Heimtextil 2024: Textile Innovations For New Challenges In Architecture, Interior Design And Hospitality

The Interior.Architecture.Hospitality LIBRARY jury members Gerhard Sperling, Jasmin Grego and Felix Diener at Heimtextil 2023 Photograph: Messe Frankfurt/Thomas Fedra

FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Germany — December 6, 2023 — Between New Work, Healing Hospital, Outdoor Spaces and Sustainability: What are the key challenges in contract design and what do future-proof textile solutions look like? Heimtextil will provide answers to these questions January 9-12, 2024 ,with its Interior.Architecture.Hospitality program. The proven format will now be even more extensive and international. In addition to the numerous high-profile TALKS & TOURS, the LIBRARY is one of the central tools for experts from the fields of architecture, interior design and hospitality.

In 2024, the curated Interior.Architecture.Hospitality LIBRARY presents innovative functional textiles from selected exhibitors, including Edmund Bell, Futura Leathers, Marburger Tapetenfabrik, Proneem, Textaafoam or Vanelli Tekstil. The material library focuses on the following properties: flame-retardant, sound-absorbing, lightfast, antimicrobial, dirt-repellent and scrub-resistant. A large number of companies presented their products to the renowned expert jury, which includes Gerhard Sperling (German Home Textile Industry association), Jasmin Grego (GREGO Jasmin Grego & Stephanie Kühnle Architektur) and Felix Diener (Marburger Tapetenfabrik).

Function meets innovation meets design: the jury members agreed on the remarkably high quality of the submissions: “As the challenges in architecture increase, so do the demands on textile solutions. This makes it all the more important to me that the innovations from Heimtextil exhibitors continue to inspire me”, reports Jasmin Grego from the jury meeting, which took place in Frankfurt am Main at the end of November 2023. Her jury colleague Gerhard Sperling adds: “The technological developments of functional textiles have taken on an impressive dynamic in recent years, which the submissions for the Interior.Architecture. Hospitality LIBRARY 2024 have once again confirmed. It was not easy for us to make a selection, but in the end, we were able to present a result that really reflects the new state of the art for functional textiles.”

Felix Diener emphasized the special added value of the LIBRARY for Heimtextil visitors: “I generally welcome the fact that this material library is also available online. But in order to be able to judge the design quality, especially in terms of haptics, structures or designs, it is essential to experience textiles live. The LIBRARY is also irreplaceable for this.” On the boulevard in hall 4.0, the curated material library presents pioneering functional textiles for the contract business. In the LIBRARY TOURS, the three jury members will personally guide through their selection.

Interior.Architecture.Hospitality LIBRARY at Heimtextil 2023 – Photo: Messe Frankfurt / Thomas Fedra

Knowledge formats reflect the future

The Interior.Architecture.Hospitality formats at Heimtextil focus explicitly on the special needs of the contract sector. “We are observing two strong trends that are leading to an increased need for information and networking in the contract sector: On the one hand, the requirements for the design of hotels, public buildings, care facilities, restaurants or offices are increasing in terms of sustainability and legal requirements are also playing an increasing role in the selection of suitable textiles. On the other hand, modern textiles are becoming more and more efficient and are therefore also taking on new key functions such as sound insulation, fire protection and hygiene. Both developments are reflected in our Interior.Architecture.Hospitality programme”, says Bettina Bär, Show Director Heimtextil. The programme includes customised knowledge and networking formats, for which Messe Frankfurt has been able to attract numerous renowned thought leaders. In 2024, the programme will be expanded and become even more international. The focus topics “Health & Care”, “Outdoor”, “Sustainability & Climate” and “New Work” will be the common thread running through all days.

The detailed Interior.Architecture.Hospitality programme is currently available in the event calendar.

Interior.Architecture.Hospitality FINDER

A total of over 2,600 global exhibitors will be presenting their innovations at Heimtextil, including numerous companies with special products for the contract business, which can be found quickly and easily via the Interior.Architecture.Hospitality FINDER. Among the exhibitors listed are well-known companies such as Bedding House (Netherlands), Elastron (Portugal), Lameirinho (Portugal), mah-ATN (Germany), Martinelli Ginetto (Italy) and Mundotextil Industrias Texteis (Portugal). In addition, many new exhibitors have also announced their participation, including Infloor-Girloon (Germany), Klassik Lamitex (India), Manifattura Tessile Calusiese (Italy) and MP (Italy).

Interior.Architecture.Hospitality TALKS & TOURS and TOURS

Together with renowned partners, Heimtextil presents high-quality lectures and themed tours. Among them are AIT dialog and AHGZ / hoteldesign, the bdia and world architects. Various TALKS & TOURS and TOURS will take place on all four days of the fair. For example, Corinna Kretschmar-Joehnk from JOI-Design will be reporting on the topic of “HOSPITALITY Design Trends – Revival of materiality in the contract sector” and guiding visitors to selected exhibitors. Yordanka Rotta from Aboutlama Interior Architects will guide visitors through Heimtextil on the subject of “Tradition – Innovation – Future”. Or Dr Regina Dahmen-Ingenhoven will explain how she uses textile solutions for ephemeral spaces, wellbeing and sustainability. The programme will be offered in German and/or English. For the first time, there will also be a TOUR in Italian. The entire programme is available in the Heimtextil event calendar.

Interior.Architecture.Hospitality LIVE TALKS by Architonic

On the Thursday of the trade fair, 11 January, Architonic editor-in-chief Simon Keane-Cowell will be inviting the stars of the international design scene to talk about current topics in the industry. In 2024, he welcomes Carole Baijings (industrial designer), Werner Aisslinger (Studio Aisslinger) and Felix Diener (Marburger Tapetenfabrik).

Heimtextil Conference “Sleep & More” – hall 11.0

At the Heimtextil Conference “Sleep & More”, renowned international sleep experts will provide insights and best practices. There will also be relevant offers for visitors from the contract sector. They will find up-to-date knowledge and inspiration ranging from bedroom design and the hotel needs of Gen Z to the use of artificial intelligence in professional sleep analysis. For example, Julia von Klitzing from Hotelkompetenzzentrum will report on the hotel of the future. The programme can be viewed online in the Heimtextil event calendar.

Further highlights at Heimtextil

From the future-oriented Heimtextil Trends 24/25 to the megatrend of sustainability and the associated Econogy programme: In addition to the specialized Interior.Architecture.Hospitality programme and the Heimtextil Conference ‘Sleep & More’, trade visitors will find a wide range of informative and inspiring offers at Heimtextil 2024 that will help them to advance their business.

Posted: December 6, 2023

Source: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH

TSG Finishing Holds Event With N.C. Senator Dean Proctor Showcasing The N.C.-Based Textile Industry’s Resilience And Innovation And Honoring Employees Celebrating 50 Years With The Company

HICKORY, N.C. — December 6, 2023 — TSG Finishing CEO Brian Rosenstein and executives will hold an event to showcase the company’s innovations and resilience, underscoring the U.S. textile industry’s importance to the economy, while honoring six employees who are celebrating their 50 year anniversaries with the company.

N.C. Senator Dean Proctor and Longview Mayor Marla Thompson will also make remarks at the event.

Founded in 1901, TSG Finishing is one of the largest textile finishers in North America. With three processing plants in the Hickory, NC area, it provides value-added services to all textile markets including medical, military, automotive, construction, home furnishings and filtration.

The North Carolina textile industry, which is the second largest in the United States, employs 32,585 employees across the state. Further, every single textile job supports three additional jobs in supporting industries within a community.

The entire U.S. textile supply chain produced $65.8 billion in output in 2022 and employed 538,000 workers. TSG is part of the broader textile industry that is a critical manufacturing segment contributing to job growth, investments, and innovation. From 2012-2021, capital investment in U.S. yarn, fabric and apparel & sewn products manufacturing totaled $20.9 billion.

Posted: December 6, 2023

Source: TSG Finishing LLC

G-III Apparel Group Appoints Dana Perlman as its New Chief Growth and Operations Officer

NEW YORK CITY — December 5, 2023 — G-III Apparel Group Ltd. — a global supplier of fashion, with expertise in design, sourcing and manufacturing — today announced the appointment of Dana Perlman as chief growth and operations officer, effective January 8, 2024.

In this newly created role, Perlman will draw on her over 20-year career in apparel, strategy and finance to drive innovation, optimize operations and identify new opportunities for G-III. As part of the company’s leadership team, she will oversee Strategy, Finance, Communications, Information Technology, and other Operating functions. Most recently, Perlman spent more than 10 years at PVH Corp. where she played a critical role in transforming the business as Chief Strategy Officer, having led global business strategy and development, along with Treasury and Communications, including Investor Relations.

G-III CEO Morris Goldfarb said: “As we focus on new opportunities to evolve our business, I am pleased to welcome Dana to G-III. With impressive experience and a strong track record of success leading strategy, finance and business development, she brings a wealth of industry expertise and is well-equipped to support our plans. The executive team and I are excited to work closely with Dana to drive our ambitious growth agenda forward.”

Perlman said: “G-III is an unparalleled leader in the apparel industry with a reputation for delivering and an eye towards the future. I look forward to working with Morris and the entire team to further enhance the Company’s strategy and financial and operating performance, as well as advance its competitive position for the future. Having worked as an industry partner with G-III over the last decade, I have admired what G-III has built, from its brands and operations to its strong retail relationships. I am excited to see what we will accomplish together.”

Prior to PVH, Perlman held several roles in investment banking retail groups at Barclays Capital, Lehman Brothers and Credit Suisse First Boston. She holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. Perlman is a Director of O’Reilly Automotive Inc. and previously served on the Board of Sigma Lithium Corp. In 2023 and 2018 she was recognized by WomenInc. in their annual Most Influential Corporate Board Directors list, and in 2018 by Equilar in their 50 Youngest U.S. Public Company Board Members list.

Posted: December 5, 2023

Source: G-III Apparel Group, Ltd.

PUMA Scale-up Their Textile-to-textile Recycling Technology, Creating All Future Replica Football Kit Using RE:FIBRE Technology

HERZOGENAURACH, Germany — December 5, 2023 — Global sports company PUMA has today announced that it has scaled up its textile recycling innovation, RE:FIBRE, replacing recycled polyester with RE:FIBRE technology in all PUMA football Club and Federation replica jerseys from 2024 onwards.

Since the launch of the pilot in 2022, which saw PUMA produce recycled training jerseys for their sponsored football clubs, RE:FIBRE technology has been used to create Switzerland and Morocco replica kits for the Women’s World Cup as well as Girona’s 2023/24 season Third kit. In 2024, official PUMA football replica jerseys* including those for the Euro and Copa América tournaments will be manufactured using RE:FIBRE recycled materials that were made of old garments and factory waste rather than only recycled plastic bottles.

Through the RE:FIBRE program, PUMA is keen to address the challenge of textile waste via a long-term solution for recycling. The technology also looks to diversify the fashion industry’s main source of recycled polyester in garments from being less reliant on clear plastic bottles.

The RE:FIBRE process uses any polyester material – from factory offcuts, faulty goods to pre-loved clothes which allows new garments to be recycled from any color textile to any colour desired.

The four-step process of RE:FIBRE sees:

  • Collect and Sort: Collecting and sorting textile waste and other previously wasteful materials.
  • Shred and Mix: Shredding and mixing the collected materials down to the minimum.
  • Dissolve, Filter and Polymerize: Melting down the shredded polyester and ridding them of previous dyes through a chemical recycling process.
  • Melt, Spin, Knit and Sew: The melting allows the newly produced polymers to become ready to be spun and sewn into shape to create good as new RE:FIBRE fabric which can be recycled again and again.

Managing waste has today become a necessity, which is why PUMA is ramping up its investment into resource-efficient manufacturing processes in a move to reduce textile waste.

“Our wish is to have 100% of product polyester coming from textile waste,” said Anne-Laure Descours, chief sourcing officer at PUMA. “Textile waste build-up in landfills is an environmental risk. Rethinking the way we produce and moving towards a more circular business model is one of the main priorities of our sustainability strategy.”

To help make the technical process of RE:FIBRE more digestible for the everyday consumer who wants to know more, PUMA has harnessed the storytelling power of Computer Generated Imagery to take viewers through the RE:FIBRE process, right down to the molecular chemistry at work. View the video here. https://about.puma.com/en/re-fibre

The video builds on the brand’s ongoing commitment to ensure PUMA’s sustainability initiatives are simplified for everyone to engage with. This comes after research conducted by PUMA found that 71% of young people felt their voices were not being heard when it comes to the environment and would like to see brands making more commitments (49%), communicating their goals better (40%) and being more transparent (34%).

As part of this commitment to communicate better, PUMA released The RE:GEN REPORTS podcast in June 2023. Making dense information in their Sustainability Report more accessible and tailored to a Gen Z audience.

PUMA’s ongoing efforts in sustainability has shown the brand improving its rankings on Corporate Knight’s Global 100 Sustainability Index from 77th to 47th, and the journey is not over. You can read further on PUMA’s sustainability targets and RE:FIBRE on foreverbetter.com.

*excluding locally replicas for Fenerbahçe SK, Shakhtar Donetsk and locally sourced kits.

Posted: December 5, 2023

Source: PUMA

The World Of Wipes® (WOW) International Conference Calls For Presentations

CARY, NC — December 5, 2023 — INDA’s World of Wipes® (WOW) International Conference is accepting abstracts on wipes products, markets, and technologies to be presented in Minneapolis, MN, June 17-20, 2024. The deadline for abstract submissions is January 12, 2024.

Experts in dry and wet nonwoven wipes, sustainability, end-use markets, substrate formation, raw materials and fibers, liquid ingredients, packaging, machinery, and market trends and data are encouraged to submit a brief abstract. The abstracts may be submitted via the WOW website.

Topics for consideration include:

  • Dry and wet wipes;
  • Circular economy;
  • Sustainability / End-of-life implications;
  • Substrate formation;
  • Skin care formulations;
  • Raw materials;
  • Packaging;
  • Machinery and equipment;
  • Market trends and consumer insight;
  • Regulations; and
  • E-commerce/Retail channels.

Presenting at WOW is an opportunity to be recognized for your innovation, connect with senior-level leaders, gain potential partners and customers, and change the future of wipes.

For questions, contact Deanna Lovell, Event Coordinator, dlovell@inda.org. For more information about WOW 2024, visit https://www.worldofwipes.org/.

Posted: December 5, 2023

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

A JFX-Ploration With Mimaki: Six Awesome Ways The JFX600-2513 Can Transform Your Print Shop

DIEMEN, the Netherlands — December 5, 2023 — In today’s competitive market, staying ahead of the curve is crucial for businesses seeking success. Here at Mimaki we are committed to create a more efficient and advanced industrial printing sector. With that in mind, we developed our latest large format LED-UV flatbed printer, the JFX600-2513, which stands out as a game-changer in this field. This cutting-edge printer combines precision, speed, and versatility, offering an array of state-of-the-art features that make it an unbeatable choice for professionals in the printing industry.

Mimaki JFX600 printing

In this blog we will explore the potential that the JFX600-2513 has to transform print shops, discussing some of its vital functions, and delving into how it can benefit our customers, positioning them for success.

  1. Versatility

Adaptability is key, and the JFX600-2513 ensures you’re ready to take on any project that comes your way. Glass, wood, metal, from flat surfaces to textured substrates. You name it, this machine can print on it. It’s this versatility that makes Mimaki’s 7th generation LED-UV technology so beneficial for customers. Users are able to pursue creativity without limitations on a printing bed size of 2.5 x 1.3 meters, allowing for both large and small prints.

Moreover, various types of ink can be used with the JFX600-2513, including rigid and flexible, depending on the type of application you’re going for and the material being printed on. This means that materials such as glass, can have the right ink to best match with the surface texture and still provide the upmost quality. These inks can be printed with up to 17 layers, with a thickness of up to 0.5mm to allow for 2.5D textured prints, with differing effects, such as embossed and debossed.

  1. Speed

Time is money, and we at Mimaki understand that. Developing new technologies is largely about improving efficiencies and productivity, and the JFX600-2513 does just that. Boasting higher speeds, over three times faster than its predecessor, the machine can reach printing speeds of up to 200m²/h depending on the job at hand. This is achieved with the use of 16 printheads – more than in any of our previous UV flatbed printers – ensuring quick turnaround times. Now printers can painlessly meet deadlines, satisfy customer demands, and maximize their overall efficiency.

  1. Functionality

User-friendliness and functionality are paramount with the JFX600-2513, pre-equipped with the intuitive Mimaki Printer Controller software. This combines machine setup, printer operation and job control via a large user-friendly touch panel. From this display dashboard, customers can monitor and control settings remotely, switch effortlessly between jobs, and even be provided with important machine alerts, such as when the ink is running low. The automated maintenance features and advanced ink circulation system minimize downtime and simplify routine tasks, saving valuable time and effort.

Additionally, the interface streamlines operations, making it easy for beginners and seasoned professionals to have seamless control over job management. The printer also comes IoT ready, allowing for smooth integration into large-scale production lines.

  1. Precision & Quality

The 16 printheads previously mentioned don’t only give the machine a hefty speed boost, but they have also improved the quality of the final print. They enable much more precise printing, with a 4-colour configuration, or 8-colour configuration for higher definition finishing. These printheads also go hand in hand with our Mimaki Advanced Pass System (MAPS4) technology, which uses algorithms to calculate the best way to inject the ink drops on the varied materials. The stunning output helps businesses to impress with a competitive edge in the market.

  1. Sustainability

Mimaki’s commitment to environmental sustainability shines through with the JFX600-2513, as it utilizes UV-LED technology. This technology helps printers reduce energy consumption and minimise environmental impact, allowing users to reap the benefits of a greener printing solution without compromising on performance.

  1. Potential

Many Mimaki customers have already discovered the unique applications and lucrative opportunities that our technology presents. Starglas, a Mimaki customer from Germany, have used our UV technology to master the niche of printing digitally on all things glass. In fact, 90% of the detailed and intricate products they create are completely unique. With the JFX600-2513 having an effortless and one-touch workflow, printers handling bespoke projects like this can switch between jobs and design with ease. With the additional speed and quality afforded, it’s clear to see how this will increase efficiencies all round, especially for companies looking to run larger scale operations. For customers like D-POS, who create indoor and outdoor decorations using glass, metals, woods, plastics and more, the JFX600-2513 brings significant benefits. There is no limit to the potential of their creative applications, from decorative kitchen splashguards, to detailed finishes for outdoor wooden panelling. It’s no surprise that the JFX600-2513 is a great option for any company looking to further enhance their offerings without having to sacrifice quality.

Whether you’re aiming for demanding industrial prints, unique personalization and decorations, or artistic creations, it empowers you to achieve extraordinary results. Don’t miss out on the chance to revolutionize your printing capabilities and unlock endless possibilities with the Mimaki JFX600-2513.

Posted: December 5, 2023

Source: Mustafa Okanovic, Senior Product Specialist, Mimaki Europe

Texworld Evolution Paris: “Veritas”, The Trend Book For The Spring-Summer 2025 Season – To Be Discovered At The Parc Des Expositions, Porte deVersailles, From 5 To 7 February 2024

PARIS — December 5, 2023 — After exploring a world where the senses are once again at the centre, Louis Gérin and Grégory Lamaud, the artistic directors of Texworld Evolution Paris, offer a more personal interpretation of this future humanity. Our wardrobes reflect our individual levels of commitment to the “truth”. Faced with the modern paradox of growth versus sustainability, each of us expresses our own vision of the world. These points of view are reflected in the four themes of this new trend book.

Creative themes imagined with AI

Based on the analysis of emerging signals detected in the artistic, economic and social fields, these approaches incorporate elements of artificial intelligence for the first time. The artistic directors have incorporated them – by identifying them – into the ‘pattern design’ boards that bring together the colours and silhouettes used for each creative universe.

Credit – Lena Ekert, @lena.ekert – Tweeter @BreathlesssAsh

#1 Belief.

This theme, which isn’t very assertive and is rather introverted, expresses itself with elegance and discretion. The colour temperatures remain calm, in the background. The colour universe is oriented towards more “conservative”, mineral shades, dominated by green and blue. The textures express matter and vibrations.

Credit – David Deweerdt – daviddeweerdt.com – @davidpeintladifference

#2 Immanence.

While this proposal remains conservative and mystical, it is more visible than the previous one. It expresses a more talkative “bohemian- chic” universe, asserting its point of view through a relatively cynical approach:

“these are the new rules of our common life. You have to live with them”. The colour range is expressive and warmer, but remains fairly classic. It is expressed more in knitwear or embroidery, materials with relief or a frosted appearance.

Credit – Pneuhaus – www.pneu.haus -@pneuhaus

#3 Knowledge.

This is all about affirming yourself. This theme, which also draws on classic sources of inspiration – nature, plants, flowers – sets out to transform them radically. The colours are strong, contrasting, in opposition, and are applied to materials that express the future, with crumpled, liquid or transparent textures.

Credit – Dasha Plesen- dashaplesen.com – @dashaplesen.com

#4 Experience.

This is the most committed theme in the field of subjective truths. “Trust only yourself. […] Don’t believe. Test […] trust no one. Learn from your own experience”. The colours are very bold: we wear them to attract attention. Acidic, sweet shades are king, as are materials that evoke urban or sporty codes: rips, shiny aspects, organic (second-skin type), but also lace and transparency.

All these worlds will be showcased in two Trend Forums: one at Texworld Paris for fabrics, the other at Apparel Sourcing Paris for finished products (a new feature in February 2024). Visitors will be able to discover looks inspired by the fabrics and products selected by the show’s art directors. There will also be new areas with samples to illustrate each of these themes: Highlights Texworld, Highlight Apparel Sourcing, Highlights Elite and Highlights Denim.

Posted: December 5, 2023

Source: Messe Frankfurt France

ReHubs Officially Welcomes Its First Partners And Kick Starts Operations

BRUSSELS — December 1, 2023 — During its first General Assembly, 18 European companies and organisations have formally joined ReHubs. They represent different segments of the circular textile value chain and share a common commitment to invest in textile recycling capacity in Europe. Additional partners are expected in the near future as ReHubs is receiving a widespread interest and companies may join at any time.

Current ReHubs partners are:

  • BASF
  • Boer Group
  • Coleo
  • Concordia Textiles
  • Decathlon
  • EURATEX
  • Gherzi Textil Organisation
  • Inditex
  • Indorama Ventures
  • Mango
  • PEPPER-i2
  • Purfi
  • Ratti
  • Recover
  • Refashion
  • Resortecs
  • Rester
  • RETEX.GREEN
  • TEXAID

All partners will support ReHubs Executive Director, Chris Deloof, to kick start activities in the coming months. ReHubs partners will elaborate together on further steps and activities for the forthcoming work plan and the development of the European Textile Recycling Roadmap.

Chris Deloof commented on this important step forward: “I am delighted to see such a strong group of organisations teaming up with ReHubs. They are a great example of how to establish a new circular textile value chain in Europe. We need to focus now on rolling out ReHubs investment projects and further expanding our partners and investors network.”

Posted: December 5, 2023

Source: ReHubs

Alpine Group Teams Up With Trustrace, Apparel Impact Institute, Keel Labs, Black Pearl To Bring Fashion Industry Transformation To The Forefront Of COP28

DUBAI — December 5, 2023 — Alpine Group — the end-to-end textile innovation and apparel manufacturing group whose brand partners include Lululemon, The North Face, Under Armour and Columbia — has today announced that it will join forces with fashion industry titans including TrusTrace, The Apparel Institute, Keel Labs, Samata Pattinson, Founder and CEO of Black Pearl and Julia Gulatee, One Young World Climate Ambassador, to host a first-of-its-kind panel at COP28 – the world’s most highly regarded gathering for climate action.

Taking place December 6 at 13.30 at the Climate Action Stage at the Sustainable Innovation Forum, “Beyond Aspirations: Taking Concrete Actions in the Fashion World” hosted by the Alpine Group, will bring fashion industry transformation to the forefront of global conversation by providing concrete, implementable strategies for fashion industry players to adopt sustainable practices.

Panellists will explore innovative technologies, green processes and next-gen materials that can drive significant reductions in carbon emissions throughout the supply chain to inspire action. Additionally, the panel will delve into the complex relationship between policy, regulation and consumer expectations amongst the growing concern of greenwashing in the fashion sector.

Clare Woodford, global director of Impact and Engagement, said: “Alpine Group recognises the pivotal role it plays in shaping the industry’s sustainable future and is committed to being at the forefront of catalyzing concrete changes across the fashion supply chain. Hosting key industry experts is not just an opportunity; it’s a collective commitment to addressing the challenges head-on and unveiling actionable solutions.

The importance of implementing concrete change across the industry cannot be overstated. Through collective and tangible actions, we have the opportunity to not only meet consumer expectations, but to redefine industry standards and pave the way to make fashion fit for the future.”

A key challenge in understanding and improving the impact of the fashion industry has been the lack of visibility into deeper tiers of the value chain, which has made it difficult to gather the validated data necessary to discover and manage ESG risk across full portfolios. However, scalable solutions do exist to enable brands and suppliers to collaborate and to facilitate funding for sustainable transformation.

“Concrete actions to improve Fashion’s impact on climate have not been thoroughly explored at COP gatherings in the past, and we’re proud to elevate this conversation to the global stage and inspire brands to take action with the methods and technologies available to them today,” said panellist Saravanan Parisutham, co-founder and COO of TrusTrace. “By bringing together key fashion industry experts, we can provide insight into how brands can turn their sustainability goals into actions with transparency and data traceability.”

Panellists include:

  • Moderator Clare Woodford, Global Director, Impact and Engagement, Alpine Group
  • Saravanan Parisutham, COO of TrusTrace
  • Lewis Perkins, President of the Apparel Impact Institute
  • Samata Pattinson, Founder and CEO, Black Pearl
  • Julia Gulatee, One Young World, Climate Ambassador (Fashion Pact and formerly Chanel’s policy team)
  • Aleks Gosiewski, Co-Founder and COO at Keel Labs

For more information, visit – https://www.cop-28.org/whats-on/climate-action-stage.

To watch the session live, visit – https://www.cop-28.org/whats-on/climate-action-stage.

Posted: December 5, 2023

Source: Alpine Group

BASF Offers Butanediol And Polytetrahydrofuran With Product Carbon Footprints Significantly Below Global Market Average

LUDWIGSHAFEN, Germany— December 5, 2023 — From early 2024 onward, BASF will offer its products 1,4-butanediol (BDO) and polytetrahydrofuran (PolyTHF®) as “LowPCF” products. BASF has calculated the individual product carbon footprints (PCF) of both chemical products.1 The results were compared with assessments of market-wide average carbon footprints of the corresponding products of third parties.2 The analysis shows that due to BASF’s production setup, the PCFs of BDO and derivatives such as PolyTHF are significantly below the global average PCF of the corresponding third-party chemicals that are all produced from fossil-based raw materials.

On its journey to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050, BASF is the first large chemical company to make available to its customers the individual PCFs of all its sales products. The PCF comprises the total greenhouse gas emissions that occur until the product leaves BASF’s factory gate for the customer: from the extraction of resources through manufacturing of precursors to the making of the final chemical product itself.

Various factors contributing to a low product carbon footprint

The PCF is determined by various factors. For example, energy generation in BASF’s own gas-fired combined heat and power plants generates significantly less greenhouse gas emissions compared to other conventional energy generation methods. In addition, production processes of LowPCF intermediates are characterized by high production efficiency in terms of energy and raw material consumption due to BASF’s integrated Verbund system and continuous efforts in operational excellence. Finally, LowPCF intermediates generally use oil, natural gas or Verbund by-products, but not coal, as primary raw materials. Due to its chemical properties, the use of coal generally results in a higher carbon footprint of downstream products compared to those based on natural gas or oil.

“Company CO2 emission reduction targets are playing an increasingly important role in the value chains we serve. With our LowPCF intermediates, we are supporting our customers in achieving their targets: They now have the option to consciously choose a product with a carbon footprint significantly below the global market average,” said Ketan Joshi, head of BASF’s Intermediates operating division. “By making CO2 emission data at the individual product level available to our customers, we also offer a level of transparency that is unique in the chemical industry.”

BDO and PolyTHF: Essential raw materials in many value chains

BDO is mainly used for the production of PolyTHF. BASF’s customers use PolyTHF for example to produce elastic spandex and elastane fibers that are used for a wide range of textiles such as swimsuits, sportswear and underwear, but also outerwear such as shirts and stretch jeans. The elastic fibers ensure wearing comfort in the long run, they are resistant to moisture and microbes. PolyTHF also serves as a chemical building block for the production of thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), which BASF customers use to make highly abrasion-resistant and elastic hoses, films and cable sheathing, primarily for the automotive industry. Other applications include thermoplastic polyetheresters, polyetheramides and cast elastomers for the manufacture of wheels, for example for skateboards and inline skates. With a total of five production plants for PolyTHF in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific, BASF is one of the world’s most important suppliers of this versatile intermediate.

BDO is also a starting material for polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), an engineering plastic that is used successfully (under the BASF trade name Ultradur®) in the automotive, electrical and electronics industries. BDO also serves as an intermediate for the production of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), whose main applications are as essential solvents in the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and for lithium-ion battery cathodes e.g., for electrical vehicles.

Posted: December 5, 2023

Source: BASF SE

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