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

Optitex Acquired By Fog Software Group, A Division Of Constellation Software

TEL AVIV, Israel — April 17, 2020 — Optitex®, a global provider of integrated 2D & 3D CAD/CAM software solutions for the fashion and apparel, automotive, upholstery and industrial fabrics industries, today announced its recent acquisition by FOG Software Group, a division of Constellation Software Inc.

Optitex will continue to operate as an independent company within FOG and will revert to its historic “Optitex” name and brand, allowing the company the strategic and operational freedom to focus on the unique and specific needs of its users. Optitex will continue to innovate its products, expand its suite of software solutions and services, and directly support its customers worldwide.

With Constellation Software’s long-term strategy to acquire, build and retain companies, Optitex will benefit from Constellation’s additional strategic support. Having completed over 500 acquisitions, Constellation Software brings a robust set of business best practices and investment strength to its portfolio companies to ensure their steady and continuous growth.

“This acquisition provides significant added-value to Optitex, its customers and partners. While retaining independence of business operations, we reinforce our strong commitment to innovative product development,” said Amir Lehr, CEO of Optitex. “This investment also shows a tremendous vote of confidence in both our team, and our technology, particularly in these challenging times. Optitex expects to achieve lasting business stability supported by Constellation’s long-term vision, and further benefit from Constellation’s financial support, networking opportunities and well-honed management best practices.”

“We are excited to enter the 3D digital design space and impressed with the product and market vision of the Optitex team. With our historic investment in similar companies in this market this reinforces our commitment to the segment, and we are very pleased to add Optitex to the FOG family,” said Sandy Scott, FOG Software Group Portfolio Manager for Retail and Textile Technologies. “We look forward to supporting continued product innovation to create value for customers around the world.”

Posted April 17, 2020

Source: Optitex

SHIMA SEIKI Releases Additional Data for WHOLEGARMENT®Masks

WAKAYAMA, Japan — April 21, 2020 — In light of the recent worldwide shortage of surgical masks due to the spread of the CoVID-19 coronavirus infection, flat knitting solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI Mfg. Ltd. has released additional knitting data for producing another type of 3D knit mask on its WHoLEGARMEnT® knitting machines.

Data is meant to be for cotton masks knitted using 3D WHoLEGARMEnT knitting technology that can produce items in their entirety without the need for sewing afterward. The masks can be knit on SWG041n2, SWG061n2 and SWG091n2, as well as on the rest of Shima Seiki’s compact WHoLEGARMEnT knitting machines also known as “WHoLEGARMEnT Mini” type machines that are suited to production of small accessory items, in 15 gauge. Mask data is available for download from the Shima Seiki Users’ Site, an archive featuring over 10,000 knit samples for use by Shima Seiki customers.

Seam-free 3D WHoLEGARMEnT masks provide superior fit and comfort. Integral ear straps that are knitted along with the mask portion offers reduced stress on the ears, and require no further sewing for quick response production. Holes are also knitted-in for insertion of wires that provide further adjustment for improved fit.

The mask data is intended for knitting with the use of silver-fiber yarn, which has antibacterial properties. The filterpouch that was featured on previously released WHoLEGARMEnT masks is eliminated, allowing this mask to be knit with a single layer of fabric, making it thinner and lighter.

Knitted cotton masks can be washed and reused repeatedly. It should be noted however that unlike common nonwoven surgical masks, knit masks do not have virus- and pollen-filtration functionality. Their main use is for prevention of spray from coughing and sneezing, and for reducing exposure to airborne particles such as pollen.

Posted April 21, 2020

Source: Shima Seiki

Wolverine Worldwide Announces Key Leadership Changes — Joelle Grunberg, Chris Hufnagel and Tom Kennedy Join Executive Leadership Team

ROCKFORD, Mich. — April 20, 2020 — Wolverine World Wide Inc. today announced the appointment of Chris Hufnagel, Joelle Grunberg and Tom Kennedy to the company’s Executive Leadership Team. Each will now be responsible for multiple brands within the company’s diverse portfolio, and report directly to Blake W. Krueger, Wolverine’s chairman, CEO and president.

“During this unprecedented period of economic disruption, we are making important changes to our leadership team and organizational structure to make the company more nimble and better positioned to seize the opportunities that lie ahead,” said Krueger. “This new structure will accelerate our biggest growth initiatives and strengthen our focus on DTC opportunities. We will also realize meaningful cost savings under the new structure.”

  • Joelle Grunberg was named global president of Sperry® in February 2020. Grunberg will continue in that role, and Saucony®, Keds® and the Wolverine Kids Group will also now report to her.
  • Chris Hufnagel is a 10-year veteran of the company and was named global president of Merrell® in September 2019. Hufnagel will continue in that role, and CAT® Footwear, Chaco® and Hush Puppies® will also now report to him.
  • Tom Kennedy is a five-year veteran of the company and was named global president of the Wolverine® brand in February 2020. Kennedy will continue in that role, and Bates®, HYTEST® and Harley-Davidson® Footwear will also now report to him.

“I am proud of how our team members have stepped up and taken quick action to protect and enhance the power of our brands and the financial integrity of our business,” Krueger said. “We have a strong portfolio and diversified global distribution network. Many of our brands are resonating with consumers in this current environment, and I believe these changes will make us stronger as we emerge from this crisis.”

As part of these leadership appointments and organizational changes, Todd Spaletto will be departing the company and his role as president of the Michigan Group will not be filled. “The Michigan Group made significant accomplishments under Todd’s leadership, and we want to thank him for his great work and wish him only the very best,” said Krueger.

Posted April 21, 2020

Source: Wolverine World Wide Inc.

Burlington Partners With Ralph Lauren To Create Isolation Gowns For COVID-19 Frontline Workers

GREENSBORO, N.C. — April 21, 2020 — Burlington is pleased to support Ralph Lauren in transitioning production to make isolation gowns for healthcare and other community workers in New York, New Jersey and North Carolina on the front line of the COVID-19 crisis.

Burlington and Ralph Lauren have a long established relationship that spans years of creating uniforms for US Olympians and other classic apparel products. Burlington is pleased to expand this collaboration to provide its advanced barrier Maxima® fabrics and technical expertise to support Ralph Lauren in the manufacturing of personal protective equipment (PPE). In a time of such scarcity, medical apparel made from reusable fabrics offers the ability to keep a constant flow of protective garments – keeping front line workers protected and focused on patient care.

“Burlington is proud to be a part of an industry with such compassion and call to action as we have seen in the fight against COVID-19,” said Allen Smith, president Burlington, Safety Components & A&E – Americas. “Our expertise in fabric innovation and advanced technical fabrics is allowing us to be a resource to brands, like Ralph Lauren, who are stepping up to meet a great need for PPE. Teams at both Burlington and Ralph Lauren are pivoting from our traditional collaborations to more technical conversations and guidance on new fabric constructions.”

For more than 40 years Burlington has been a world leader in providing superior protective fabrics to the healthcare market. Burlington’s Maxima® line of reusable fabrics is highly protective, offers maximum durability after repeated launderings and is extremely comfortable to wear. In addition to advanced protection, reusable fabrics offer sustainable and cost-effective solutions to address the extreme global shortage of PPE. Burlington’s line of reusable, fluid resistant fabrics is engineered for top of the line performance and safety and meets ANSI/AAMI PB70 and EN 13795 certifications and FDA standards.

Smith continued: “Ralph Lauren is a perfect example of the collaborative spirit across the textile and apparel industry in times of need, and the way in which Elevate, Burlington’s parent company, can use its expertise and contacts to quickly assist with a broad range of needs. It all started with a phone call from Ralph Lauren into Elevate’s Cone Denim team who made the introduction to the right resource within Burlington and later expanded our support with A&E thread products. The initial order for Burlington fabric was placed within five hours of the first phone call and Ralph Lauren was sewing gowns in its New York facility the following week. We are proud of our employees in North Carolina who are working tirelessly to produce these advanced fabrics and find ways to achieve additional production within our facilities. We greatly appreciate their efforts along with those of workers at Ralph Lauren’s designated cut and sew operation in New York. This journey captures the human spirit — extraordinary people stepping up to support our heroes on the front line. From North Carolina to New York — we’re in this together.”

Posted April 21, 2020

Source: Elevate Textiles

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