Artistic Milliners And Archroma Leverage Eco-Advanced Sulfur Black Dyestuff To Rewrite The Future Of Denim

PRATTELN, Switzerland — December 13, 2023 — International denim manufacturing powerhouse Artistic Milliners and Archroma, a developer of specialty chemicals towards sustainable solutions, are collaborating to rewrite the future of denim. Leveraging Archroma’s breakthrough DIRESUL® EVOLUTION BLACK dyestuff, the partners are promoting more eco-advanced sulfur black dyeing for denim with a variety of washdown effects and reduced environmental impact.

DIRESUL EVOLUTION BLACK delivers outstanding resource savings, using less water and energy and producing less CO2 during dye synthesis. Furthermore, it offers unique shade and washdown behavior compared to standard black dyes to consistently create eye-catching aesthetics, especially on dark black shades with no bronzing effect. It is also laser-friendly.

Artistic Milliners launched a capsule collection based on the new DIRESUL EVOLUTION BLACK technology at Kingpins Amsterdam in October, named EVO BLACK, winning a strong positive response from global brands. It is now working closely with a research and innovation team from Archroma, its technology partner of many decades, to expand its use of the new black coloration system in combination with other colors and performance effects.

“With decades of denim innovation, Artistic Milliners continues to push the envelope to lower the environmental impact of clothing for brands and consumers,” said Omer Ahmed, managing director, Artistic Milliners. “We are enthusiastic about promoting the DIRESUL EVOLUTION BLACK technology with our partner Archroma as a way to help our industry move towards more eco forward denim production that nurtures people and the planet.”

“Archroma is proud to work with market leaders like Artistic Milliners to prove that denim production can have minimal environmental impact and economically viable while creating value for brands through collections that consumers crave,” added Umberto De Vita, director, Denim Market Segment, Archroma Textile Effects. “DIRESUL EVOLUTION BLACK is just the latest in a long series of Archroma-driven innovations that enhance people’s lives and respect the planet.”

Archroma has led the evolution of sulfur dyeing since 1980, when it introduced its low-sulfide DIRESUL RDT range which include breakthroughs like the eco-advanced Pad-Ox dyeing process, and the innovative plant-based EarthColors® sulfur dyestuffs range.

DIRESUL EVOLUTION BLACK took home the honorary award for Innovation – Dyes at the 2023 Just Style Excellence Awards.

® Trademarks of Archroma registered in many countries.
© 2023 Archroma

Posted: December 13, 2023

Source: Archroma

Flurry Of Awards Success For Yorkshire Textile Manufacturer Camira

Camira manufacturing site in Meltham.

MIRFIELD, England — December 13, 2023 — Yorkshire-based global designer and manufacturer of contract and transport textiles, Camira is celebrating a Stylepark Selected Award for its post-consumer recycled polyester, RePlay. The business has also been named a finalist in two awards for its work in sustainability advancement.

Shortlisted in the Sustainability category at Business Desk’s Business of the Year Awards, Camira has been recognized as an innovator and disruptor in sustainability.  The manufacturer is also in the line-up for Circular Economy Innovation of the Year at the Edie Awards for its breakthrough closed loop wool fabric, Revolution.

Commenting on the award shortlists, Ian Burn, director of marketing and sustainability said: “I’m so proud that our talented team of designers and makers have been recognised for their hard work and dedication into launching two fantastic textiles, each with their own eco-story to tell. The industry has a poor reputation for irresponsible production, but Camira is leading the way in demonstrating a new, more sustainable approach to manufacturing, based on circular economy and regenerative principles.

“The next step for us is to recycle our customers’ upholstery waste, extending our impact through our investment in iinouiio, and allowing other companies to embrace circular economy principles. We are also preparing to launch our next closed loop fabric in 2024 which will include a higher percentage of recycled content.”

Camira, which will celebrate its 50th year in business in 2024, manufactures more than eight million meters of fabric globally every year and boasts manufacturing capabilities, extending from raw yarn to weaving, dyeing and the finishing of fabrics.

Posted: December 13, 2023

Source: Camira Fabrics

Trützschler Card Clothing (TCC): A 20-Year Success Story

Here’s to the next 20 years of success!

NEUBULACH, Germany — December 13, 2023 — Trützschler Card Clothing (TCC) is still a comparatively young business. But Trützschler’s comprehensive portfolio of products and services is shaping the card clothing industry — with big plans for the future…

The origin story

A giant leap in the card clothing technology is marked in the 1950s. At that time, Germany’s Black Forest region was a hotspot for producing textiles and attracted companies around the world — one of it was the American textile machinery producer Hollingsworth. After filing for bankruptcy in 1996, it narrowed its portfolio to focus on card clothing. The company also placed a stronger emphasis on modernizing and automating its facilities.

Bold decision, big challenges

The card clothing business in the Black Forest made impressive advances. In 2003, Trützschler took the bold decision to acquire the company and step into the card clothing market. This led to the creation of Trützschler Card Clothing (TCC). It led to some big challenges too.

First, Trützschler needed to optimize the card clothings produced in Neubulach-Oberhaugstett to fit its carding machines — and it needed to do it quickly. That involved detailed evaluations and trouble-shooting exercises. On top of this, each new generation of card clothing brought additional challenges that required the Trützschler team to adjust its products and processes.

Thanks to close cooperation between colleagues from the Spinning, Nonwovens and Card Clothing teams at Trützschler, we now offer a uniquely comprehensive card clothing portfolio with support from our deep expertise in this area. This valuable competitive advantage helped Trützschler take over the American part of Hollingsworth in 2010, which is now integrated into American Trützschler in Charlotte.

Heinrich Krull, COO, and Florian Schürenkrämer, member of the Shareholders’ Committee of the Trützschler Group SE also joined the event.

Twists, turns and technology leadership

Huge changes have happened since Trützschler entered the card clothing industry 20 years ago. Magnet systems for the flat top of the card are one very special milestone for card clothing technology. These Magnotop (MT) systems enable faster and simpler servicing during production, as well as significant savings in operating costs. The different wire geometries of GX and FGX are further examples of big progress. Our team also developed the self-adjusting flat top, Precisetop (PT), which enables continuous carding gaps that are thinner than a sheet of paper.

Major technological developments like these are the result of close collaboration and interaction between departments at Trützschler Group for two decades. That team spirit and passion for shared success have made our company a global technology leader in the card clothing business today.

Growing and going global

From its starting point in the Black Forest, TCC has expanded worldwide at impressive speed. The company now offers production sites, sales teams and service experts close to its customers around the globe. Importantly, the production facility in Neubulach-Oberhaugstett has also experienced remarkable growth. The site is now larger and features a broader range of production processes, with significant efficiency improvements. This growth of TCC and the high demand for its wires has empowered our card clothing business to rapidly increase its production volume in the last 20 years.

Highly engaged and talented people are the key to this success story. More than 150 employees now work at the TCC headquarters in Neubulach-Oberhaugstett, with more than 350 people serving customers as part of its global team. Looking ahead, TCC is still taking steps to carry this expansion into the future. The ongoing construction of a new logistics center is just one flagship project. At all times, TCC teams are continuously improving the production processes at its growing network of sites to maximize efficiency while minimizing the environmental footprint.

A never-ending story…

The development of TCC may only stretch back for two decades, but it’s a tale packed with big moments and exciting plot points. Since it joined Trützschler Group in 2003, TCC has benefitted from its parent company’s distribution channels and OEM equipment. In the same spirit, the Trützschler Group has enjoyed positive progress overall as a direct result of the two-decade success story of TCC.

Today, TCC has a powerful reputation for leading technological advances and setting new standards in the card clothing market with its inspiring R&D activities and truly global market perspective. In just 20 years, the business has developed a comprehensive range of products and services that are trusted around the world. And its global team of passionate people is excited to continue this story for many years into the future.

Posted: December 13, 2023

Source: Trützschler Card Clothing GmbH

The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF): TreeToTextile AB (Sweden) Joins ITMF As Corporate Member

ZÜRICH, Switzerland — December 13, 2023 — The purpose of the TreeToTextile is to develop and industrialize a new innovative man-made cellulosic fiber technology that will provide textile fibers with good sustainability performance at an attractive cost-level. TreeToTextile’s goal is to deploy new technology for textiles made from cellulose and make it accessible for textile suppliers and brands around the world.

Christian Schindler, director general of ITMF, stated: “Welcoming TreeToTextile as a new Corporate Member of ITMF is an important sign that ITMF is an attractive international platform for both well-established companies as well as start-ups. To strengthen TreeToTextile’s international network with players from the entire global textile value chain is certainly a crucial point. In return, well-established companies in the value chain see the value as well as the transformative power of start-ups. More cooperation among all players in the value chain in necessary to accelerate the needed transformation of the industry towards a more sustainable future.”

Andreas Nilsson, head of Commercial of TreeToTextile, stressed that “collaboration is one of the cornerstones in how TreeToTextile was founded. Every day we collaborate with our owners, research partners and team members to achieve our vision: “Better fibers to all”. We look forward to joining the unique international platform of ITMF and continue to build our network across the entire value chain. It offers a great opportunity to understand the development and the opportunities the textile industry is facing. We were happy to be awarded the ITMF Start-up Award 2023 earlier this fall and are looking forward to join future events and conferences that will provide us with useful information and analysis about the industry, to support our journey ahead.”

For more information about TreeToTextile go to https://treetotextile.com/

Posted: December 13, 2023

Source: The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF)

Changes In The Board Of Directors Of Rieter Holding AG

WINTERTHUR, Switzerland — December 13, 2023 — Bernhard Jucker will not stand for re-election as chairman of the board of directors at the next Annual General Meeting on April 17, 2024, having reached the age limit. The board of directors would like to thank Jucker for his outstanding and valuable commitment. During his term of office, he has successfully developed the company through acquisitions and optimization of the sites.

The board of directors of Rieter Holding AG proposes to the shareholders the election of Thomas Oetterli as the new chairman of the board. He will continue in his role as CEO of the Rieter Group. The dual mandate is an interim measure to ensure the sustainable implementation of the “Next Level” performance program. The board of directors is convinced that Oetterli has the qualifications and the ideal background experience as the future Chairman of Rieter Holding Ltd.

Rieter Winterthur

Roger Baillod, member of the board of directors since 2016 and vice chairman since 2022, will be named as lead independent director. Together with the board of directors, Baillod will use his many years of experience to continue to ensure good corporate governance.

Jennifer Maag will be proposed for election to the board of directors at the Annual General Meeting on April 17, 2024. Maag, native-born in the United States, has Swiss and German citizenship and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley.

Maag is currently a member of the board of directors of Kardex Holding AG, Zurich, Weidmann Holding AG, Rapperswil, VT5 Acquisition Company AG, Pfäffikon (SZ) and Nova Property Fund Management AG, Pfäffikon (SZ).

In 1999, Maag founded Capital Concepts International AG, Zurich (Switzerland), a mergers and acquisitions consulting firm, where she remains as managing partner. From 1996 to 1999, she was a senior manager in the corporate finance department of KPMG AG in Zurich. She previously worked in auditing at Deloitte in Munich (Germany) and Zurich, during which time she completed her education as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Jucker, chairman of the board of directors, commented: “With her strategic and financial experience, we consider Ms. Maag to be an ideal addition to the Board of Directors.

Posted: December 13, 2023

Source: Rieter Holding AG

Panda High Plains Hemp Gin Marks Final Stage Commissioning To Bring Largest Industrial Hemp Processing Facility In The Western Hemisphere Online

DALLAS — December 12, 2023 — Panda Biotech announced today that building construction is complete and the official commissioning process to bring its Panda High Plains Hemp Gin™ — Panda Hemp Gin — project online began in early Q4. The commissioning process marks the final stage before beginning commercial operations in Q1 2024 at the 500,000 square foot Wichita Falls, Texas, facility. The Panda Hemp Gin will process 10 metric tons of industrial hemp per hour to produce textile-grade fiber, hurd, short-fiber hurd mix, and a nutrient-rich co-product that will be pelletized. The facility is expected to be the largest hemp decortication center in the Western Hemisphere and among the largest in the world.

“Each piece of the Panda Hemp Gin production line, including the three miles of overhead pneumatic duct lines, refining, blending, mechanical cottonization, hurd bagging and storage, baling, and more, must be individually started, checked, balanced, and commissioned,” said Panda Biotech Executive Vice President Scott Evans. “Currently, all equipment is individually being brought online to be officially placed in service.”

Inside the Panda Hemp Gin, a 500,000 square foot industrial hemp processing facility in Witchita Falls, Texas scheduled to begin commercial operations Q1 2024. – Photo: Business Wire

Using only renewable energy sources, the engineering and production process at the Panda Hemp Gin has been certified green by Mid-South Engineering Company, in accordance with the International Capital Market Association’s Green Bond Principles. Panda Biotech has also partnered with Oritain, a scientific traceability company, to bring the most traceable hemp grown 100 percent in the United States to market.

Additionally, Panda Biotech is actively signing contracts with producers to grow the hemp feedstock for the 2024 growing season, as well as purchasing hemp fiber that has already been harvested or processed. The company recently unveiled an unmatched pay-to-grow program for producers to begin growing Panda hemp. With up-front, guaranteed money and agronomy support, Panda producers also receive tested and proven seed at no cost, successfully mitigating the risk producers may assume and underscoring Panda’s commitment and promise to the farming community. The benefits of growing hemp are substantial, as it is an excellent rotational crop that remediates the soil and provides a competitive margin. For those interested in learning more, please visit the growers inquiry form found at pandabiotech.com.

Posted: December 12, 2023

Source: Panda Biotech, LLC

Select Committee Adopts Proposal To Reset Economic Relationship With The People’s Republic Of China — NCTO’S Kim Glas Supports Report

WASHINGTON D.C.  — December 12, 2023 — The House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, led by Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), adopted nearly 150 policy recommendations in a bipartisan report that outlines a strategy to fundamentally reset the United States’ economic and technological competition with the People’s Republic of China.

After the adoption of the policy recommendations on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis, Chairman Gallagher and Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi said: “With this report, the Select Committee has shown that the bipartisan will exists to meet the call of history. It embraces the clear reality that our current economic relationship with the People’s Republic of China needs to be reset in order to serve the economic and national security interests of the United States, while offering nearly 150 bipartisan recommendations for Congress to legislate. Collectively, these recommendations will reset the terms of our relationship with the PRC, prevent the flow of American capital and technology from supporting its military advances and human rights abuses, and build collective economic resilience in concert with our allies and partners while ensuring American leadership for decades to come.”

Members of the Select Committee spent the past year investigating the CCP’s decades-long campaign of economic and technological warfare. The members define three key pillars that inform each recommendation and the United States’ path to correct 30 years of misguided policy:

RESET: Reset the Terms of Our Economic Relationship with the People’s Republic of China.

PREVENT: Stem the Flow of U.S. Capital and Technology Fueling the People’s Republic of China’s Military Modernization and Human Rights Abuses

BUILD: Invest in Technological Leadership and Build Collective Economic Resilience in Concert with Allies

Read the Select Committee’s full report, ‘Reset, Prevent, Build: A Strategy to Win America’s Economic Competition with the Chinese Communist Party’ HERE: https://selectcommitteeontheccp.house.gov/media/press-releases/select-committee-adopts-proposal-reset-economic-relationship-peoples-republic

What they’re saying about the Select Committee’s report:

“The Select Committee made a bipartisan finding that giving China most favored nation treatment for trade 23 years ago was a tragic mistake. The committee calling for new higher tariffs on China is an historic event,” said Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, Former United States Trade Representative. “The failed policy of the past cost millions of American workers their jobs and the country trillions of dollars of wealth. It crippled many communities and put our national security at risk. I hope the committees of jurisdiction act quickly to implement these findings and set America on a course of greater prosperity and security for all working families.”

“The USW welcomes today’s report and the Select Committee’s efforts to find bipartisan solutions to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) ongoing economic aggression. USW members can compete against anyone on a level playing field, but too often they instead face the CCP’s illegal trade practices. Our union applauds the committee’s work to safeguard domestic industries, and in particular its acknowledgment that Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China negatively impacts American workers. The USW further welcomes the committee’s clear prioritization of common-sense enforcement tools like the Leveling the Playing Field Act 2.0, as well as reforms to the Generalized System of Preferences and renewal for Section 421 of our nation’s trade code. As workers grapple with the consequences of unfair trade, Congress must restore their access to Trade Adjustment Assistance so they can gain new skills and quickly reenter the workforce,” said United Steelworkers International President David McCall. “More than 84,000 workers are waiting for their TAA petitions to be heard since the program lapsed in 2022, and we also welcome its inclusion in this report. As the committee continues to confront the CCP, the USW urges caution on a number of fronts, including any potential amendments to Section 232 tariffs, which serve as a vital part of protecting our domestic industries. While it’s not possible for the USW to endorse all of the 150 policy recommendations in the report, our union thanks the committee for its work to hold the CCP accountable and protect American workers. We look forward to working with Congress to make many of these recommendations reality.”

“For too long, Communist China has exploited America’s open markets, free enterprise, and unparalleled entrepreneurial spirit. “Reset, Prevent, Build” are the necessary building blocks to ensure the U.S. maintains its economic resiliency and technological superiority. I applaud the bipartisan members of the House Select Committee on China for courageously standing up for every hard-working American,” said Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich

“The work of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the CCP is crucial in exposing the threats all Americans face from Xi Jinping and his communist party.  The select committee has exposed our vulnerabilities to China through their investigations. Their new plan seeks to remove our economic dependency from our biggest national security threat. I applaud the hard work of this bipartisan committee and the leadership of Rep. Gallagher; our nation will be safer for it,” said Morgan Ortagus, Former Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State and Founder of Polaris National Security.

“This comprehensive, bipartisan economic report provides a fact-based, candid reassessment of US-China trade and financial relations which has been urgently required and long overdue,” said Roger W. Robinson Jr., former Chairman of the Congressional US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. “Chairman Gallagher has shown exemplary leadership in this crucial undertaking which, among many other policy attributes, serves to better protect US investors from the rampant fiduciary malfeasance of certain major Wall Street firms as well as our national security and fundamental values.”

“The bipartisan strategy approved today by the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party is a pioneering moment, and its important recommendations present integral components necessary to counter the malign economic influence of the PRC and the CCP,” said Ambassador Joseph Cella, Former Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu. “It offers a clear-eyed view of the perilous terrain we are on with China in this new Cold War, particularly when it comes to state level incursions and influence operations. Now begins the vital whole of government and whole of society vigilance to provide for our common defense against a repressive Communist regime that is openly engaged in unrestricted warfare against the United States.”

“ASA applauds the bipartisan efforts of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and China. A strong, bipartisan consensus in Washington has emerged to end the Chinese Communist Party’s use of economic coercion to undermine America’s national security and our values. ASA has documented Chinese practices that threaten American investors and our capital markets, including the loopholes and exemptions that have allowed the capital of Main Street America to fund state-owned Chinese companies and China’s People’s Liberation Army,” said Chris Iacovella, President and CEO of the American Securities Association. “The economic and national security threat from the Chinese Communist Party is very real. Congress must protect American investors and the integrity of U.S. capital markets by adopting the policies in today’s report from the Select Committee. ASA looks forward to working with the Select Committee and Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to turn talk into action.”

FDD Action: “The Communist Party of China has inflicted significant economic harm on the American people. Without urgent action, the challenges it poses will continue metastasizing into an even greater national security threat. The Select Committee’s report lays out a clear-eyed vision for the future to guide a more strategic approach to U.S. competition with China and inform bipartisan congressional action. It provides a roadmap to counter the CCP’s aggressive focus on military-civil fusion, while safeguarding America’s sensitive industries and technology, upholding the rules-based order, and repelling the CCP’s growing economic coercion. FDD Action strongly supports the conclusions of this report and urges policymakers in both Congress and the administration to heed the Select Committee’s recommendations.”

“The evidence is overwhelming that decades of unchecked CCP economic aggression have had a devastating impact on U.S. economic and trade interests. It has been both a disaster for the American people and an overwhelming indictment of the misguided establishment approach of uncritical engagement with the CCP,” said Steve Yates, Chair of the China Policy Initiative at the America First Policy Institute. “This report is a crucial downpayment on resetting the terms of the U.S. economic relationship with the CCP, prioritizing vital features such as our supply chain security, restrictions on outgoing investment in critical technology sectors, and the integrity of our intellectual property and research infrastructure. I commend the House Select Committee on China for laying this important foundation on which to build sound policy during this critical period in our bilateral relationship with the CCP—our chief global adversary.”

“The House Select Committee has conducted a meticulous and comprehensive public and private review to pinpoint deficiencies in the U.S. strategic approach to techno-economic rivalry with China. This economic report marks an inaugural and significant assessment of crucial initiatives necessary to bridge gaps in America’s techno-economic strategy regarding China, aiming to ensure that the United States and its allies maintain long-term leadership,” said Ylli Bajraktari, CEO of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

“We commend Chairman Gallagher and Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi for continuing their bipartisan work to highlight the threat that the CCP poses to U.S. economic and national security,” said Michael Stumo, CEO of the Coalition for a Prosperous America. “Importantly, this bipartisan report recognizes that granting China permanent normal trade relations status was a serious mistake, and that Congress must revoke China’s status to counter the CCP’s economic and trade strategy that has devastated American manufacturers and workers. Additionally, we applaud the Committee for recognizing that CCP companies engaged in human rights abuses and forced labor, as well as Chinese military firms, are being funded by U.S. capital markets. While some lawmakers who are beholden to Wall Street want to allow this to continue, Members of the House China Committee recognize that funding our greatest geopolitical and military adversary through our capital markets is insanity and must be addressed.”

“The need to confront the China challenge has been obvious for at least a decade, but the American ship of state has been turning too slowly.” said Oren Cass, Executive Director, American Compass. “Politicians wedded to an outmoded Washington Consensus and special interests profiting from the status quo resist even the slightest change of course. This report marks the first time that congressional leaders have grabbed the wheel and pulled hard, clear-eyed about the peril and prepared to act. Their courage is commendable, their warnings must be heeded, and their call to reset the nation’s economic relationship with its primary adversary is correct.”

“The Select Committee has issued a game-changing set of recommendations on economic and technology policy that reflect broad, bipartisan support for resetting the U.S.-China trade relationship and strengthening American manufacturing.” said Scott Paul, President of the Alliance of American Manufacturing. “The Alliance for American Manufacturing urged the committee at its very first hearing to pursue a great number of these changes. We hope the committee’s commendable efforts ultimately blossom into laws passed by Congress and signed by the president. We look forward to working with Chairman Gallagher, Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi, and the committee members on the core policy recommendations while also working to better address our concerns on Section 232 and trade agreements.”

“We greatly appreciate the work of the bipartisan House China Select Committee issuing this report examining three pillars of a strategic plan to rebalance the U.S. relationship with the Peoples’ Republic of China (PRC). The report includes three pillars that are extremely important steps toward realizing this goal, including: resetting the terms of the U.S. economic relationship with China; stemming the flow of U.S. capital and technology to the PRC; and investing in technological leadership and building collective resilience with U.S. allies. The U.S. textile and apparel manufacturing sector has been on the receiving end of some of the worst predatory trade practices by China, including substantial intellectual property theft, coupled with rampant abuse of state-owned enterprises and subsidies, and horrifying labor abuses in Xinjiang, which have enabled the country to dominate world markets in this sector. In addition to the myriad unfair trade practices, China’s dominance was accelerated by its accession to the WTO,” said Kim Glas, President and CEO of the National Council of Textile Organizations. “The Committee’s critical blueprint released today provides key bipartisan policy guidance to immediately help manufacturing sectors like ours that are experiencing economic headwinds as a result of predatory trade practices. Recalibrating our relationship with China is critical to finally addressing the illegal subsidization, intellectual property theft and the stranglehold of key aspects of supply chains that make the United States and our allies extremely vulnerable. Specifically, stepping up UFLPA and customs enforcement is a critical concern to ensure transparency of our supply chains. We also urge the House and Senate to close the de minimis loophole, which facilitates the importation of slave-labor made goods, counterfeits, counterfeits and illicit narcotics, and is undermining our industries.”

“These bipartisan proposals offer a much-needed strategic and thoughtful approach to bolstering our national security against China’s growing influence, by taking steps to strengthen our technological, scientific, and industrial competitiveness,” said Divyansh Kaushik, Associate Director for Emerging Technologies and National Security at the Federation of American Scientists. “The emphasis on safeguarding our intellectual property, boosting supply chain security, investing in science and technology research, modernizing our STEM immigration pathways and strengthening export controls and sanctions reflect the critical need for concrete action to counter the aggressive tactics deployed by the PRC. These recommendations also underscore the importance of a vibrant technological ecosystem as a key element of our national defense. Overall, these recommendations show an awareness of the interconnected nature of economic strength, technological leadership, and national security in the modern world. They tie in closely with the importance of collaboration with our allies and partners to effectivel y navigate the challenges of the 21st century. In sum, they will strengthen the resilience of our economy, bolster our technological edge, and protect our national security.”

“The Committee’s bipartisan review has conclusively determined that we must act with haste and determination to strengthen America’s critical mineral supply chain, especially for rare earth magnets essential to our economy and national security. Congress should build on this important work,” said James H. Litinsky, Chairman & CEO, MP Materials.

“USA Rare Earth, LLC supports the Select Committee on the CCP’s bipartisan report on strengthening America’s economic position as it relates to China. Bolstering the US position across industries, especially the critical minerals space, through enhanced investment and regulatory reform is imperative. This is particularly important for rare earth magnets which are used in critical green technologies and the defense industrial base. The proposed framework addresses the need for capital flow, tax incentives, and talent retention in the US, which enhances domestic supply chain resilience while reducing dependence on foreign supply.”

“American shrimp processors and harvesters have been fighting China’s unfair trade practices for nearly twenty years,” said American Shrimp Processors Association President Trey Pearson. “The domestic shrimp industry is made up of small, family-owned businesses, and we need our trade remedy laws to be strengthened and vigorously enforced for us to have a chance to compete with foreign producers and exporters supported by the Government of China.”

Posted: December 12, 2023

Source: U.S. House of Representatives — The Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)

PLASTICS Industry Association Releases Analysis: Data Suggests More Plastics Recycling In The U.S.

WASHINGTON D.C.  — December 12, 2023 — The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) has released an official analysis of third-quarter trade data on recyclable plastics materials, authored by PLASTICS Chief Economist, Dr. Perc Pineda.

Dr. Pineda wrotes: “Examining the third-quarter trade data on recyclable plastics materials unveils several noteworthy trends within the U.S. plastics industry. The sector has notably amplified its recycling efforts and augmented its importation of recyclable plastics materials. Remarkably, the U.S. was a net importer of recyclable plastics materials: 14.7 million kilograms (kgs) equivalent to $15.6 million.”

To read the full analysis on the PLASTICS blog page visit: https://www.plasticsindustry.org/

Posted: December 12, 2023

Source: The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS)

INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, And The Nonwovens Institute (NWI), Announce 2024 Nonwovens Training Course Schedule

CARY, N.C. — December 12, 2023 — INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, and The Nonwovens Institute (NWI), have announced their 2024 workforce development program. The INDA/NWI portfolio of training content covers the full spectrum of the nonwovens value chain, ranging from raw materials to processes to products.

Jointly organized courses include a combination of classroom learning supported by hands-on activities in NWI’s world-class nonwoven production and testing labs on the Centennial Campus of North Carolina State University. Each course is designed to be accessible and valuable to those who are new to the nonwovens industry and/or come from a non-technical background, as well as seasoned nonwovens professionals.

2024 INDA/NWI Training Course Schedule:

  • Elementary Nonwovens – January 23-24, 2024
  • Intermediate Nonwovens – February 6-9, 2024
  • Meltblown Technology – February 27-29, 2024
  • Spunbond Technology – March 19-21, 2024
  • Intermediate Nonwovens – April 30-May 3, 2024
  • Elementary Nonwovens – May 7-8, 2024
  • Nonwoven Fabric Property Development and Characterization – June 4-7, 2024
  • WIPES Academy – June 17-18, 2024
  • Fiber and Filament Extrusion Fundamentals – July 24-27, 2024
  • Nonwoven Product Development and Innovation – August 13-16, 2024
  • Absorbent Hygiene Course – August 27-29, 2024
  • Elementary Nonwovens – September 10-11, 2024
  • Carded Nonwovens Technology – October 3, 2024
  • Intermediate Nonwovens – October 15-19, 2024

Dr. Matt O’Sickey, INDA director of Education and Technical Affairs, said: “INDA is committed to being a ‘must-have’ resource for nonwovens continuing education. We are delighted to continue our partnership with NWI to meet the development needs of nonwoven professionals. This suite of courses provides organizations serving the nonwovens industry a vital resource to ensure their employees have the knowledge and skills to continuously contribute to the success of the business.”

Short Course Value Packs

New this year, INDA and NWI are offering a Short Course Value Pack program, enabling companies to purchase a block of registrations, which can be used by any combination of employees to register for any combination of training courses, at a discounted rate. Value Packs are available in bundles of 5, 10, 15, and 20 registrations, with discounts ranging from 10 percent to 25 percent, depending on the size of the Value Pack.

Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi, NWI executive director, said, “Workforce Development is a pillar of NWI’s service offering, and the INDA/NWI portfolio of training courses is unmatched in the value it offers to organizations operating in and/or serving the nonwovens industry. The Short Course Value Pack program represents a strategic opportunity for business leaders to invest in the knowledge and expertise of their workforce to achieve a competitive advantage in nonwovens, while doing so at an extremely favorable price point.”

For more information and to purchase a Short Course Value Pack, visit https://thenonwovensinstitute.com/nwi-inda-short-course-value-pack-program/

For more information and to register for an upcoming INDA/NWI training course, visit https://www.inda.org/training/

Posted: December 12, 2023

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

Spinnova Calls For Incentives And Investments Into Circular Fashion At COP28

JYVÄSKYLÄ, Finland — December 12, 2023 — Sustainable textile material company Spinnova emphasises that the run up to COP28 is no time to back down on climate action in the global fashion and textile industries.

The fashion and apparel industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world, accounting for 4 percent of global emissions and known for various sustainability challenges from water and soil depletion to heavy chemical use, microplastic pollution, and mounting textile waste. In Europe, the consumption of textiles has the fourth highest impact on climate change, surpassed only by food, housing and mobility.

According to sustainable textile material company Spinnova, decarbonising the industry and reaching net zero by 2050 will require immediate and robust action from policymakers, brands and consumers alike. Joining the COP28 Conference, Spinnova’s Deputy CEO Ben Selby argues that the pressure is on to keep providing incentives and investments, if we’re to meet the industry’s ambitious climate targets.

“Decarbonizing an industry as complex as fashion and apparel calls for innovations, incentives and investments. In the past five years, we’ve seen new, sustainable technologies prove their commercial viability. Now it’s time for legislators to follow suit to support these solutions in scaling as rapidly as possible,” Selby explained.

Spinnova, creating textile material from wood or waste, is an example of a solution addressing multiple sustainability challenges in fashion – its patented process creates zero waste, side streams or microplastics, doesn’t use any harmful chemicals, and has minimal CO2 emissions and water use compared to conventional cotton. The SPINNOVA® fibre has already been used by global apparel companies such as adidas and Bestseller, and Spinnova has ongoing collaborations with other textile industry innovators in areas such as recycled textile waste and sustainable dyeing.

At the COP28 Conference, Spinnova hopes to build new partnerships and be a voice for textile innovators whose solutions have a chance to help tackle climate change.

“We’re only six years away from the first major climate targets that have been set for the fashion and apparel industry. At Spinnova, we do everything we can to support the journey to achieve these goals,” Selby sums.

Watch Spinnova’s COP28 interview here: https://www.reuters.com/plus/acumen-stories/cop-28/spinnova

Posted: December 12, 2023

Source: Spinnova

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