reProLeather — New Technology Regenerating Bio-Based Leather From Leather Waste

STOCKHOLM — October 9, 2023 — Traditional recycled leather is produced by combining shredded scraps and residual fibers of real leather with synthetic, non-biodegradable binders like PU and PVC. In contrast, the reProLeather project has pioneered a new approach. The technology developed by The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) with the support of H&M Foundation, employs bio-based binders and ecofriendly chemicals.

As many industries are looking to minimize waste and save resources, the demand for recycled materials in the fashion industry has increased. However, recycling certain materials can sometimes be a tricky process, especially leather waste can be difficult to recycle. Much of the recycled leather contains harmful chemical residues, such as chromium VI, which result from the tanning process. These chemical residuals are carried through in the conventional recycling process.

In an effort to enable a planet positive industry, by accelerating vital research and supporting breakthrough innovation to scale, H&M Foundation is collaborating with HKRITA in the program Planet First. One of the research projects, reProLeather, has resulted in a new technology to separate the chromium VI from the shredded leather fibers and create a bio-based, alternative to the PU and PVC binders, thereby creating a new form of recycled leather that is biodegradable and recyclable.

The reProLeather successfully restructured post-consumer leather fibers into leather sheets in its research stage. HKRITA is now seeking industry partners to optimize production properties and enhance functions, paving the way for improved industry applicability in the future.

Christiane Dolva, Strategy Lead at H&M Foundation, said:

“As a philanthropic change agent for the entire industry, we take risks to unlock needed solutions with the ambition to find technologies that can contribute to a planet positive fashion future. I’m always open to share our findings openly with others, to find industry actors ready to adopt bold innovations and reProLeather could be one of these solutions. I hope to see it scale soon.”

Posted: October 9, 2023

Source: H&M Foundation

Americhem’s Sustainability Journey: Surpassing Milestones And Forging Ahead!

CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio — October 9, 2023 — Americhem Inc. has launched a global campaign called “Americhem, a Sustainability Enabler.” This campaign aims to increase awareness of sustainability and help key business stakeholders achieve their sustainability goals.

“At Americhem, sustainability is our driving force. We are dedicated to creating a better tomorrow through our eco-friendly masterbatch and compounding solutions,” said John Richard, Americhem’s CEO. “Our mission is clear: minimize environmental impact, promote social responsibility, and foster innovation.”

Americhem is focusing its sustainability efforts in three areas: Process, Product, and People. In the past few decades, the company has achieved many milestones in these areas. One example is Americhem’s Denmark plant which pioneered a Cold Pounding technology that reduces energy usage by up to 85 percent and cuts emissions by up to 20 percent in comparison to conventional compounding processes. The facility is also powered solely by wind and solar energy from RECs Certified suppliers. In the United States, Americhem is recognized as an Operation Clean Sweep® member, with many sites having pledged to achieve zero resin pellet, flake, and powder loss to help keep materials out of the marine environment. In addition, Americhem’s plants embrace recycling-compliant packaging, collaborating with customers for the reuse of packaging materials including plastic drums.

Sustainability Triangle featuring Americhem technologies.

On the product front, Americhem has developed numerous technologies that empower customers to attain their sustainability objectives. Solution Dyeing, a technology used in the carpet and textile production processes, eliminates the need for excessive water usage and reduces carbon emissions significantly compared to traditional dyeing processes. Americhem’s flagship additive masterbatch nBalance® allows Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) materials, which have a yellow tint, to be restored to PET PCR that visually mimics virgin PET. This technology has been widely adopted by the food packaging industry, as it maintains the visual appeal for products like water bottles by ensuring clarity, while enabling recycling and enhancing sustainability. Americhem also offers natural-based color and additive masterbatch for the garment, renewable energy, and consumer goods industries.

Americhem recognizes the significance of creating a sustainable environment for both its employees and the communities it serves. The company has been taking significant steps in its dedication to People Sustainability. By encompassing measures to enhance employee well-being through safety and health initiatives, fostering higher employee engagement through senior management efforts, contributing to charitable causes, and actively participating in volunteer activities, Americhem has noticed an overall increase in employee satisfaction.

Looking ahead, Americhem is committed to making bigger strides in its sustainability journey. In addition to continuous improvement in manufacturing processes, the company plans to further enhance its product portfolio to include sustainability features in most products, develop new product lines for physical and chemical recycling applications, and establish ongoing Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Carbon Footprint Analysis on all products. While the campaign unfolds, the company plans to consistently provide updates on its advancements to key stakeholders and the broader public.

Posted: October 9, 2023

Source: Americhem

Society Of Dyers And Colourists To Host International Conference On Circularity And Sustainability

BRADFORD, England — October 9, 2023 — The Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC) is set to host its first — for many years — international conference in June 2024, which will see speakers discuss sustainability and circularity within the global textile coloration sector.

Taking place on the June 18-19, 2024, at Manchester Conference Centre, the event is open to members and non-members of The SDC and aims to explore four key themes across its program.

Professor Calvin Wong, CEO & center director at AiDLab and professor in Fashion at PolyU in Hong Kong, will deliver the keynote presentation in the “Artificial Intelligence in textile production” stream. Raj Tanna, founder and managing director of the Schützen Group in Mumbai, India, will provide a keynote presentation for the stream “Reinventing dyeing and finishing.” While Gjuillaume Boissonnat, chief scientific officer at PILI in France, will provide the third keynote on “Bringing natural into Manufacturing.”

Surinder Chahal, vice president of customer alliances at Croda, will be the final keynote speaker for the fourth theme which will focus on the “Sustainable impact of textile dying on our world.”

Renowned for its expertise in global education in the science of color, the SDC has a truly international membership and is a center for community engagement amongst the coloration industry. This event aims to bring this prestigious network of people and organizations together, to not only continue the conversation around circularity within the sector, but to also discuss pioneering sustainability innovations that can drive further change, as well as the progress required to help meet the textile and clothing needs of the world’s population.

Dr. Graham Clayton, CEO of The Society of Dyers and Colourists, said: “This global conference is being held as a result of feedback from members of the society, who are seeking more internationalism. The SDC continues to maintain its online meetings for webinars and committees as a way of convenience and minimizing travel for its members. However, this event has been designed to address the need for in-person collaboration and the society hopes to deliver a conference that enlarges attendees’ networks and knowledge, including those who already hold SDC Membership.”

Professpr Chris Carr, SDC president 2023-24 and professor in Textile Technology at the University of Leeds, also commented: “The concepts of sustainability and circularity are not new but there are more contemporary ways of addressing them.  As a leading academic I see first-hand many industry issues and I invite those working in the sector to this conference to contribute to the discussion, help shape further change, learn and drive positive impacts on our industry and the world.”

Commenting on the forthcoming conference, Susan Kay-Williams, upcoming SDC president for 2024-25 and chief executive at The Royal School of Needlework concluded: “This event will take place not long after I am officially appointed SDC president, but I am very aware its development has spanned the terms of office of the two previous presidents. This input makes the conference a fabulous opportunity to hear from the best-of-the-best and adopt innovations that arise at the interfaces of textiles, color history, natural colorants and other developments such as Artificial Intelligence.”

The SDC now invites abstracts for other presentations and posters under these four themes and details of how to submit details and be a speaker at the event are to be found on the conference website.

To find out more about The SDC’s international conference, please visit www.sustcirc.org.

Posted: October 9, 2023

Source: The Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC)

Cygnet Texkimp’s Multi Roll Stack Prepreg And Towpreg Machine Shortlisted For CAMX Award

CHESHIRE, England — October 6, 2023 — Composites technology company Cygnet Texkimp has been shortlisted in the CAMX Awards for Unsurpassed Innovation with its Multi Roll Stack prepreg and towpreg manufacturing machine.

The Multi Roll Stack is a short-footprint, energy-efficient prepreg processing solution designed to deliver more sustainable, lower-cost thermoset prepreg and towpreg materials. The technology was engineered as part of the UK’s ASCEND collaboration* to develop the technical and supply chain capability to achieve high-grade, composites-intensive components at rate for high-volume markets including mainstream automotive and higher-volume aerospace, and as an enabling technology for the hydrogen storage vessel market.

It was designed and built by Cygnet Texkimp’s prepreg technology specialists as a lower-cost solution in terms of capital investment, running costs and energy requirements when compared to conventional prepreg processing.

“We’re delighted to have been shortlisted in the prestigious CAMX Awards again this year,” says Cygnet Texkimp CEO Luke Vardy.

“Innovation is a major part of our offering to the composites market. The Multi Roll Stack is a great example of our commitment to developing technologies that improve the way composite materials and parts are processed.

“When we began developing the Multi Roll Stack, we believed there was a place for more rigorous innovation in prepreg manufacture that would accommodate the established principles of the process while at the same time offering the industry more in terms of reducing machinery footprint, energy consumption and costs.

“What we’ve achieved is a solution that has been proven to produce low coat weight prepregs at higher than conventional speeds, which in turn enables faster part production. Not only can this lead to high quality prepreg materials and parts being used more widely for the purpose of manufacturing lightweight, energy-efficient and sustainable motorcars and aeroplanes, it also has the potential to play an important role in the development of Type V CFRP hydrogen storage vessels and the broader effort to improve the timeline to implement hydrogen technologies.”

The CAMX Awards celebrate outstanding achievement and innovation that have the potential to truly change the composites and advanced materials industry. Winners of the awards will be announced at this year’s CAMX (The Composites and Advanced Materials Expo) show which takes place in Atlanta, GA, October 30-November 2, 2023.

Cygnet Texkimp will be exhibiting in Building C, Level 1, K9 and in the Awards Pavilion.

*The ASCEND collaboration was created to develop the technical and supply chain capability to achieve high-grade, composites-intensive components at rate for high-volume markets. It is a three-year, £40m program led by Tier-1 aerospace supplier GKN Aerospace with funding from the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and Innovate UK. Its creation supports the work of the UK and international governments to achieve zero emissions targets by 2050.

Posted: October 6, 2023

Source: Cygnet Texkimp

Azonprinter’s World Premiere Of The Only 24″ Direct-To-Film (DTF) System That Is Completely Maintenance-Free

ZAGREB, Croatia — October 6, 2023 — Azonprinter stands out on the market as the only Croatian manufacturer of digital printing machines.

Headquartered in Zagreb, Azonprinter operates all over the world and has achieved great success, especially in the EU and the USA. Some of the partners are: ALSO Group, Spandex, RICOH and Kissel & Wolf.

Azon has its roots in the Mros company, that started in 1993. The name of the company changed to Azon in 2006.

In addition to a wide range of UV printers (desktop series and industrial printers – suitable for customization), Azon also produces direct-to-film (DTF) printers.

Azon’s product range includes A3 (desktop) (DTF) printers, as well as 24-inch (more industrial) printers.

As a pioneer, Azon also introduces neon colors in both series. The desktop series can be in a variant with a regular (CMYK + White) configuration (Pronto printer) or neon (neon yellow and neon magenta instead of regular yellow and regular magenta – Pronto Neon). The 24-inch series can combine plain and neon colors.

All Azon’s DTF inks have the Oeko-Tex certificate.

Azonprinter pushed the boundaries of DTF printer technology and brought it to a new level. In the latest series of Azon’s DTF printers, the Primo + Neon X printer stands out (in addition to CMYK+ White, it has 4 neon colors – neon yellow, neon magenta, neon orange and neon green).

Some of the features of the Primo + Neon X printer are built-in ink tank mixing and recirculation systems and automatic nozzle check in a programmable time frame. There is an also automatic system maintenance. The printer has ink tanks of 850 ml. The ink containers are secured with chips. The system is equipped with an industrial signal light for visible status of the DTF system. It has an advanced touch-sensitive color LCD screen. The machines are powered by EFI RIP for fast and accurate color, ICC/Pantone.

It is enough to simply turn on the machine and let it do all the work on its own.

Posted: October 6, 2023

Source: Azonprinter

VDMA: Sales Still On Growth Track, Order Intake Declining

STUTTGART, Germany — October 6, 2023 — The sales of the German manufacturers of Textile Care, Fabric and Leather Technologies remain on a growth path: in the period January 2023 to August 2023, sales increased by 20 percent in real terms, with sales from Germany up 61 percent year-on-year and from abroad up 9 percent. New orders, on the other hand, fell 17 percent short of the previous year’s result in the same period, with orders from within Germany down 7 percent and orders from abroad down a full 20 percent. In the most recent three-month period, June to August 2023, new orders fell by as much as 37 percent.

Rising exports throughout the Textile care, Fabric and Leather technologies sector

German suppliers of laundry and dry-cleaning technology increased their exports by 2 percent to 239 million euros in the first seven months of 2023, with Poland, France and the United States the most important export markets. German sewing and garment technology also saw exports rise by 3 percent to 247 million euros in the same period. The most important customer markets were Italy, the United States and France. Manufacturers of shoes and leather technology in Germany even recorded an increase of 19 percent to 37 million euros in the period January 2023 to July 2023, with the main customer countries being the United States, Mexico and France.

In the previous year 2022, exports of German laundry and dry cleaning technology increased by 15 percent to 421 million euros. Exports in the sewing and garment technology sector weakened in 2022, falling by 5 percent to 429 million euros. German manufacturers of shoe and leather technology, however, increased their exports by a full 25 percent to 59 million euros in 2022. Italian technology suppliers reported growth in exports in all three sectors in 2022. Italian exports in the laundry and dry-cleaning technology sector increased by 2 percent to 442 million euros in 2022 and were primarily shipped to Turkey, Poland and Bangladesh. Exports by Italian sewing and garment technology manufacturers also increased by 17 percent to 317 million euros in 2022. The main customer countries were Turkey, the United States and Bangladesh. Italian shoes and leather technology suppliers increased their exports by 9 percent to 309 million euros in 2022, with the main customer countries being China, France and Spain.

“The mood among European manufacturers of Textile Care, Fabric and Leather Technologies is currently subdued, the outlook uncertain,” said Elgar Straub, managing director of VDMA Textile Care, Fabric and Leather Technologies at the trade association’s industry meeting in Stuttgart. “The continuing tense geopolitical situation, the ongoing labor shortage, as well as the still rising costs for energy and primary products are putting a strain on the entire industry and causing unrest in the markets. However, the resulting steady increase in customer demands for automation, digitization and sustainability, give hope for a surge in investment and thus an improvement in the order situation.”

New board elected in Stuttgart

In the context of the industry meeting in Stuttgart the new board of the trade association for the coming four years was selected. Günther Veit, managing director, Veit GmbH, has again been confirmed in his office as chairman, as has Klaus Freese, managing director DESMA Schuhmaschinen GmbH, as vice chairman. Also elected as vice chairman for the first time was Fabrizio Giachetti, CEO, Morgan Tecnica S.p.A.

Posted: October 6, 2023

Source: VDMA Textile Care, Fabric and Leather Technologies

International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF): Results Of The 22nd ITMF Global Textile Industry Survey

ZÜRICH, Switzerland — October 4, 2023 — According to ITMF’s Global Textile Industry Survey (GTIS) conducted in the middle of September 2023, survey participants exhibited a cautious sentiment regarding the current business situation. The indicator for the business situation stood at -27 percentage points (pp, see Graph 1) because companies in the entire textile value chain were struggling with rising costs and weak demand. Business expectations have remained unchanged since July at around +20 pp (see Graph 2). They have jumped into positive territory in January 2023 based on the assumption that the Chinese economy would give an additional boost, but this hope did not materialize. The analysis indicates that a hard landing of the global economy is not in sight.

Order intake recovered in May 2023, but flattened in July and remained very weak in September (-28 pp). The entire textile value chain is running on minimum levels of orders. As long as brands and retailers do not increase orders, the entire value chain will continue struggling. Order backlog slightly increased globally, from 1.9 months in July to 2.2 months in September 2023. This indicator had been on a falling trend since the end of 2021. The average capacity utilization rate dropped again globally (69 percent). Textile manufacturers expect this rate to remain low in six months’ time as well.

Weakening demand has been the major concern in the global textile value chain for a year. In September 2023, this concern grew even stronger due to high inflation rates measured in the last few months, a phenomenon fueled by high energy and high raw material prices. Nevertheless, participants seem not to be concerned by order cancellations and inventory levels remain average along the textile value chain.

Posted: October 6, 2023

Source: International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF)

Better Cotton And Cotton Egypt Association Inaugurate Renewed Strategic Partnership At Multistakeholder Event In Cairo

LONDON — October 5, 2023 — Better Cotton, the world’s largest cotton sustainability initiative, and Cotton Egypt Association (CEA), the organization responsible for promoting and protecting Egyptian cotton worldwide, inaugurated the launch of their renewed strategic partnership at a multi-stakeholder event in Cairo on Wednesday, October 4, 2023.

Uniting key stakeholders from across the cotton sector in Egypt and beyond, the event brought together representatives from Better Cotton, CEA, Better Cotton’s Programme Partners in Egypt (Alkan, Modern Nile and El Ekhlas), and a number of leading Better Cotton Retailer and Brand Members, as well as these members’ suppliers.

Through a renewed strategic partnership, Better Cotton and CEA aim to further enhance the yields and sustainability credentials of Egyptian cotton while ensuring fair working conditions for farmers and workers.

At the event, participants discussed opportunities to collaborate and what is required to increase the uptake of more sustainable Egyptian cotton.

Attendees also visited a Better Cotton licensed farm in Kafr El Saad, in the north of Egypt, where farmers demonstrated sustainable agricultural practices. Better Cotton Members and others in attendance were able to engage with the farmers and workers, discussing key challenges and opportunities in adopting these practices.

Rachel Beckett, senior programme manager at Better Cotton, commented: “The event was an important moment to reflect on the progress that Better Cotton and Cotton Egypt Association have made through our partnership so far, and the opportunities for further success going forward. It provided the opportunity for direct dialogue between Better Cotton producers, supply chain actors and key stakeholders from the British retail industry, and it is anticipated that it will result in increased demand for more sustainably produced Egyptian cotton.”

Khaled Schuman, executive director of Cotton Egypt Association, said: “I believe that we had a wonderful and fruitful event celebrating years of dedication, collaboration, and hard work that led to where we are today in driving the sustainability of ‘white gold’. The great interest shown today by retailers — and the support we have from all stakeholders in attendance — will pave the way for more success, more production of Egyptian sustainable cotton with Better Cotton’s standards, and more uptake from retailers.”

Posted: October 6, 2023

Source: Better Cotton

Cone Denim Achieves Bronze Status Through Indigood Program From Kontoor Brands

GREENSBORO, N.C. — October 5, 2023 — Cone Denim® has received the Bronze Status through Kontoor Brands Indigood® Program for freshwater savings. With this milestone, Cone Denim is the first textile mill in North America to be awarded the performance status of Bronze or better from the Indigood Program. The honor highlights Cone’s commitment to freshwater conservation.

“This achievement is a tremendous honor for the Cone Denim team and reflects the hard work our employees have put into reaching this milestone,” said Cone Denim President Steve Maggard. “The Indigood Program means a lot to Cone Denim and recognizes an achievement for our employees who work each day toward meeting our sustainability goals.”

The Indigood Program is an initiative by Kontoor that highlights supply chain partners who are actively working to improve their freshwater footprint. Mills participating in the Indigood Program are third-party verified with Cone Denim receiving Kontoor Freshwater Savings – Bronze Status for water-savings achieved during a 2022-2023 timeline compared to a 2018 baseline.

“At Kontoor, we are focused on reducing the apparel industry’s reliance on freshwater, but it is not a challenge we can solve alone,” said Dhruv Agarwal, VP, Sustainability, Innovation, & Development, Kontoor Brands. “Through the Indigood Program, we are identifying, highlighting, and prioritizing the denim manufacturing facilities that are actively working to improve their freshwater footprint meeting the Indigood Program standards. We want to congratulate Cone Denim on their Bronze status under the Indigood Program and for committing to driving change in the industry.”

Cone Denim’s 2025 sustainability goals include a target to reduce water consumption by 25 percent. The company is on pace to meet this goal with 21.8 percent reported water savings at the end of 2022, which has been largely led by its Zero Liquid Discharge effluent treatment system at Cone Denim’s Parras, Mexico mill. Installed in 2021, this state-of-the-art technology plays a key role in reducing the mill’s total water footprint by saving up to 100 million gallons of water a year. The verification process included data from both 2022 and 2023.

The mill uses a customized ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis system to recycle the wastewater and treat 11,000 gallons per hour. The recovered water is recycled back into the denim manufacturing process, eliminating wastewater being discharged into the environment. Over one-third of Cone Denim’s global denim fabric production is made using recycled water from this system.

Cone Denim continues to make significant investments in new technologies and advanced processes that lessen the environmental impact of its denim manufacturing operations. From sustainable finishing technologies to additional metering to measure water conservation efforts at its mills, Cone Denim is focused on a sustainable future.

“We cannot realize a sustainable future alone, nor can any company or denim brand,” added Maggard. “Working collaboratively with customers like Kontoor on initiatives that achieve sustainability at scale is truly exciting. This is where we have the greatest opportunity to move the needle on sustainability and make true progress.”

Posted: October 6, 2023

Source: Kontoor Brands, Inc.

Glatfelter, Mundeo, And Sequel To Vie For Hygienix Innovation Award™

CARY, N.C. — October 5, 2023 — INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, revealed the three finalists that will compete for the Hygienix Innovation Award™. Glatfelter, Mundeo, and Sequel will present their new absorbent hygiene products to senior-level leaders at Hygienix, November 13-16, at The Roosevelt New Orleans Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Here is a summary of the finalists’ products:

Glatfelter: GlatPure™

GlatPure™ is a range of bio-based absorbent hygiene components derived from renewable materials. This product range consists of a variety of plant-based and natural topsheets, an acquisition distribution layer, an absorbent core, a newly improved backsheet, and a landing zone. Crafted from 100-percent renewable fibers and biodegradable materials, and enriched with bio-based binders, GlatPure stands as the industry’s first fully functional, fossil-fuel free range of solutions.

Mundao: Diap’Earth®

From nature to nature: Mundao brings to market DIAP’EARTH®, an industrially compostable baby diaper. This diaper provides a circular solution to the AHP waste issue. Ecoconception (DIAP’EARTH is a bio-based & plastic free diaper) makes it possible to compost the diaper in an industrial composting facility to turn it into carbon where it can become fertilizer for soil. DIAP’EARTH has been successfully composted in major French cities.

Sequel: The Sequel Spiral™ Tampon

The Sequel Spiral™ Tampon features a proprietary spiral design that is engineered to be more fluid mechanically efficient, meaning it is designed to absorb more evenly and not leak before it’s full. In August 2023 the Sequel Spiral Tampon received clearance from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a medical device and the company will now begin a series of consumer trials, with broad availability expected in Q1 of 2024.

The winner of the Award will be announced at the end of the event, Thursday, November 16, at 11:30 a.m. Last year’s award recipient was Pads on a Roll™ by Egal Pads. Pads on a Roll is a wrapped super-thin absorbent period pad that dispenses like toilet paper in public bathroom stalls, preventing the personal embarrassment of not having a menstrual product when needed.

Conference Highlights

In addition to the award presentation, the Hygienix conference will focus on consumer-centric innovations, the circular economy, raw material advancements in sustainability, opportunities for advanced recycling in absorbent hygiene, optimizing the packaging footprint, new approaches for odor control, and market trends and drivers. Plus, INDA’s Government Affairs office will be in attendance to provide insights into recent regulatory and legislative issues. Participants can learn about how the current political landscape could affect the nonwovens industry.

For the full program and to register, visit the Hygienix website https://www.hygienix.org/index.html.

Posted: October 5, 2023

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

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