SDC Enterprises Appoints ATI Corp. As Its First Distributor In The United States

HOLMFIRTH, England — April 23, 2020 — In a landmark development, SDC Enterprises Ltd. (SDCE) has made its foray across the Atlantic with the appointment of its first distributor in the United States. Advanced Testing Instruments Corp. (ATI), Greer, S.C., joins the SDCE network with a wealth of contacts and industry knowledge and, as Tim Ziegenfus, ATI’s president and CEO, explained, the stateside potential heralds a new chapter of development for SDCE’s testing consumables.

For more than two decades, ATI has been a driving force in keeping the North American textile industry ahead of its game. Specializing in state-of-the-art testing instruments consumables and service & calibrations of instruments. ATI has a reach far beyond its South Carolina headquarters, and is known by U.S. testing professionals looking to maintain their stringent quality control procedures.

“Our instruments are used throughout the world for testing air permeability, fluid resistance, tearing strength, abrasion, tensile strength, color and lightfastness testing, and many others” Ziegenfus said. “We supply a range of industries beyond textiles, including the medical, aerospace, building materials and automotive sectors.”

For the corporation’s wide breadth of textile customers, ATI is also a trusted source of the adjacent consumables necessary for ASTM, BS, EN and ISO procedures. Those at the helm of ATI are committed to sourcing only consumables that meet its own stringent quality standards, and recognized a certain synergy between SDCE’s products  and its core offer of equipment.

“We have been familiar with SDCE products for 20 years but, in truth, there is still a lot of potential to increase the brand’s presence across North America,” says Ziegenfus. “We have plans to recommend SDCE’s products to our database, in line with our philosophy to exceed their expectations of quality when it comes to textile testing.”

With a 6,000-strong network of consumers, ATI represents a significant territory, and a substantial potential for growth and development of the SDCE brand.

“We are always growing,” Gehricke said. “Only last month, we started to offer protective face mask production machinery that has already seen tremendous success. We have the market contacts, and we have a strong business plan to support our customers with the supply of SDCE products, that will uncomplicate the process for Americans looking to buy a revered British product.”

ATI has already exhibited at Chicago’s FiltXPO and AATCC IC&E exhibition earlier this year, and plans to increase its market share at the upcoming Techtextil North America, Atlanta GA. October 1-3, 2020, COVID-19 permitting.

“We have a lot of plans for this year and beyond and we are happy to have brought SDCE products on board in a more formal capacity,” Ziegenfus said. “There is a lot of potential for our two companies to work together, and to keep U.S. customers ahead of the game when it comes to exemplary Textile testing.”

Posted April 23, 2020

Source: SDC Enterprises Ltd.

Indorama Ventures Aids Communities in Eight Countries Battling COVID-19

BANGKOK — April 22, 2020 — Almost every region worldwide is facing difficulties dealing with public health and well-being issues caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. This also vastly affects the stability of the economy and labor market, especially in Europe, America and Thailand.

“At Indorama Ventures, we recognize that employees are essential to the company’s existence,” said Richard Jones, senior vice president and head of corporate communication and sustainability at Indorama Ventures (IVL). “We have provided health and safety measures worldwide to keep our employees secure since the beginning of the COVID-19 spread. We also act to support medical personnel, patients and affected people in this difficult situation. Our contributions help relieve suffering by managing access to resources that are urgently needed until the gradual unwinding of this pandemic.”

Indorama Ventures is a chemical company headquartered in Bangkok. The company operates in six continents — Asia, North America, South America, Europe, Africa and Australia. As a responsible corporate citizen, we have been supporting and encouraging medical personnel and people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. So far, the contributions have been delivered in eight countries — Thailand, America, France, India, Brazil, Lithuania, Poland and the Czech Republic. It is continuing to offer additional support through group companies in many more countries.

In Thailand, Indorama Ventures donated two million Baht ($62,000), through the IVL Foundation, in support of COVID-19 medical treatment to the Ramathibodi Foundation and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. These funds will contribute to treating patients and the purchase of supplies, including medicine, medical equipment and utilities that help prevent the further spread of COVID-19. The company also handed over hygiene necessities to Ramathibodi Hospital, Siriraj Hospital, Chulalongkorn Hospital, Thammasat University Hospital, and Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute, which are key institutions handling the COVID-19 outbreak. The hygiene necessities, which include 40 sets of personal protective equipment (PPE), 70 liters of liquid soap and shampoo, 500 nano-zinc fabric masks and 30 liters of hand-cleaning gel alcohol, will help protect medical personnel and staff during the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Apart from supporting the medical personnel, Indorama Ventures gave a helping hand to the community in which the company operates. Indorama Polyester Industries PCL, the fibers and PET recycling facilities located in Nakhon Pathom, led by volunteer employees, contributed to surrounding communities by disinfecting residential areas, bus stops, roads and footbridges at Khunkaew Community, Sawang Arom School, and Sawang Arom Temple. The company also gave dry food, water, masks and hand sanitizers to police officers at Nakhon Chaisri police station and Nakhon Pathom provincial police station.

Rayong-based TPT Petrochemicals PCL, a producer of PTA used in manufacturing PET, distributed six sets of PPE to the Sawang Porn Kusol Foundation. It also worked with 27 other companies in the Map Ta Phut Public Relations Club (MPR) in providing 159 digital thermometers to the municipalities of Maptaphut, Banchang, Banchang Subdistrict, Mabkha Pattana Subdistrict, Noenphra Subdistrict and Thapma Subdistrict, community. It also contributed to a local fisherman group at Maptaphut Municipality to help protect the community and facilitate state employees fulfilling their duties during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Furthermore, IVL has contributed through its facilities worldwide. This includes;

  • Glanzstoff Longlaville in France, a manufacturer of durable technical textiles for tire reinforcements. It donated 3,500 hygiene masks to hospitals, local fire stations and nursing homes in the surrounding area.
  • Indorama Ventures Olefins in the USA, an ethylene manufacturing plant, donated 190 goggles and 78 boxes of facial masks to Lake Charles Memorial Hospital and a medical community to support the shortage of medical supplies needed.
  • UAB Orion Global PET, a PET facility in Klaipeda, Lithuania, supported hospitals and associations by donating 10,000 pairs of gloves; 1,000 shoe covers and 500 respirators to Klaipeda Children Hospital and Klaipeda City Hospital as well as financially supporting the Klaipeda Industrialist Association’s fund for purchasing medical items.
  • Indorama Ventures Polimeros, a PET facility in Ipojuca, Brazil, fulfilled 185 sets of basic food and hygiene boxes during the next 3 months for fisherman families affected by fishing market closure in order to survive and secure hygienic well-being for their families during the outbreak.
  • Indorama Ventures Oxides Ankleshwar, an oxide and derivatives facility in India, distributed a total of 150 food and other necessary items sets to refugees in Sanjali village.
  • Indorama Ventures Poland, a PET facility in Wloclawek, Poland, gave financial support to local hospitals for purchasing medicine and medical equipment.
  • Glanzstoff Bohemia, a high-quality fiber manufacturer based in Lovosice, the Czech Republic, donated 2,000 face masks to hospitals and communities in surrounding area.

Indorama Ventures has been playing a vital role in supporting hygiene and well-being of communities and people where the company operates with a belief that we will soon overcome this crisis together.

Posted April 22, 2020

Source: IVL

Glanzstoff Longlaville, An Indorama Ventures Company In France, Contributed 3,500 Masks To Help Fight Against COVID-19

BANGKOK — April 21, 2020 — Glanzstoff Longlaville, one of Indorama Ventures Mobility Group’s facilities producing tire cord fabrics, had safely secured the supply of surgical masks to help combat against the Covid-19 outbreak in France. A total of 3,500 masks were donated to various organizations in need including 1,500 masks to hospitals, 500 masks to the local fire station and 1,500 masks to nursing homes in the surrounding area. In addition to safety policies for its employees, IVL sincerely supports the health and well-being of our communities and the public, with strong belief that we will overcome this crisis together safely.

Posted April 21, 2020

Source: Indorama Ventures

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Expands Sustainability Efforts With Launch Of thredUP Partnership

NEW ALBANY, Ohio — April 22, 2020 — Abercrombie & Fitch Co., a global specialty retailer of apparel and accessories, today announced it has partnered with thredUP, the world’s largest fashion resale marketplace. This partnership allows customers to send in their clothing for gift cards to be redeemed at Abercrombie & Fitch, abercrombie kids, Hollister and Gilly Hicks. A&F Co. is thredUP’s latest Resale-as-a-Service (RAAS) cleanout distribution partner.

“This partnership with thredUP supports our long-term journey to embed sustainability throughout our organization,” said Fran Horowitz, CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. “Sustainability is integral to our success, and it’s increasingly important to our customers. This collaboration not only helps reduce textile waste, but it also offers our customers a convenient way to do good, something we know they are eager to do.”

A&F Co. customers in the U.S. can now request a thredUP clean out kit or download a prepaid shipping label at www.thredup.com/abercrombie or www.thredup.com/hollister to send any brand of like-new women’s or children’s clothing to thredUP. Once the garments are received and processed by thredUP, customers will earn Abercrombie & Fitch or Hollister gift cards — ultimately gaining credit for future purchases while keeping clothes out of landfills. In 2019, thredUP upcycled its 100 millionth item, displacing an estimated 870K tons of carbon dioxide equivalents — the equivalent of 74,000 road trips around the world.

“thredUP’s Resale-as-a-Service platform was built with consumers and forward-thinking retailers in mind,” said James Reinhart, cofounder and CEO of thredUP. “We are excited to add Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister to our portfolio of brand partnerships, and we look forward to delivering this convenient, sustainable service to their customers.”

A&F Co.’s partnership with thredUP also supports the retailer’s commitment to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the world’s largest corporate citizenship and sustainability initiative. A&F Co. joined the UNGC in 2019, and recently submitted its first annual communication on progress towards its long-term social and environmental sustainability goals. The thredUP collaboration aligns with numbers 12 and 17 of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, which encourage responsible consumption and production and building partnerships that support the goals, respectively.

Posted April 22, 2020

Source: Abercrombie & Fitch Co.

Canada Goose Launches Sustainable Impact Strategy And Commits To Carbon Neutrality By 2025

TORONTO — April 22, 2020 — Today, Canada Goose launched its Sustainable Impact Strategy outlined in the company’s first-ever Sustainability Report. Driven by its long-standing commitment to keep the planet cool and the people on it warm, the accelerated strategy includes tangible commitments supporting four key UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

As part of its Sustainable Impact Strategy, Canada Goose outlines key commitments:

  • Carbon Neutrality: Net zero direct and indirect (Scope 1 and 2) greenhouse gas emissions by 2025, through aggressive and tangible action plans which aim to reduce emissions by more than 80 per cent from current levels.
  • Reclaimed Fur: In 2022, Canada Goose plans to introduce reclaimed fur into its supply chain, which includes beginning to manufacture parkas using reclaimed fur and ending the purchasing of new fur. The company also plans to launch a consumer buy-back program for fur in the months ahead.
  • Responsible Down Standard (RDS): In 2019, in partnership with Textile Exchange, the company completed third-party compliance audits at 100 per cent of its manufacturing facilities and commits to being 100 per cent RDS-certified by 2021.
  • bluesign®: Commit to reach 90 per cent of Canada Goose fabrics as bluesign® approved for responsible and sustainable practices by 2025, increasing from 32 per cent in 2019.
  • Plastic-Free: Eliminating single-use plastics in all Canada Goose owned or controlled facilities.

Sustainability has been a foundational part of the Canada Goose business model for more than 60 years, starting with its unwavering commitment to making best-in-class products using highest quality materials and craftsmanship. The company’s 2019 Sustainability Report marks its first step in measuring and publishing its global environmental and social impact, and new and ongoing commitments in support of four key UN SDGs.

The inaugural report also highlights the company’s long-standing global citizenship initiatives including its Polar Bears International (PBI) collection, the Canada Goose Resource Centres Program and Project Atigi, all aimed at supporting Canada’s Northern communities. As well, the report details innovative employee-driven sustainability initiatives, giving programs, and impactful commitments to reduce its environmental footprint and transform operations.

“We have always believed in building a business that is good for our team, for the communities we’re a part of and for the planet, for generations to come,” said Dani Reiss, president and CEO, Canada Goose. “No matter how much we’ve done over the last 60 years, we need to do more – the world can’t wait. Our aggressive commitments outlined in our first Sustainability Report are the steps we’re taking to transform the way we do business and ensure we are doing everything we can to create the future we want to see.”

As part of its accelerated Sustainable Impact Strategy, Canada Goose also announced it achieved carbon neutrality as of March 2020 through investments in strategic offsetting projects, equivalent to 200 percent of its annual greenhouse gas emissions. The company will continue to offset at this level as it continues to transform business operations to achieve its 80 per cent emissions reduction targets by 2025.

To read the full report, visit: canadagoose.com/sustainability/

Posted April 22, 2020

Source: Canada Goose

Medical Textile Products Company Founder Demonstrates The Danger Of Cotton Face Masks

CANTON, Mass. — April 22, 2020 — With air droplet transmission of microbes likely to be an ongoing and recurring danger, there will be a continuing need for mitigation against breathing droplet-contaminated air in public places.

Many well-meaning authorities and manufacturers have advocated using cotton masks. However, “This is bad advice,” stated Ed Goodwin, founder, product develop and president of Massachusetts based HipSaver Inc. “Cotton is hydrophilic, acting like a magnet, pulling virus-loaded droplets right through the mask, onto one’s face and into the nose and mouth.”

Goodwin demonstrates this science behind his assertion in a video posted on the company’s website: https://www.dermasaverpro.com/.

To combat this problem, Goodwin developed the Droplet~Shield Mask using a proprietary hydrophobic (water-repelling) fabric that prevents droplets from penetrating the mask. The mask has no chemical finish and instead relies on the inherent proprietary polyester fibers in the mask.

It retails for less than $15 and can be machine washed and dried hundreds of times or sanitized in hot water.

The mask consists of two layers of water resistant (hydrophobic) material that repels airborne droplets (unlike hydrophilic cotton). Additional features include:

  • All fabric construction is totally machine wash/dry, over 200 times;
  • Nose bridge insert molds to the face–no eyeglass fogging;
  • Soft stretch band attaches behind the ears–no abrasive cutting or hard contact surfaces;
  • No latex or chemical finishes, available in 5 colors;
  • Small and large sizes for a good fit; and
  • 100-percent polyester.

HipSaver, Inc. is offering a free sample to all nursing homes in the United States by visiting https://www.dermasaverpro.com/

Posted April 22, 2020

Source: HipSaver Inc.

CDC Study Finds Footwear Spreads COVID-19; Hands-Free Footwear Brand KIZIK Immediately Donating Emergency Shoes To Front-Line Healthcare Workers

VINEYARD, Utah — April 17, 2020 — Data from a new study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that COVID-19 may travel on shoes and that the footwear of medical staff in particular could be carriers. Kizik, a Utah-based innovative footwear company, announced today it will immediately donate 1,000 pairs of hands-free KIZIK® shoes to healthcare workers in support of the fight against COVID-19.

“Three years ago, Kizik introduced hands-free shoes to help consumers who want to fuse convenience, comfort and fashion. When this CDC study broke, we immediately realized our shoes could help front-line healthcare workers battling COVID-19. If you don’t have to use your hands to put on, take off, or lace up your shoes, the likelihood of coronavirus traveling from shoes to hands will be reduced. And because KIZIK shoes are designed for comfort, we know folks on their feet for long hours in hospitals will also get the support they need,” said Monte Deere, CEO of Kizik. Deere continued, “Giving away 1,000 pairs of shoes to the doctors and nurses who are risking their own health is our small way of showing them support during these uncertain and trying times.”

Kizik is revolutionizing the footwear industry by reinventing the way people put shoes on their feet. KIZIK shoes create a custom, hands-free fit for each foot by using an aerospace-grade titanium band that rebounds around the heel to hold the foot snugly and securely, making KIZIK shoes the easiest to wear of any shoes.

Posted April 22, 2020

Source: Kizik

NatureWorks Partners With Nonwovens Institute To Support Production Of 10 Million N95 Masks For Healthcare Workers Fighting COVID-19

Nonwovens Institute

MINNETONKA, Minn. — April 22, 2020 — As the world faces a critical shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical workers confronting the COVID-19 crisis, a long-standing partnership between NatureWorks and the Nonwovens Institute (NWI) at NC State has resulted in a new spunbond nonwoven technology enabling the production of at least 10 million additional N95 surgical masks. NWI has converted the use of its research and training pilot production line to produce the face mask materials, and NatureWorks has donated the Ingeo resin needed to produce the spunbond material.

“Donating the Ingeo needed for this application was an easy decision,” said Rich Altice, president and CEO of NatureWorks. “We wanted to support NWI, our long-time partner, as they create devices that will protect the healthcare workers who will take care of us, our families, our colleagues, and our communities in this crisis.”

New Spunbond Nonwoven Structure

Typical N95 respirators and surgical masks are a multi-layer structure of one or two spunbond nonwoven layers that provide mask shape and protect the inner filtration layer. Those layers are combined with an electrostatically charged layer of meltblown nonwoven material which serves as the filtration layer capturing microscopic unwanted particles such as viruses and bacteria. The charge is what boosts the meltblown’s filtering capabilities, but it also means that the masks cannot be reused since the charge can be lost during the cleaning process.

Ingeo spunbond nonwoven

“Because of the COVID-19 crisis, we took the spunbond technology and created a new generation of unique filters that have excellent filtering capability without needing to be charged, meaning they can potentially be reused after cleaning with peroxide, or an alcohol solution,” said Behnam Pourdeyhimi, executive director of NWI, Wilson College of Textiles associate dean for industry research and extension, and William A. Klopman distinguished professor. “Because these materials are also strong, they can be cut and sewn by traditional techniques.”

The new nonwoven fabric is a bicomponent fiber made of Ingeo biopolymer (PLA) and polypropylene (PP), providing significant strength and bulk with equal effectiveness in filtration. Additionally, Ingeo improves the productivity of the spunbond process by at least 30 percent. Leveraging these benefits, NWI’s pilot line can produce enough material to make 2 million masks per week.

“Typically, one meter of spunbond material provides enough for about 20 to 25 masks when using the current designs,” Pourdeyhimi said. “One of the NWI’s production lines started producing 2,000 meters of spunbond material per hour, with the potential to create some 20,000 meters of spunbond material in a day.”

NWI currently has an agreement to provide large amounts of spunbond nonwoven material to several key partners, which will make masks at their manufacturing facilities. It plans to provide the new masks to local communities in need. NC State has also ordered machines that will allow NWI to make surgical masks in its Centennial Campus facilities. Those machines should arrive in the next month.

NWI is the world’s first accredited academic program for the interdisciplinary field of engineered fabrics. NatureWorks has been supporting NWI for more than 10 years and is also currently part of the institute’s executive committee.

“NWI is known to be the global leader in nonwovens innovation, creating high tech fibers across applications,” said Robert Green, vice president of Performance Polymers at NatureWorks. “Their development of this spunbond structure has come to fruition at a critical time when high performance nonwovens are needed to meet the urgent need for PPE by medical professionals during this pandemic.”

For more information on NWI, its efforts to create masks for medical workers, or to make a donation to help support the institute, visit thenonwovensinstitute.com

Posted April 22, 2020

Source: NatureWorks

ITMA ASIA + CITME Rescheduled To June 2021

SINGAPORE — April 22, 2020 — In light of the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, ITMA ASIA + CITME 2020 has been rescheduled, despite receiving strong response from exhibitors. Originally slated to be held in October, the combined show will now take place from June 12-16, 2021, at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC), Shanghai.

According to show owners CEMATEX and Chinese partners, the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT (CCPIT-Tex), China Textile Machinery Association (CTMA) and China Exhibition Centre Group Corp. (CIEC), the postponement is necessary due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Fritz P. Mayer, president of CEMATEX, said: “We seek your understanding as this decision has been made with the safety and health concerns of our participants and partners in mind. The global economy has been severely affected by the pandemic. On a positive note, the International Monetary Fund has predicted that there would be global economic growth at 5.8 per cent next year. Hence, it is more prudent to look at a date around mid of next year.”

“The outbreak of the coronavirus has caused a severe impact on global economy, and also affected the manufacturing sector,” added Wang Shutian, honorary president, CTMA. “Our exhibitors, especially those from other parts of the world, are deeply affected by the lockdowns. Therefore, we believe that the combined show with the new exhibition dates would be timely when the global economy is predicted to improve. We would like to thank the exhibitors who have applied for space for their strong vote of confidence in the combined show.”

Keen interest at close of application period

In spite of the pandemic, at the close of space application, almost all the space reserved at NECC has been filled. The show owners will create a wait list for the late applicants and if necessary, to secure additional exhibition space from the venue to accommodate more exhibitors.

Buyers to ITMA ASIA + CITME 2020 can expect to meet industry leaders who will showcase a wide array of latest technology solutions that will help textile makers to become more competitive.

ITMA ASIA + CITME 2020 is organized by Beijing Textile Machinery International Exhibition Co. Ltd. and co-organized by ITMA Services. Japan Textile Machinery Association is a special partner of the show.

The last ITMA ASIA + CITME combined show in 2018 welcomed the participation of 1,733 exhibitors from 28 countries and economies and registered visitor ship of over 100,000 from 116 countries and regions.

Posted April 22, 2020

Source: CEMATEX, CCPIT-Tex, CTMA & CIEC

Wrangler® Surpasses Global Water Goal With More Than 7 Billion Liters Saved Since 2008

GREENSBORO, N.C. — April 22, 2020 — In honor of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, Wrangler announced that its manufacturing has saved more than 7 billion liters of water in the production of denim products, equivalent to the daily drinking water needs of almost 4 billion people. The savings surpasses the denim brand’s 2020 global year-end goal to save 5.5 billion liters and as a result, Wrangler plans to announce a new, more ambitious water conservation goal later this year.

“From the cotton field to the finishing process, water is essential to creating your favorite pair of Wrangler jeans, and it’s also essential to local communities and future generations,” said Tom Waldron, executive vice president, global brand president – Wrangler. “We’re incredibly proud of reducing our ecological footprint through water efficiency and recycling, and are committed to continued conservation throughout our supply chain, while also prioritizing product innovation that finds new ways to use water responsibly and return it back clean to the communities who depend on it.”

Wrangler manufacturing achieved the water savings by increasing both water efficiency and water recycling in the denim finishing process since 2008. The brand’s manufacturing facility in Torreon, Mexico, regularly recycles up to 85 percent of the water through sequential batch reactors, micro-filtration and reverse osmosis. At the brand’s other manufacturing campuses, efficiencies such as merging or removing finishing steps and enhanced enzyme technologies were able to reduce water use without compromising quality.

“We were able to surpass our water conservation goal due to the dedication and ingenuity of the teams that power our manufacturing facilities,” said Roian Atwood, senior director of Global Sustainable Business, Wrangler. “As we look to the future of water conservation at Wrangler, our approach will expand beyond internal manufacturing to push our production partners to further prioritize water savings and treatment.  We encourage others to join us to continue to propel the apparel industry toward a more sustainable and responsible future.”

Wrangler is committed to conserving water in each stage in its supply chain, from cotton production to consumer use. In 2019, Wrangler became the first brand to offer denim dyed with foam instead of water baths; the foam-dye process uses 100-percent less water than conventionally-dyed denim. Products with Indigood™ foam dye are now available globally.  Wrangler also works with agriculture industry experts, pioneering farmers, and nonprofit partners to sponsor research, farmer workshops, and promote soil health practices in the cotton supply. These science-backed methods can increase yield and resilience to weather events like drought and flooding, while reducing water inputs, fighting erosion, and adding more carbon into the soil.

In addition to conserving water, the brand has high water quality standards to ensure the water returning to the local communities is cleaner than when it was taken for use. All owned and operated facilities and Wrangler suppliers are required to adhere to these strict standards.

Posted April 22, 2020

Source: Wrangler

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