ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — July 18, 2024 — In a big win for global sustainability and footwear performance initiatives, Gold Long John, the world’s leading innovative supplier of fabric to global footwear brands is applying EMPEL® Nø-Wick™ waterless and PFAS-free finishing platform in its Vietnam mill supply chain.
The EMPEL Nø-Wick product stands apart by preventing wicking more effectively than any competing chemistry while remaining 100-percent water-free and PFAS-free. The adoption by top footwear fabric supplier Gold Long John is instrumental in creating sustainable, high performing footwear for many leading footwear brands around the world.
“Our Oeko Tex-certified EMPEL platform is a solution for the future,” said Martin Flora, president of Global Business Development with GTT. “It creates the highest performing finishes available, all without the use of water or PFAS chemicals. Gold Long John was our first major footwear mill adopter in Asia and has been instrumental in providing the commercial readiness needed for major footwear brands to easily adopt EMPEL Nø-Wick. Because of their contribution and input, we’re now able to scale our clean chemistry throughout SE Asia and make a real difference in the fight against water, carbon and chemical pollution, all while providing the world’s best performance.”
Gold Long John is known as a market leader and innovator in the production of performance footwear fabrics and was the first major footwear mill that helped GTT commercialize EMPEL. In 2023, Gold Long John installed the EMPEL proprietary production machinery in its Vietnam factory and is now moving forward with plans to install machinery in its Taiwan facility. The proprietary machinery changes the way in which anti-wicking chemistries are molecularly bonded to footwear, protecting them from inclement weather.
“Green Theme and their EMPEL products will help us stay at the forefront of global sustainability solutions, allowing us to supply our footwear brands with highly innovative, cleaner, better performing materials for their products,” said Kevin Wen, president of Gold Long John. “We see this as a win for us, for our partner brands, and for global environmental sustainability efforts.”
EMPEL Nø-Wick challenges the market perception that cleaner manufacturing processes mean loss of performance. The opposite is true, as efficient manufacturing performs better, reduces waste, and lasts longer. The benefits are obvious.
The EU’s Digital Product Passport (DPP) initiative will accelerate the transition to a global circular economy.
Impacted companies need to start thinking about technology strategies in order to comply with the coming EU Digital Product Passport mandate.
By Megan Brewster
Set to impact any company worldwide that sells products in the European Union, the fast-approaching Digital Product Passport (DPP) mandate is a first-of-its-kind regulatory framework designed to create transparency around product information and accelerate the transition to a circular economy.
Under the new DPP regulations, most end-use and intermediate products sold in the European Union will require a DPP by 2030. The DPP is a type of virtual label with information about a product’s origin, materials used, manufacturing processes, recyclability and more. By providing details about a product’s journey and environmental impact, the goal is for DPPs to empower consumers to make more informed purchasing decisions and pave the way for a greener, more ethical future. This foundational framework is expected to become the information backbone of the global circular economy.
Any company that sells products in the European Union will be impacted by the new DPP regulations, including U.S. companies, which exported more than $350 billion in goods to the European Union in 2022 alone. However, even with the best intentions, many of these companies lack access to the information across their supply chain that is required by this legislation. While mandates directly impacting manufacturers and retailers are still a few years out, it is important to start preparing now to stay ahead of the regulatory curve.
What Is A Digital Product Passport?
A DPP is a digital record containing key information related to a product’s composition, origin and lifecycle. Under the forthcoming legislation, companies selling products in Europe will need to collect and share detailed data on an item’s verified sustainability attributes via DPP, including information about the materials used, manufacturing processes and recyclability. Most products sold in the European Union, from tires and building supplies to clothing and laundry detergent, will require this attached identifier.
To understand the DPP legislation, it’s important to understand the broader regulatory framework that underpins it. The EU Green Deal, set forth by the European Commission in 2020, is aimed at reducing emissions by 55 percent and making the European Union climate neutral by 2050. As part of this deal, the commission brought forth the Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). Set to reshape the way products are manufactured, distributed, and reintegrated into a circular economy, the ESPR is a broader framework, delegating the responsibility for establishing granular rules to future regulation through delegated acts. While some delegated acts are set to focus on specific product categories, others will expand on technical and operational elements, such as rules around DPPs.
Verified product data accompanies the product throughout its lifecycle.
Who Will Be Impacted Under DPP Legislation?
In this new regulatory landscape, the responsibility for ensuring compliance with DPPs extends beyond the borders of the European Union. Not only will finished products sold in the European Union need to adhere to DPP regulations, but also any components, materials, or semi-finished goods involved in their production, regardless of their origin.
This will dramatically reshape global value chains, necessitating suppliers and manufacturers worldwide to gather and submit the DPP data for their products destined for the European market.
While specific data likely will vary by product category, product sellers will be required to report on the following under DPP legislation:
Potential for repair, maintenance, refurbishment and upgrades;
Presence of harmful substances;
Resource consumption or efficiency;
Recycled materials content;
Reusability, remanufacturing and recycling potential;
Environmental impacts, including carbon footprint; and
Anticipated waste generation.
As identified by the European Commission, several priority categories — for both finished end-use products and intermediate materials and components — are among the first required to create DPPs for goods produced. These priorities include sellers of batteries, textiles — garments and footwear — iron and steel, aluminum, furniture — including mattresses — tires, detergents, paints, lubricants, chemicals, and electronics. The commission also has stated that it maintains the power to extend the list of currently prioritized categories in the future to include products such as toys, cars and construction-related materials.
Among those set to be the most impacted by the mandate in its earliest stages of rollout are textile and apparel companies, retailers and manufacturers. A study by the Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA) — a group of Members of the European Parliament — surveyed more than 80 stakeholders to examine the benefits and challenges of DPP deployment within the textile industry. The textile and fashion sectors already face a number of critical challenges including negative impacts on natural resources as a result of fast-fashion, shortages of raw material, rising labor, energy, and water costs, as well as controversies surrounding practices within the textile industry. Against the backdrop of these challenges, the STOA study examined where DPPs will drive the most value in the industry.
STOA found that the consensus among surveyed stakeholders is that DPPs are a positive step towards sustainable product lifecycle management and increasing the circularity of textiles in the European market, and beyond. However, the study also found significant challenges among respondents regarding deployment. Among the top challenges reported in making the DPP feasible within the textile industry are ensuring access for all stakeholders of circularity, including companies that do not have the complex technologies necessary to digitize their supply chains. In addition to costs, data security, and potential impacts on global supply chains and businesses, the need for harmonization of regulations, market surveillance and traceability also were reported concerns. These challenges highlight the need for a unified framework and technical standards to help companies navigating the new DPP mandate.
RAIN RFID allows companies to instantly access a product’s full digital record by linking to its digital twin in the cloud.
Meeting Compliance Requirements Using RAIN RFID
Alongside reporting requirements, the DPP framework sets out technical standards regarding how data should be presented and managed. To provide this DPP information, a physical “data carrier” must be attached to products. This data carrier — potentially taking the form of a QR code; a battery-free, wireless RAIN radio frequency identification (RFID) tag; or another identifier —will link the physical product to its digital twin in the cloud, giving brands and consumers full visibility into data regarding materials used, ownership history, and instructions on recycling or proper disposal.
RAIN RFID, a passive, battery-free wireless technology that relies on radio frequency identification to connect items directly to the internet, is a strong candidate to be part of a DPP compliance solution. The technology already is widely used by retailers and logistics companies for inventory management, product authentication, shipment verification and more. This “wireless barcode” connects to detailed information regarding the specific model, batch, and individual unit through a machine-readable format that can be both maintained and easily updated.
Combined with QR codes, RAIN RFID tags would provide a secure, consumer-friendly approach for companies to meet critical requirements under the DPP legislation today. RAIN RFID systems enable businesses to identify, locate, authenticate, and engage with every product tagged with a RAIN RFID tag providing real-time insights. Alongside compliance requirements, companies gain additional benefits from the adoption of RAIN RFID into their everyday operations. Offering item-level tracking throughout the full supply chain, RAIN RFID deployment is already helping businesses to solve their most forefront challenges including counterfeiting, inventory management and overstocks. The technology is also helping businesses modernize operations, supporting circular business models, and driving sustainability initiatives, which will ensure businesses meet the fast-approaching guidelines under the European Union’s DPP mandate. With RAIN RFID readers designed to be embedded in a variety of forms — including small, hand-held form factors — it’s not hard to envision a not-too-distant future where consumers also are able to read RAIN RFID tags using their smartphone, meaning anyone can read the information embedded on tagged products’ DPPs.
Next Steps Ahead Of The Rollout Of The DPP
With the first DPP deadline approaching in July 2024, it is crucial for impacted parties to begin preparing to stay ahead of the regulatory curve. The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products (ESPR) legislation — which creates a framework for DPPs — is planned to be ratified into EU law in July 2024. Following this, in December 2025, European standards organizations CEN/CLC/JTC24 will deliver harmonized standards for the DPP system. Two key dates in 2026 include the publication of the delegated act for textiles — in January — and iron and steel products — in April. These dates start the clock for respective compliance deadlines 18 months later, mandating a DPP for all products in these categories sold in the European Union — July 2027 for textiles and October 2027 for iron and steel products. In February 2027, the Battery Passport regulation is set to take effect, requiring a DPP for all transport, industrial, and electric vehicle batteries placed on the EU market.
Positioned to redefine industry standards, the rollout of the DPP over the next three years will improve transparency and accountability into the overall environmental sustainability of products worldwide. As the first big-mover legislation of its kind, the European Commission’s DPP is already setting a precedent that is inspiring similar initiatives globally.
In the United States, for example, the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) is pushing Congress to revise labeling regulations to incorporate the use of digital labels. This signals the EU’s model may become the global standard, requiring companies worldwide to make DPP compliance a strategic priority.
In efforts to mitigate trade barriers for greener products and lower costs for sustainable investments and compliance, the European Union has set out to develop the DPP mandate in an open dialogue alongside international partners, while working with partner countries to assess potential impacts globally. Impacted companies should start taking steps now to ensure they have the right technology strategies in place to prepare for the DPP. The deployment of RAIN RFID as part of a DPP compliance mix means that businesses can take full advantage of its benefits, ensuring they’re meeting DPP mandates while solving key business challenges and driving new innovations and business value more broadly.
Editor’s Note: Megan Brewster is the vice president of advanced technology at Seattle-based Impinj, a provider of RAIN radio frequency identification technologies. Prior to joining Impinj, Brewster served as fellow and senior policy advisor for advanced manufacturing for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, where she supported the stand-up of the administration’s signature advanced manufacturing initiative.
OBERTSHAUSEN, Germany — July 18, 2024 — The registered cooperative VORN – The Berlin Fashion Hub, is using three ADF machines from STOLL and digital solutions from KM.ON — both brands of the KARL MAYER GROUP — to equip its microfactory currently under construction in Berlin’s Bikinihaus. The platform is intended to bring together academics, brands, research institutes, start-ups and SMEs to create new ways of achieving greater sustainability and ethos. The goal is a fashion industry with a positive balance sheet. The pixel-to-product microfactory offers innovative hardware and software solutions for the physical, digital or hybrid implementation and testing of promising concepts, products and processes.
One of STOLL’s machines for the VORN – The Berlin Fashion Hub project
“We are delighted to be involved in the Fashion Microfactory project, because with our machines, which are predestined for efficient customization thanks to their enormous patterning flexibility, and with our digital solutions, which significantly shorten lead times, we have been focusing on the topic of made-to-order for a long time and hope to gain new impetus and contacts,” says Michael Händel, Vice President Sales & Service at STOLL.
Marte Hentschel (left) and Oliver Lange (right), the co-CEOs of VORN – The Berlin Fashion Hub and Michael Händel, Vice President Sales & Service at STOLL, after signing the contracts for the delivery of the STOLL machines
The contracts for the delivery of the flat knitting machines were signed on July 9 at STOLL’s headquarters in Reutlingen. my TEXTILE NEWS editor Ulrike Schlenker took advantage of the visit by the two co-CEOs of VORN, Prof. Marte Hentschel and Oliver Lange, to talk to them about their project.
Schlenker: You have just returned from a tour of the company. What is your impression of STOLL?
Oliver Lange: I am still very enthusiastic. Great, creative, innovative people work here who drive their company forward.
STOLL “breathes” German engineering and demonstrates continuity with its long history. At the same time, you can sense a great pioneering spirit. I experience STOLL as a strong, innovative, future-oriented manufacturer with entrepreneurial spirit and creativity. Its product strategy is impressive. With its machines, STOLL is close to the consumer market in many sectors and therefore has its finger on the pulse of time.
Schlenker: Let’s take a look at your pixel-to-product microfactory. What do you want to achieve with it?
Michael Händel: We were commissioned by the Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises to bring together design and manufacturing with technological innovation and sustainability. The aim is to make economic action and a sense of responsibility tangible, i.e. not just to talk about the necessary sustainability transformation, but to take action. In our demonstration factory, we offer low-threshold access to everything that is necessary for this: machines, software and services so that progressive players can pilot their changes quickly and then scale them up for the market. We create all the prerequisites for fast, market-oriented and price-conscious implementation of small series. This saves storage, material and return costs, reduces environmental impact and ensures more resilient supply chains in response to the challenges of our time. In addition, direct-to-customer production offers exciting margins and marketing opportunities – all advantages that make our pixel-to-product microfactory particularly interesting for brands. To take full advantage of this, we work with innovative partners from the entire value chain, from yarn suppliers to retailers.
Schlenker: STOLL is one of the partners, why?
Händel: We have the same idea of cooperation and want to develop things further with courage, strength and curiosity.
Lange: STOLL plays an active role in shaping the future. As a consequence we emphasize on sustainability and digitalization. We believe in the same things and drive them forward in the same way.
Händel: In addition to the shared set of values, we were impressed by the company’s flat knitting machines. They offer unique possibilities for the economical production of small batches, particularly with regard on demand production close to the market and garments that are seamless, i.e. with virtually little in the manufacturing process. This makes them a perfect fit for our concept. We also want to integrate STOLL’s customers into our network in order to scale up production to industrial levels.
Schlenker: The machines are due to be installed in August. What are the next steps?
Händel: The opening of the Microfactory is planned for October. Preparations are in full swing. We are currently fitting out the premises in the Bikinihaus. The aim is not a conventional production facility, but a concept hall, a glass laboratory whose interior design showcases the production technology of the future to clients and end customers. The new workflow of virtual design, sales, payment and just in time production is to be brought to life.
In addition to the interior design, we are scheduling training sessions for our staff, working on a number of programmes, including applied R&D activities, and driving forward pilot projects with manufacturers and studios. We presented two outfits from the label SE 1 OG at the last Fashion Week Berlin. At the next fashion week, we want to celebrate the opening of the Microfactory with the live production of giveaways that guests can configure individually.
We are also in talks about continuing our collaboration with the Senate at the end of 2025, after the co-financing has expired. Our VORN Fashion Hub is a long-term initiative that is backed by political commitment and great public interest.
Schlenker: Concepts of on-demand production of individualized items with a batch size of 1 are not new, but they are a challenge. Adidas discontinued its Speedfactory project in 2020. What are you doing differently to be successful?
Händel: A lot has changed in recent years. Today, we have the possibilities of a completely new generation of technology at our disposal. Hardware and software solutions are being developed and refined with enormous power. The software offerings of the CREATE family from KM.ON, for example, offer a wide range of potential for the production of knitwear collections on demand. A set of modification options makes simple, economical mass customization possible. The crisis in the retail sector is also forcing retailers to come up with new concepts and providers. Berlin is a good place for the necessary change. We also rely on experience. We work closely with the team that supported the Adidas project and benefit from what we have learned. Our focus is also not on batch size 1 production only. Following the path of renowned innovation labs in Amsterdam and London, we will offer capacities so that brands, retailers and designers can bring small series to market in short project times and with high visibility. In this way, we close the gap between lengthy projects with academic institutions and mass production in large quantities.
Milliken & Company, Spartanburg, S.C., is developing a flame-resistant (FR) next-to-skin undergarment fabric for use on the National Aeronautical and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) Artemis missions. Artemis III plans to again carry U.S. astronauts to the moon — for the first time in more than 50 years. U.S. industry is collaborating with NASA to create a Human Landing System (HLS) to take astronauts to the lunar surface. During this part of the mission, the astronauts are at higher risk of fire because of elevated oxygen levels.
Milliken & Company is working with professional services firm Jacobs under the JSC Engineering, Technology & Science (JETS) II contract with NASA to create an FR fabric that will be worn by the astronauts as they operate the HLS space vehicles during the lunar landing mission.
Milliken is contributing its expertise in FR materials, knitting, finishing, chemical analysis and material testing. Work began back in 2023. Now in its second phase, Milliken and Jacobs are finalizing prototypes and readying the fabric for delivery to NASA by the fall.
“Milliken views this project as an opportunity to support an American commitment to further space exploration, science and research that will positively impact future generations,” said David Smith, executive vice president at Milliken and president of Milliken’s Textile Business. “We are proud to do our part to help keep NASA astronauts safe during the Artemis missions.”
“This project feels tailor-made for Milliken — it’s the perfect marriage of the FR capabilities of our Westex® brand and the knit fabrics expertise from our Polartec® brand,” said Ramesh Kesh, senior vice president of Milliken’s Textile Business.
“Combine that with our manufacturing excellence and deep bench of patented research scientists and we feel incredibly aligned to support NASA on this development.”
Helsinki-based Suominen has invested approximately 10 million euros ($10.7 million) to upgrade one of its production lines at its Bethune, S.C., facility. The project is expected to be complete within the first half of 2025.
“With this investment we strengthen our position as the leader in sustainable nonwovens in Americas market and respond to the increased demand of environmentally friendly products,” said Tommi Björnman, president and CEO of Suominen. “This investment also enhances our operational performance in terms of safety, quality and productivity.”
Germany-based Dilo Temafa reports it has sold a line extension for cleaning flax scutcher tow to France-based Eco-Technilin. The extension, comprising a Lin-Cleaner and
Lin-Comb Shaker, will be added to an existing flax fiber preparation line to improve fiber quality. The extension also will increase capacity and efficiency, according to Dilo Temafa.
Austria-based Andritz has received an order for a complete needlepunch line from Belgium-based Sioen Technical Felts, part of Sioen Industries. According to Andritz, the line will enable Sioen to product heavyweight fabrics of more than 3,500 grams per square meter in one single step. The line is compatible with multiple fiber types — including recycled polyester, OxPan and bicomponent — with varying fineness. The line also includes ProWin™, Andritz’s weight profiling technology, that ensures weight evenness is maximized. The new line is expected to start production during the first quarter of 2025.
In other company news, Andritz has supplied a third line to China-based Meisheng Group. The needlepunch line will be used to expand the company’s production of nonwoven synthetic leather to address the growing need for man-made suede by the automotive industry.
First Quality Baby Products LLC, has announced a $418 million investment to expand its footprint in Macon, Ga. The company, and its affiliates, make baby diapers, youth and training pants, adult incontinence, feminine hygiene and wipes products, among other products. The expansion will create 600 new jobs and the company will be hiring executive, administrative, supervisory and production personnel.
“In March, First Quality announced that we will be increasing our baby diaper and training
pant manufacturing capacity by 50 percent, and we are excited to announce our expansion will take place in Macon, Georgia,” said Allen Bodford, president of First Quality’s Absorbent Hygiene Division.
Textile World recently spoke with Dr. Andreas Raps, the newly appointed CEO of Freudenberg Performance Materials.
TW Special Report
The Germany-based Freudenberg Group originally began as a tannery in 1849. Over the past 175 years, the company has grown and evolved into a global technology company providing products, services and solutions to its customers. The company is celebrating this milestone birthday under the tagline “Curious Since 1849.”
Freudenberg comprises some 10 business groups— making products across 40 market segments for thousands of different applications — and among them is the Freudenberg Performance Materials group. The focus of Freudenberg Performance Materials is innovative technical textiles that are used in a myriad of markets including apparel, auto-motive, building materials, energy, filter media, healthcare, footwear and leather goods. The business group— with its 32 manufacturing sites in 14 countries employing 5,100 people —generated sales of more than 1.4 billion euros ($1.51 billion) in 2023.
Dr. Andreas Raps became the CEO of Freudenberg Performance Materials in January 2024. While he is new to this role, he is in his twentieth year with the company and joined the executive council back in 2020. Textile World recently had the chance to speak with Dr. Raps to learn more about the company as well as his thoughts about the current business environment and keys for success, among other topics. Dr. Raps said that while this is a new position for him, he is very familiar with the company after spending 20 years as an employee — although his 20 out of 175, he noted with a smile, is not so much.
TW: What makes Freudenberg unique in the textile/performance materials sector?
Dr. Raps: We are celebrating a special birthday this year — 175 years of Freudenberg, which is really a wow! I’m really happy to talk about why Freudenberg Performance Materials is unique. Our innovation strengths, research and development capabilities, our broad technology platform —one of the broadest in the industry — and our global footprint make the company unique. We are a full solutions provider. Then last, but not least, our outstanding teams. Our people really make the difference and I’m very proud to be the CEO of Freudenberg Performance Materials. I’m traveling a lot right now and I meet many new faces every single day. I receive very warm welcomes and we have very open and trusting discussions that underline our culture is a very special one.
Freudenberg Comfortemp® HO 80xR circular thermal insulation product is made using 70-percent recycled polyamide that comes from discarded fishing nets, carpet flooring and industrial plastic.
TW: What are the company’s greatest strengths and how do you differentiate from competitors?
Dr. Raps: When we talk about differentiation from our competitors, I would say we start with customer centricity. Freudenberg would not have survived 175 years without listening to and anticipating the customer’s voice. My philosophy is to start with the pain points of customers and develop valuable solutions that meet their needs. I really think when we talk about innovation capabilities, we have a very good value proposition.
Also, our global footprint allows us to follow a local-for-local strategy. Our approach is always to serve local markets with local footprint. In addition, the Performance Materials group is part of the family-owned, long-term-oriented and financially solid Freudenberg Group. This presents us with a lot of opportunities. We are in a safe harbor. We are not looking into quarterly developments, but more long-term topics.
TW: Recently the Freudenberg Group shared that it had achieved record profits in 2023. What do you believe were the keys to this success? How did the textile segments con-tribute to the company’s overall success?
Dr. Raps: As a member of the executive council of Freudenberg Group, I can tell you that we are a diverse technology-driven company that transforms in-depth expertise into added value solutions for our customers, who appreciate those partnerships. I repeat myself, but those partnerships are for the long run. We are not looking into single points of supply. We are in partnerships for decades and I think this makes a difference.
I would say Freudenberg Performance Materials had a reasonable year overall. We saw strong performance in some segments such as gas diffusion layers for fuel cells, condensation control and healthcare.
In 2024, we have faced severe headwinds due to geopolitical circumstances and rising interest rates that lead to hesitation, for instance. As we all know, the global building and construction industry was particularly affected. But as a diverse company, we remain a strong, reliable partner. We need to be cautious, but we can also use this time to work on our homework and prepare the company for the future.
Evolon® durable packing solutions are made using up to 85-percent recycled PET.
TW: As Freudenberg grows its manufacturing capability for medical products, does this provide an opportunity also for the textile segment?
Dr. Raps: Freudenberg Medical is one of 10 business groups within the Freudenberg Group, just like Freudenberg Performance Materials. Our colleagues have strong expertise in extrusion and shaping thermoplastic and silicone components.
In our case, it’s about performance materials — basic, high-performance nonwovens and polyurethane foams. We began some 20 years ago in basic wound care and today are active in advanced wound care where we offer highly technical and sophisticated solutions. We have some exclusive partnerships with customers where we have very interesting development projects. For instance, when you talk about chronic wounds, a certain environment is needed to manage the wound, such as humidity. Products from Freudenberg Performance Materials support applications like that. It’s a very exciting area and we have a very highly dedicated and passionate team happy to add value in this arena.
TW: How does the company determine its global manufacturing footprint and where to make investments?
Dr. Raps: I already mentioned that one of our basic philosophies is local-for-local, which has been our approach for decades. For instance, we entered our first partnership in Japan in the 1960s. We are active on most of the major continents with a significant footprint. Today, we operate 32 production sites around the world. The majority still are based in Europe, but North America and Asia are exciting markets as well. We consider North America an exciting market with reasonable growth. We currently are building a new line in Vietnam for recyclable wadding products, and also a new line in India. We have a duplication of our technologies across the globe enabling us to offer the same technologies from different regions. This makes us a valuable partner for global businesses.
“We can bring positive change through our handprint — by using recycled materials, being energy efficient or by helping customers to reduce their own resource consumption.” — Dr. Andreas Raps
TW: As a leading company in the nonwovens sector, what developments are key to the future of the business?
Dr. Raps: We think that joint innovations with our customers will be a key success factor for the future. Also, when talking about the future, I think if we can make our customers successful, especially in the arena of sustainability, then it’s more than a justification for us to be committed in this area. We see sustainability and commercial aspects not as a contradiction, but things that go hand in hand with each other.
I also want you to know that when we talk about sustainability, in Freudenberg’s case, it’s not just a buzzword. We started the sustainability journey decades ago and have real stories to tell. In the early 1990s, we were a pioneer in recycling PET bottles that we turned into flake to reuse in our processes. Today, we have recycling lines in almost all of our major production locations and blend virgin materials with recycled inputs. As a company, we have retained, internalized and improved the idea of upcycling.
We also like to differentiate and talk about handprint and footprint when we talk about sustainability.
The ecological footprint shows the extent to which production impacts the environment by measuring the consumption of energy and raw materials as well as the resulting carbon dioxide emissions; while the ecological handprint questions how sustainable and environmentally friendly our product is.
This means we focus not only on our own consumption and emissions, but also on whether and how our products and services can help our customers to be more sustainable. We can bring positive change through our handprint — by using recycled materials, being energy efficient or by helping customers to reduce their own resource consumption.
Enka Bio Carrier, made from renewable resources, is a sustainable carrier material for green roofs on urban buildings.
Using pioneering technologies, the company manufactures products for a wide range of applications from clothing, roofing and cars to highly complex wound care. We offer innovative solutions for all these and many other areas and are constantly developing them further. In doing so, we ensure that our products are developed, produced and distributed as sustainably as possible. After all, the future of our industry can only be secured in the long term with a resource-conserving, hands-on approach.
I believe that if you want to remain competitive in the long term, you have to ask yourself the same questions. There are alternatives to the materials you have been using — you just have to use them!
TW: Are there any factors that concern you with regards to successfully maintaining and growing Freudenberg’s future?
Dr. Raps: Increasing regulation and bureaucracy are an issue. But our approach is to focus on the things we can influence. When we have threats such as this, we can also make them into an opportunity. I think the industry in general is not in very good shape right now, but we do think there are some positive silver linings on the horizon.
TW: Can you tell readers a little more about Freudenberg Performance Materials in the United States?
Dr. Raps: We have some good footprints in the United States. We have good footprints in Durham and Asheville in North Carolina, and also in Macon, Ga. We have some minor sales offices as well. Our main customer base is in the Atlanta area.
We are looking for M&A opportunities because we are committed to grow in the United States. We have a great team there and we can digest more business and we are ready for that. And you know with our technology portfolio, I think we have a good technology offering for the market. We see high loyalty from U.S. customers as well, so we have a good match with our let’s say technology driven approach and our technical expertise. We feel highly appreciated by the U.S. customers.
ISOLA DOVARESE, Italy — July 18, 2024 — Geogreen and RadiciGroup are speeding up their photovoltaic development with the inauguration of a new solar plant in the Municipality of Isola Dovarese in the Province of Cremona. Participating at the official ribbon cutting were the Geogreen shareholders including President Angelo Radici, the mayor of the Municipality of Isola Dovarese and other local officials.
The photovoltaic plant is located in an area previously occupied by a RadiciGroup production site inactive since 2005. After demolition and requalification work, the land was sold to Geogreen, the sole renewable energy supplier for RadiciGroup.
The solar plant, which has been built taking into account environmental and landscape requirements without using any additional land, extends over a surface area of 40 thousand square meters and consists of over 5,000 photovoltaic panels with installed power of about 4 MW and estimated annual production of about 5.5 million kWh, corresponding to the annual consumption of about 2,000 families. One hundred percent of the energy produced will be used by RadiciGroup, thus preventing the potential emission to the atmosphere of over 2,500 metric tons of CO2 per year that would be generated by the procurement of a comparable amount of energy from non-renewable sources.
Geogreen, which until yesterday was focused on producing renewable hydroelectric energy at its 6 power stations, has now implemented its diversification plan with the production of solar energy at its new plant in Isola Dovarese. Therefore, Geogreen has confirmed its growth strategy in renewable energies backed by a 10-million euro three-year investment plan, already approved by its Board of Directors.
Angelo Radici, president of Geogreen, stated: “The inauguration of this photovoltaic plant is an important step in our commitment to sustainability and energy transition. Investing in renewable energies is essential to reduce environmental impact and ensure a more sustainable future for our companies, our region and local communities, which we are proud to be part of.”
The photovoltaic panels in our new plant use solar tracking technology and are bifacial, so as to increase productivity by 20 percent compared to traditional solar systems.
“Our investment in the construction of the Isola Dovarese plant was EUR 4 million,” Massimo De Petro, CEO of Geogreen, said. “As part of the project, Geogreen has included certain work for the benefit of the Municipality di Isola Dovarese: the donation of a portion of the former industrial site to the municipality as a storage area for various materials, the installation of a wall charging unit for electric vehicles and the installation of a 16-kilowatt photovoltaic system on the roof of the municipal warehouse to cover a portion of the municipal government’s energy consumption. What’s more, a 25,000-square metre area adjacent to the solar plant will be retained as a green space, a ‘green lung’ for the local community.”
The energy produced by the Geogreen Isola Doverese system will be used by a RadiciGroup company based in the Province of Bergamo, which will sign a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Geogreen to guarantee that it will have renewable energy to run its plants and thus contribute to the Group decarbonization plan.
“In keeping with Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and Goal 13 (Climate Action) of the United Nations Agenda 2030,” concluded Angelo Radici, in his role as president of RadiciGroup, “the reduction of emissions and adoption of renewable energy are the pillars of the strategy implemented by the Group to tackle climate change. Already today, RadiciGroup uses 59 percent renewable energy and, through its plan “From Earth to Earth”, it has set a special target of a 20 percent increase and diversification in renewable sources compared to its 2021 scenario.”
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — July 18, 2024 — In a big win for global sustainability and footwear performance initiatives, Gold Long John, the world’s leading innovative supplier of fabric to global footwear brands is applying EMPEL® Nø-Wick™ waterless and PFAS-free finishing platform in its Vietnam mill supply chain.
“Our Oeko Tex-certified EMPEL platform is a solution for the future,” said Martin Flora, president of Global Business Development with GTT. “It creates the highest performing finishes available, all without the use of water or PFAS chemicals. Gold Long John was our first major footwear mill adopter in Asia and has been instrumental in providing the commercial readiness needed for major footwear brands to easily adopt EMPEL Nø-Wick. Because of their contribution and input, we’re now able to scale our clean chemistry throughout SE Asia and make a real difference in the fight against water, carbon and chemical pollution, all while providing the world’s best performance.”
