HOUSTON — December 7, 2023 — Orion S.A., a specialty chemicals producer, announced today a fourth plant has earned International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC PLUS). The company now leads its industry with the number of certified carbon black production sites.
Orion’s facility in Cologne, Germany, was the company’s latest plant to pass extensive audits confirming the site’s compliance with rigorous ISCC PLUS sustainability requirements. The plant was certified for producing circular and bio-circular raw materials.
“Orion has long been a leading innovator developing circular solutions and sustainable products for customers,” Orion CEO Corning Painter said. “ISCC PLUS verifies the transparency and traceability of sustainable raw materials in our value chain. It also shows our dedication to sustainability.”
Last year, Orion was the first to achieve ISCC PLUS for multiple carbon black grades made from different feedstocks at plants in two regions of the world. The facilities were in Borger, Texas; Belpre, Ohio; and Jaslo, Poland. The three facilities were recertified this year.
“In addition to recognizing the sustainable grades for rubber applications produced in the three plants, the certification of our Cologne plant is an important milestone for Orion’s sustainability efforts because the facility produces a wide variety of specialty products for several applications, including batteries, coatings, printing and polymers,” Painter said.
A decade ago, Orion was the first major producer to develop and commercialize carbon black made from renewable feedstocks, such as industrial-grade vegetable oils or other oils derived from waste and residues of biological origin from agriculture or forestry.
Orion is also the only carbon black producer in the BlackCycle initiative, an EU-funded project focused on developing the production of circular carbon black.
The ISCC PLUS certification is granted by the Cologne-based ISCC Association, which promotes the sustainable production of biomass, circular and bio-based materials and renewables.
Adonis Summerville of Chicago is one of 7,000 people across the U.S. who has successfully engaged in America’s Cutting Edge no-cost, online CNC machine tool training since the program launched in December 2020.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — December 7, 2023 — On Dec. 7, 2020, University of Tennessee (UT) professor Tony Schmitz took a bold step in helping revitalize U.S. manufacturing.
That’s the day he launched America’s Cutting Edge’s (ACE) successful online training program.
The goals: Inspire young people about jobs in manufacturing, kickstart careers with machining training and help others further develop their skillsets. The program has grown to certify participants in CNC machining, metrology, composites and cybersecurity.
ACE now celebrates its third anniversary. Its growth has been through the support of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program. The workforce training initiative is managed by the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) and combines advanced training tools and techniques from UT and the scientific expertise of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
“When I launched this program, I did it in a very organic way,” said Schmitz. “I made a list of all the people I knew in the machine tool industry, and I emailed every one of them individually and said, ‘Hey, could you take a look at this content, see if it’s relevant?'”
From there, the conception of the online machine tool course became a reality – the no-cost course was released to the public. Despite the coronavirus pandemic gripping our world, droves of people — from high school and college engineering students to entrepreneurs and workers deep into machine tool careers — flocked to ACE and provided it a generous tailwind that helped drive the program forward.
Online ACE alums soon thereafter gathered for weeklong in-person bootcamps. Those bootcamps got their start at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, before spreading to more than 25 machine tool training centers across the United States.
Lives quickly began to change
“I was interested in machining as a possible career path,” said Chris Shaffer. “But I wasn’t completely sure because I hadn’t had much hands-on experience. The ACE program was a huge part in helping me determine this is something I wanted to do for a living. I couldn’t find too many other things where I felt that at home.”
“The online course was completely new information for me. I hadn’t seen anything like it before, but they walked through the process of machining clearly,” said Neeki Meshkat. “Then the in-person training was the perfect way to give hands-on experience for even a novice like me. They weren’t just machining something in front of you but letting you do it yourself. That makes a huge difference in learning something.”
These are just two of the many success stories coming out of ACE.
As the benefits of ACE became more recognized, the program became more popular. Coincidentally, ACE online training started on a seven — December 7 — and has now hit other lucky sevens.
“The fact that it’s exceeded 7,000 online participants for the ACE program and 700 in-person participants is wildly satisfying,” Schmitz said. In fact, this week marks 36 months of consecutive growth for the successful program.
Of those 7,000, nearly 6,000 from all 50 states have come from the machine tool course. Metrology is pushing 1,000, with the rest of the numbers coming from a few hundred combined between composites and cybersecurity.
While the growth has been remarkable to witness, Schmitz says there’s still new heights to ascend.
“When I started the program, I stated that my goal was to reach 10,000 online participants, and that’s where we’re headed,” he said.
As ACE looks toward the future, great prospects are on the horizon. More locations and bootcamps are being added. In-person bootcamps are being configured for ACE metrology and composites. Videos in Spanish are being developed.
With all these underway and new ACE partnerships continuing to come online, the impact on United States manufacturing will be immeasurable.
“It is inspiring to see how this program has grown,” said Joannie Harmon, IACMI workforce vice president. “But it’s even more inspiring when you realize these growing numbers represent people – people that are scaling up their abilities and contributing to workforce manufacturing needs in our nation.”
“For many, ACE bootcamps are their first chance to run these machines,” said Adele Ratcliff, director of MCEIP’s Innovation Capability and Modernization (ICAM) office, which supports ACE. “I’m confident that by expanding opportunities to engage in that process, more people in this next generation will be inspired to come into manufacturing and machining.
“I believe the more people we can expose to this curriculum, the better chance we have of growing the country’s machine tool capabilities from the ground up to what we had several decades ago,” said Schmitz said. “I am passionate about seeing the U.S. machine tool industry being at the top of the food chain again.”
Are you ready to join the thousands who have sharpened their skillsets with ACE? See ACE in action:
Then register online at https://www.americascuttingedge.org/ to advance your career now!
NEW YORK CITY — December 7, 2023 — Ultrafabrics is delighted to announce its partnership for the second year with Pantone for the annual Pantone Color of the Year announcement with a bold vision of how color can transform environments and encourage personal connection, and have brought that to life through a beautifully rendered dreamscape.
Both Ultrafabrics and Pantone’s Color of the Year are celebrating their 25th anniversaries in 2024, and this year’s announcement embodies the creativity and possibility of the year to come. Pantone has long set the global benchmark for color trends and Ultrafabrics has made equal strides as the top performance fabric brand across 11 markets around the world, including partnerships with brands such as MillerKnoll, Fitbit, Jaguar Land Rover, and Virgin
Galactic. Both iconic brands are celebrating a quarter century of inspiration and innovation, with bold sights on a long and inventive future.
For the Pantone Color of the Year 2024 PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz, Ultrafabrics engaged Belgium-based WeWantMore Studio to design and develop visual concepts that show the warm, tactile peach color in all its glory. Nestled between pink and orange, PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz is a velvety gentle peach whose all-embracing spirit enriches mind, body and soul. Using AI as a tool, WeWantMore created this powerful image of a dainty bird perched in its home — a nest made out of Ultrafabrics — surrounded by a dreamscape of flowers. It embodies the very essence of PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz, which brings tactility, comfort, and warmth.
Nicole Meier, Director of Branding at Ultrafabrics, says, “As Ultrafabrics celebrates its quarter century as a successful business, we are thrilled to be working with Pantone for the Pantone Color of the Year 2024 as the expert in the interior environment. PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz is everything that our fabric is about: haptics, warmth, and comfort. This color, and its meaning, could not be more perfect for us this year.”
Barry Silverman, vice president of Marketing and Branding at Ultrafabrics, said: “We achieved so much success with our brand partnership last year, inspiring specifiers and designers in every market we serve. This coming year, while celebrating both the brands’ mutual milestones, we will continue to explore the intersection of color, culture, and emerging technology that will engage our audience.”
“The Pantone Color of the Year 2024 in its essence fosters community and collaboration. We are excited to continue our work with industry leader Ultrafabrics to explore the application of the Pantone Color of the Year 2024 in the interior design world and beyond,” says Elley Cheng, vice president and general manager of Pantone.”
Ultrafabrics will deepen its collaboration throughout 2024 with ‘The Nest’, a series of global, interactive events. Sharing their expertise on how the Pantone Color of the Year can be implemented in almost any type of space, this offering will also include exclusive palettes incorporating a Pantone Color of the Year inspired shade that can be custom-developed across the Ultrafabrics’ collection range. Together, the brands will inspire designers with new ways to approach and utilize any color in their work.
Ultrafabrics’ 25th year of business promises to be a peachy year indeed
BRUSSELS — December 7, 2023 — EURATEX welcomes the unanimous vote in support of the new rules of origin under the PEM Convention, as a historic achievement. Facilitating trade and investments in the “PanEuroMed” region — covering 27 EU member states and 24 partner countries in the neighborhood region1 — is top priority region for the EU, as trade with these countries accounted for 677 billion euros in 2023. For the EU textile and clothing sector, the region represents 35 percent of its exports and 21 percent of its imports.
In 2013, the European Commission adopted a package of proposals aimed at increasing trade between the European Union and neighboring countries in the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean (PEM) region. The proposal introduced modernized rules of origin of the PEM convention, lifting the prohibition of duty-drawback and introducing the principle of “full cumulation”.
Today, after ten years of intense negotiations which EURATEX supported, the European Commission reached a full and final agreement with all PEM partners. This is a landmark achievement that will unlock the full potential of the Euro-Mediterranean area as the biggest and most integrated region of advanced manufacturing and trading of sustainable textiles and clothing. The rules adopted today will accelerate the integration of T&C supply chains and boost T&C production and trade within the region, both in the East and Southern borders of the EU. In a moment when companies are looking at moving their production from Asia to nearby, like-minded and more reliable countries , it is very timely to have the PEM Convention implemented.
EURATEX’s President Alberto Paccanelli commented: “This is a strategic trade deal that can help European companies recover from the multiple crisis which we face since 2020”. He continued “We call on the European Union to not stop here, but keep up the efforts to secure trade deals that are good for European companies and their competitive position in the world. The next objective should be the adoption of the EU-Mercosur Agreement and a conclusive settlement of all trade disputes with the United States”.
According to Director General Dirk Vantyghem: “Today’s unanimous vote in favour of the modernised PEM rules is good news for our industry.. We should now engage with these partner countries to fully exploit the potential of these new rules. EURATEX is ready to engage in an industrial dialogue with the companies from the PEM Countries to facilitate their transition to the new framework”.
1 The PanEuroMed contracting parties are: the EU, the EFTA States (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), the Faroe Islands, the participants in the Barcelona Process (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the territories of West Bank and Gaza, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey), the participants in the EU’s Stabilisation and Association Process (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo), the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine.
MUNICH, Germany — December 7, 2023 — 3M sponsored the annual ISPO Academy Masterclass held from Sunday, November 26 to Wednesday, November 29 at ISPO Munich. Since its successful launch at ISPO Munich 2016, the Masterclass is part of the world’s largest sports trade show. The Masterclass, founded and guided by the renowned design and trend consultant Nora Kühner, is a unique platform for young designers to gain sports-related knowledge for intelligent, innovative product development. This year’s Masterclass focused on “textile circularity,” a concept that suggests certain types of apparel can be recycled or repurposed at the end of their lives to avoid becoming waste.
Totti Liang, Asia-Pacific sales manager for 3M, hosted a workshop on best practices for garment manufacturers to improve circularity and help reduce their environmental impact. Topics included biodegradable materials, recyclable clothing, and design at the intersection of performance and sustainability.
“Landfills throughout the world are full of old clothes, so as someone who has dedicated years helping 3M help solve for this global dilemma, it’s a true honor to be invited to speak at this Masterclass,” Liang said. “If there’s one lesson I want young product designers to walk away with, it’s that circularity can help save our planet for future generations to enjoy.”
As preparation for the ISPO Academy Masterclass, Nora Kühner organized a prototyping workshop with students from Hochschule Niederrhein. The students had the opportunity to design and create jackets utilizing 3M™ Thinsulate™ Flowable Featherless Insulation, the latest textile innovation from 3M. Two eye-catching prototypes were on display at the ISPO Academy Masterclass exhibition in the Sustainability Hub at ISPO Munich.
Comprised of at least 80% recycled content, 3M Thinsulate Flowable Featherless Insulation is a lightweight synthetic high-loft insulation ideal for puffy garments.
ISPO Munich was held from November 28 – 30.
If you would like to learn more about Liang’s presentation at the ISPO Academy Masterclass, please contact him directly at tliang2@mmm.com.
The Pantone Color of the Year 2024 — PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz
CARLSTADT, N.J. — December 7, 2023 — Pantone, the global color authority and provider of professional color language standards and digital solutions for the design community, today introduced PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz, a velvety gentle peach whose all-embracing spirit enriches mind, body, and soul as the Pantone Color of the Year selection for 2024.
At a time of turmoil in many aspects of our lives, our need for nurturing, empathy and compassion grows ever stronger as does our imaginings of a more peaceful future. A warm and cozy shade highlighting our desire for togetherness with others and the feeling of sanctuary this creates, PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz presents a fresh approach to a new softness. Subtly sensual, PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz is a heartfelt peach hue bringing a feeling of tenderness and communicating a message of caring and sharing, community and collaboration.
“A cozy peach hue softly nestled between pink and orange, PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz brings belonging, inspires recalibration, and an opportunity for nurturing, conjuring up an air of calm, offering us a space to be, feel, and heal and to flourish from whether spending time with others or taking the time to enjoy a moment by ourselves,” says Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute. “Drawing comfort from PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz, we can find peace from within, impacting our wellbeing. An idea as much as a feeling, PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz awakens our senses to the comforting presence of tactility and cocooned warmth.”
Sensitive but sweet and airy, PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz evokes a new modernity. While centered in the human experience of enriching and nurturing the mind body and soul, it is also a quietly sophisticated and contemporary peach with depth whose gentle lightness is understated but impactful bringing beauty to the digital world. Poetic and romantic, a clean peach tone with a vintage vibe, PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz reflects the past yet has been rephrased to have a contemporary ambiance.
The introduction of PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz also marks the 25th anniversary of the Pantone Color of the Year program. First introduced by the Pantone Color Institute in 1999 with the Pantone Color of the Year, PANTONE 15-4020 Cerulean Blue, the Pantone Color of the Year captures the global zeitgeist, serving as an expression of a mood and an attitude on the part of the consumer. Through the years, the Pantone Color of the Year program has become a globally iconic cultural touchstone, drawing attention to how what is taking place in our global culture is reflected and expressed through the language of color.
“With this year’s Pantone Color of the Year 2024, we see an increased focus on community and people across the world reframing how they want to live and evaluating what is important — that being the comfort of being close to those we love. The color is one whose warm and welcoming embrace conveys a message of compassion and whose cozy sensibility brings people together and enriches the soul,” added Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute. “In the spirit of PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz, we reflect back on the last 25 years of the Pantone Color of the Year program grateful to provide an avenue where designers and color enthusiasts all over the world can engage in a conversation about color, be inspired by color and showcase their creativity within their communities. We look forward to continuing this for many more years to come.”
Olonia‘s production line with the integrated Mahlo device.
TW Special Report
Italy’s Lombardy region is well known for its lakes, mountains, cities, and the typical northern Italian kitchen. It’s also home to many important textile industry companies. Halfway between the idyllic Lago Maggiore and Milan one of them is located: the textile printing specialist “Stamperia Olonia”.
Founded in 1969, now part of the Liberty Group, the company immediately established itself as a leading contract manufacturer of printed natural fabrics for home and apparel. Stamperia Olonia prints on all natural textile fibers up to 320 centimeters wide, digitally and traditionally, using pigment and reactive dyes.
“Thanks to a complete production cycle we can follow the customer from the first bleaching phases to the final quality control. All while we maintain exclusivity and maximum confidentiality towards our customers,” said Fabio Pirino, Finishing department manager of Olonia.
Offering high quality standards at low costs, both on large commissions and smaller production runs, is the company’s mission. Working for the biggest names is for Stamperia Olonia the confirmation of its own expectations and the drive towards continuous growth.
“We are not just a textile print shop! We are an industry that has made research and innovation its philosophy. A partner that combines experience, innovation, and high technology to achieve the highest quality with low costs,” Fabio said.
Over the years, thanks to a policy that is always focused on the future, there has been continuous investment in improving work technology, environmental protection, and safety.
Task Definition
One of these investments was the new software mLog enhanced by Germany-based Mahlo. Olonia produces its goods on many lines with multiple integrated Mahlo systems.
On the newer tenter line an Orthomax RFMB was installed at the inlet. The fusion of pin wheel and roller straightening removes the distortions at the beginning of the line and can also take care of wavy or s-shaped distortions.
Orthomax RFMB at the inlet.
The drying/fixing process of the tenter is controlled by an Optipac VMC, the textile process control system from Mahlo. It controls the dwell time, exhaust air moisture and residual moisture during the drying process. Also, the web width is monitored and linked to an alarm, if out of tolerance.
At the tenter outlet, a distortion detection Orthopac FMC monitors the residual distortion.
The challenge was, to keep track of the various Mahlo devices in the tenter line and provide reports for the subsequent processing in a useful manner. This would make the follow-up steps much more efficient.
Solution
As solution, Mahlo suggested the — at that time — brand-new data analysis and management tool mLog enhanced.
The mLog software is a desktop application for data logging and interactive analysis of historical data for Mahlo equipment. All Mahlo devices of the line could be connected and monitored. With the continuous recording, logs from any desired period could be individually created by Olonia itself.
Initially mLog was part of a project where a new machine had to be adapted to Olonia’s management system. But it turned out to be more effective to fetch data of all Mahlo systems in the new stenter line with mLog and feed the data to a host computer via an interface with OPC UA.
Success
The selected log can be displayed in the log viewer.
mLog enhanced is running now on the Olonia lines since January 2020 Olonia’s project team collaborated intensively with the Mahlo development department. So, a lot of its useful ideas and requests, coming directly from a working production line, have been implemented by Mahlo as software features. Still, they are constantly improving their processes as Mahlo provides new functions and updates on the software.
Since the installation, the printing specialist has seen some significant improvements, as Fabio explains, “Through the control of the system, a standardization of the process was achieved, especially regarding digital preparation. Additionally — particularly in terms of energy — the costs could be optimized.”
With the new data management, Olonia could streamline their processes substantially. When a new badge is fed into the tenter, the operator simply scans a code. That code starts the report in mLog enhanced for the badge automatically.
Recordings of a test run at the distortion outlet.
When the end of the roll is reached, the operator scans a stop code. This stops the mLog recording and saves the report to the database. Thus, with only two scans, the data of the entire batch is available for further processing in Olonia‘s management system.
While saving, a PDF version of the report is automatically stored on the customer‘s server — of course with the correct name, in the correct directory, as set by Olonia. In addition, different report variants are created. On the one hand an internal, very detailed report, and on the other hand a version for the customer, which is shorter and summarizes the important points.
Future
The solution is very sustainable because it allows production to be monitored and energy wastage to be avoided depending on processing. Seeing the success, Olonia plans to optimize its processes even further.
MOORPARK, Calif. — December 7, 2023 — Pindler is delighted to unveil the Dreamweaver Collection, a spectacular addition to our range of offerings. This exquisite collection showcases four distinctive and easy-to-use multicolored, geometric woven fabrics that are set to captivate and inspire.
The Dreamweaver Collection is more than just fabric; it’s an artistic masterpiece. Each fabric within this collection is meticulously crafted with plush and textural yarns, delivering an explosion of color and visual intrigue. The scale of the designs varies, from small, all-over patterns to captivating mid-scale designs, ensuring their seamless integration into any room setting or making them the perfect focal point to tie the room together.
What truly sets the Dreamweaver Collection apart is its diverse palette of colorations. From vibrant blues and oranges that exude energy to rich reds and soft pinks that bring a touch of elegance, this dynamic collection offers a wide spectrum of color options. It is a harmonious assortment of bold and colorful designs that add life and character to any interior space.
Pindler has a rich history of providing top-tier textiles to designers and the Dreamweaver Collection is another testament to their commitment to excellence and innovation. With its stunning range of colors and patterns, the Dreamweaver Collection is sure to breathe new life into interior design projects and inspire creativity.
The Dreamweaver Collection is available online, as well as at Pindler’s 16 corporate showrooms and seven agent showrooms across the U.S., and two agent showrooms in Canada.
LENZING, Austria — December 7, 2023 VEOCEL™, the flagship specialty nonwovens brand of Lenzing Group, has reached new partnership milestones with leading beauty and feminine care brands in the Asia-Pacific region, including Taiwanese skincare brand BRIDGE 24/7, Korean feminine care brand Yejimiin, and a global healthcare and beauty retailer, to launch responsible personal care products made of carbon neutral1 VEOCEL Lyocell fibers. The extended partnerships highlight VEOCEL’s commitment in driving the industry-wide shift from using fossil-fuel based materials to planet-friendly raw materials, reducing the overall carbon footprint of the nonwoven industry value chain.
Through a recent partnership with Korean feminine care brand Yejimiin, which introduced feminine care top sheets made of carbon neutral VEOCEL Lyocell fibers, VEOCEL demonstrated the versatility of the fiber, which can be used across beauty, skincare, and hygiene care products.
“In recent years, Korean consumers have become more proactive in choosing brands which are socially responsible. They are not only interested in what the material of the product they purchased is made of, but also how the product is produced. Riding on this trend, our collaboration with VEOCEL to launch feminine care products made of carbon neutral VEOCEL fibers will encourage consumers to look out for planet- friendly alternatives and join us to protect the environment,” said Daisy Lee Koeun, Marketing Team Leader, Yejimiin.
“We are proud to work with leading personal care brands to address the growing consumer demand for high-quality, functional, and responsible products,” said Steven Tsai, senior regional commercial director for Nonwovens Asia, Lenzing. “Our partnerships with BRIDGE 24/7, Yejimiin, and healthcare and beauty retailers represent not only our unwavering commitment to empower partners in the region to achieve their carbon emission goals, but also demonstrate how VEOCEL fibers, which are gentle on skin and certified as clean and safe, are the trusted ingredients that support the sustainable evolution of personal care products.”
Versatile VEOCEL™ fibers address growing industry need for planet-friendly alternatives
VEOCEL has expanded its co-branding portfolio through the collaboration with Taiwanese skincare brand BRIDGE 24/7 to introduce the first-in-Taiwan market facial sheet mask using carbon neutral VEOCEL fibers. “Our partnership with VEOCEL enables us to differentiate ourselves from other industry players with high- quality certified carbon neutral fibers,” said Wallace Liu, CEO, BRIDGE 24/7. “As we advance into an ageing society, we believe the demand for personal care products such as invisible and thin adult diapers and sanitary pads that are soft on the skin will continue to grow. Being a brand that cares for consumers’ personal needs, it is essential for us to join hands with VEOCEL to recognize the importance of sustainability in everyday products and raise awareness of consumers or retailers around environmentally friendly options in the market.”
In addition, the VEOCEL brand has also teamed up with a global healthcare and beauty retailer to launch the latest facial sheet mask product using 100-percen carbon neutral VEOCEL branded lyocell fibers.
Advancing solutions to drive carbon reductions in the nonwoven industry remains a priority in 2024
VEOCEL continues to usher the industry towards carbon reductions by encouraging companies to switch from harmful raw materials to responsible alternatives.
“Adhering to VEOCEL’s commitment as a ‘responsible care brand’, we will continue to further reduce the environmental and climate impact of our fibers, providing brands and consumers with solutions for responsible product options. We will also walk hand-in-hand with our partners on their journey in pursuit of a carbon neutral industry value chain,” added Steven.
VEOCEL believes low-carbon and environmentally responsible products are the future of the nonwoven industry, adhering to Lenzing’s science-based targets commitment to limit global warming. As a part of the journey towards net zero, VEOCEL offers carbon neutral lyocell fibers produced with reduced carbon emissions, while unabated carbon emissions are offset by supporting climate projects (such as reforestation) from the ClimatePartner portfolio, thus making a meaningful contribution to climate action.
1 Carbon neutrality is achieved by balancing remaining GHG emissions through verified compensation measures (e.g., reforestation) and by retiring carbon credits so that the impact of global warming from human-related industrial and agricultural activities is calculated to zero.
Craig Arnold appointed Executive Vice President Polyolefins, Circular Economy Solutions and Innovation & Technology
VIENNA, Austria — December 7, 2023 — The Supervisory Board of Borealis has appointed Craig Arnold as the new executive vice president Polyolefins, Circular Economy Solutions and Innovation & Technology with effect from February 1, 2024.
Craig Arnold is currently the chief commercial officer at Ferroglobe PLC in Madrid, Spain. Prior to this appointment, he had a long-standing career at Dow Inc., where he held various senior management roles, including an executive secondment (from Dow Inc.) and advisor to the CEO at the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW) in Singapore; president Dow Sub-Sahara Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa; Global Commercial vice president, Dow Industrial Solutions for EMEAI in Zurich, Switzerland; and president Dow Australia & New Zealand in Melbourne, Australia; as well as other senior corporate roles separately in Texas and Michigan. He has also served on many industry associations, academic and government related bodies.
Thomas Gangl, Borealis CEO, will assume responsibility for the Polyolefins, Circular Economy Solutions and Innovation & Technology segment on an interim basis effective January 1, 2024, until Craig Arnold will resume his role as Borealis executive board member.
Arnold has an educational background in Chemical Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. He holds dual Swiss-South African citizenship, is married and proud father of two children.
“I am delighted we bring such an experienced Commercial executive onboard of the Borealis Executive Board. I warmly welcome Craig and look forward to working closely with him,” commented Daniela Vlad, chairwoman of the Borealis Supervisory Board and OMV executive vice president Chemicals & Materials.
