,000 employees when it was acquired by Flex Ltd. in April 2017. During his tenure, AGM accumulated supplier awards for world class quality, product design, engineering, innovation, and service. Prior to AGM, Blinstrub led multiple startups and operational turnarounds.

Boechler joins XGS following a successful 30-year career with General Electric Co., where he provided executive leadership in a variety of industries and markets including Plastics, Healthcare, Automotive, Oil and Gas, Power Generation, Consumer Electronics, Automation and Industrial Inspection Technologies. While at GE, Boechler built global organizations and brands, developing solutions in both start-up and established business environments.

Posted September 1, 2020

Source: XG Sciences Inc.

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