Shortly after announcing Nufabrx® joined forces with Enventys Partners to establish HealthWear® — a patented smart-technology platform aimed at delivering medicine, health and wellness to consumers via clothing — it was publicized that Charlotte, N.C.-based Tallayne has agreed to purchase the Nufabrx brand and its retail unit from the parent company Textile-Based Delivery Inc. Nufabrx/Textile-Based Delivery was founded by Jordan Schindler who conceived of the idea to use textiles as a delivery mechanism while he was a student at the University of Washing-ton. The Nufabrx brand offers compression braces infused with pain relief ingredients that continue to dose medication into the body over time and are reusable. The move will accelerate expansion of the brand and increase product availability across the United States. Tallayne is known for working with early stage, innovative brands to prepare them for commercial success.
“My involvement with Nufabrx since 2018 has strengthened my belief in the potential of its technology, brand, and the exceptional leadership demonstrated by Jordan Schindler,”said Glenn Normoyle, Tallayne founder. “This acquisition opens doors to even greater opportunities as we proactively work to grow awareness following its initial success.”
“The Nufabrx brand was our first line of products available in the commercial market, its consumer success has led to the development of many new health and wellness products coming soon,”said HealthWear CEO and Nufabrx Founder Jordan Schindler.“The sky is the limit on potential use causes and partner collaborations at this intersection between pharmaceuticals and apparel. We’re extremely excited to see where the team at Tallayne takes the brand!”
Auburn Manufacturing Inc. (AMI), Mechanic Falls, Maine, recently hosted President Joe Biden at its plant in Auburn, Maine. The company produces fire- and heat-resistant materials for the defense industrial base, as well as primary metals, power generation and aerospace industries. AMI has been actively involved for years with the Department of Commerce, Customs and Border Protection, and now the current administration to shine light on China’s unfair trade practices.
President Biden was the first sitting president to visit Auburn since 1912. During his visit to AMI, the president praised employees’ work ethic and commitment to the community, while also pledging further support for domestic manufacturers such as AMI.
“The AMI team is incredibly humbled to have hosted an event of such magnitude, collaborating with the White House on behalf of American manufacturing writ large,”said Kathie Leonard, AMI president and CEO. “President Biden’s visit to Auburn is truly a historic event, reminding all Americans that Maine is on the manufacturing map and that domestic manufacturers like us will never stop working hard and fighting back against even the fiercest competition. We look forward to even brighter days ahead for manufacturers across America.”
“We are thrilled and sincerely appreciative of President Biden’s visit to this industry”said Kim Glas, president and CEO of the Washington-based National Council of Textile Organizations.“President Biden’s economic agenda and focus on domestic manufacturing supply chain resiliency, which he highlighted here today, helps bolster this vibrant U.S. textile industry, which has made major investments in state-of-the art manufacturing facilities, produced $65.8 billion in output in 2022, and employed 538,000 workers. Auburn Manufacturing —a leading producer of fire-and-heat resistant materials, a major supplier to the U.S. military, and a women-owned certified business — exemplifies the U.S. textile industry’s innovative spirit, diversity, and importance to the U.S. economy.”
Innovative textile machinery has been re-crated and shipped on, booths have been carefully disassembled, and exhibitors and attendees have returned home to process the events of a successful ITMA 2023.
The European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers (CEMATEX) hosted 1,709 exhibitors from 47 countries in a net exhibition space of 118,300 square meters while some 111,000 visitors from 143 countries made their way through the halls. All now attempt to absorb what they witnessed at the “world’s showcase for textile machinery.”
By most accounts, ITMA 2023 was lauded a great success by exhibitors and attendees alike. Now digesting the many new innovations becomes the focus of the work at hand. “How will these new technologies impact my manufacturing capabilities?” “What investments could be real game-changers?” and “How does my company evaluate the impact and opportunity of new technologies and their underlying trends?” are just some of the questions that will be considered.
Post-ITMA analysis is never an easy task, but this ITMA has thrown some real gasoline on the technology fire as the industry faces so many challenges of improving efficiencies, going greener, and maybe rethinking entire business models.
Textile World editors get to help with this matter at hand, lending a hand in exploring the many developments offered by this year’s ITMA exhibitors.
The coverage won’t be perfect, but over the next several issues, TW editors will explore sector-by-sector the latest advances in textile technology and the opportunities they present to the industry.
In addition to the regular TW staff, various professors and researchers from North Carolina State University’s Wilson College of Textiles have offered their expertise in providing TW ’s readers insights and analysis into observations of technology presented at ITMA 2023. TW is grateful for their many insightful contributions and their continuing work at the university.
That said, the one major take-away is the sheer volume of new ideas and technology presented at ITMA — some incremental, some very new — all have a place in the changing business environment U.S. textile manufacturing faces.
And the opportunity for investment comes at a great time. Or does it? Well, timing is
in the eye of the beholder, but there is an appetite for new investment and investment that helps tell a company’s story. That story may be a reshoring investment, a green technology investment or even a startup. But of late, most of the investment news has been about expansion and refitting — both ripe for having a look at a new, possibly more efficient ways of producing textiles.
Collaboration is key. Many of the contacts made at ITMA will lead to trial work, product development and new process testing, as well as proof-of-concept projects.
ITMA is never a one-and-done story, — more like a spike in the process, a catalyst for moving forward and looking for new opportunities that capitalize on existing core competencies that need to be renewed and refreshed. It is a shot in the arm that can help stimulate and show businesses a new way or maybe a better way to achieve a textile manufacturing success story.
The Planet Textiles event during ITMA 2023 featured a panel presentation titled “The Global Legislative Landscape: What to expect for Fashion, Sport and Footwear.”
ITMA 2023 emphasized innovations and other drivers for a circular economy
By Dr. Karen K. Leonas
ITMA 2023, Transforming the World of Textiles, provided insight to current and future issues facing the global textile complex. There were opportunities to learn about new and innovative technologies being developed and implemented to address these issues. There was a notable focus on sustainability and circularity throughout all sectors of the supply chain including new fiber development, processing, yarn production, fabric production, finishing, cut-and-sew operations, and recycling.
In addition to numerous exhibitors showcasing their products, there were ITMA live sessions, Innovator Xchange panels and presentations, and ITMA Innovation Awards related to Sustainability and Circularity. During ITMA, Planet Textiles 2023, a two-day conference sponsored by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), explored trends and the latest thinking on circularity, sustainability, and identified drivers that will shape the industry of the future. With more than 111,000 visitors and 1,700-plus exhibitors, ITMA provided opportunities to network with all those involved and gain insights on technologies and trends shaping the future of textile recycling.
Recycling & Environmental Sustainability In The Global Textile Complex
Reclaiming and reusing postindustrial waste has been a common practice throughout many textile industry sectors for decades. Postconsumer recycling is an emerging area of interest that has unique challenges requiring the development and use of innovative technologies to reach the goal. This article focuses on the drivers, challenges and solutions to post-consumer waste collection, separation, and recycling; and many such solutions were highlighted at ITMA 2023. There were numerous new technologies introduced, as well as innovative uses of existing technology that allow for the steps in textile recycling to be mechanized, automated and combined. Legislation, both in development and soon to be implemented, was reviewed, and noted as a driver in moving toward fiber-to-fiber recycling and circularity in the global textile value chain. It is also noted that numerous partnerships among companies in various sectors of the supply chain have been formed and are contributing to the transformation of the industry.
Textile production, from fibers to consumer products, often is resource intensive requiring large amounts of water, energy and chemicals depleting the world of natural resources. These processes can pollute the air, and water, and are known to produce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and impact the biodiversity of the environment. Recycling textile products at the end of life can reduce this depletion of natural resources, reduce pollution and help reduced the strain on the planet’s environment. In this article, recycling includes breaking the product down to the fiber level or its base molecules/monomers in support of the circular economy and closed-loop manufacturing is the interest and the focus. This level of recycling is completed using chemical or mechanical processes depending on the raw material being recycled and intended future use. Recycling will provide raw materials from which new products can be manufactured
There is an overabundance of post-consumer textile waste. Carolyn Chun noted that according to McKinsey, roughly 97 percent of all clothing eventually ends up in a landfill and within 12 months of its manufacturing date, 60 percent of clothing is in the landfill.1 Media pressure, consumer demand, regulations and technology are driving forces behind the move toward fiber-to-fiber circularity.
Textile Waste: Pre- & Post-Consumer
Waste can be categorized as pre- or post-consumer. Pre-consumer waste is from the manufacturer and never makes it to the consumer or retailer. It can also be classified as post-industrial waste. Cutting room floor scraps, rejects, trimmings, threading or end of process waste are examples of post-industrial waste. For years, companies have found ways to reuse or sell this waste diverting it from landfills and sometimes it is used in other products. An advantage of pre-consumer versus post-consumer waste when considering reuse and recycling is there is a better understanding of the raw materials in the waste stream.
Post-consumer waste includes items that have been used by the consumer, disposed of, and diverted from the landfill. Post-consumer waste contains mixed material that is difficult to recycle. Although not truly post-consumer, 30 percent of garments produced are not sold and are commonly landfilled or burned, which also are potential raw materials for fiber-to-fiber recycling.2
Fiber-To-Fiber Recycling Of Post-Consumer Textile Waste
Numerous challenges have been identified regarding textile and apparel recycling in general and specifically related to post-consumer waste. Some critical challenges for effective fiber-to-fiber recycling include garment disassembly and fiber identification. As apparel and other textile products are commonly made of multiple components from various materials, a frequently identified challenge is the use of mixed materials within the products. These can include various fasteners and embellishments as well as various fabrics of different fibers within the garment. In many cases, the fabrics are made from unknown fiber blends, which is problematic in the recycling process. Remembering that the different materials are recycled differently, the presence of mixed materials has previously limited effective fiber-to-fiber recycling.
When post-consumer waste is collected, the first step is sorting. Sorting is most commonly a manual process and there are numerous criteria — sometimes up to 60 sorting categories are used. Initially, those products of “high value,” identified as designer goods vintage items, are removed for high-end resale. Then items suitable for resale through thrift shops are identified and removed. The remaining products may be identified as suitable to sell to rag dealers, and fiber content is of importance in determining how functional they will be in this application.3
To move the remaining goods to recycling so the fibers and/or raw materials can be reused, resulting in effective closed loop manufacturing, it is important to accurately identify the raw materials. This is critical in determining appropriate recycling techniques — chemical or mechanical — and potential end-uses.
Fiber Content
In 2021, polyester had a market share of 54 percent of total fiber global fiber production, followed by cotton and other natural cellulosic fibers with about a 28 percent market share, man-made cellulosics about 6.4 percent and nylon accounting for approximately 5-percent market share.4/sup> In the clothing industry, more than 68 percent of the fibers used in apparel are synthetic fibers, primarily polyester,5 followed by cotton. Blends of cotton-polyester — such as 65/35 and 50/50 —are commonly used in apparel products.
The majority of products contain multiple fibers that have been intimately blended and therefore it is difficult to separate the fibers. Historically, determining the materials within the product was cumbersome and has been achieved using a specially trained workforce that can identify fiber content by touch or others who examine the labels for this information. Next, the products need to be disassembled to remove non-textile components as this would interfere with the recycling process. As these processes are completed manually, they are time consuming and create a bottleneck in the recycling process.
Fiber Content Determination
Technology was presented at ITMA 2023 that aids in the identification of fibers using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. NIR uses the unique signature based on the chemical composition of the fiber for sorting that may be completed incredibly quickly. Several companies at ITMA were promoting this technology including Belgium-based Valvan N.V. — a provider of high-tech sorting and baling systems — and Austria-based Andritz AG, among other companies. These two companies also have combined various technologies, partnering with others, to provide sorting and recycling systems.
Valvan has developed a library of fiber signatures and when the NIR signature from the fiber is compared with those in the library, the fiber is identified in milliseconds. The identification system, Fibersort™, uses artificial intelligence (AI) to predict the concentration of fibers. Fibersort can also separate by colors using an RGB camera. The quick identification allows this technology to aid in fast automatic sorting of the product. Valvan has stated that there is 99 percent accuracy on single fiber materials and 95 percent accuracy on blends.
Andritz recently announced a partnership with Pellenc ST and Nouvelles Fibres Textiles, both based in France, to establish the first combined industrial scale automatic textile sorting line in France. Technologies in Pellenc ST’s Mistrial machines use NIR, visible spectrometry, induction, and X-rays with NIR suitable for fiber identification.
Product Disassembly & Separation Of Fibrous/Non-Fibrous Components
Products must be disassembled by removing fasteners — such as buttons, snaps or zippers — and embellishments — including leather patches, studs and sequins — before moving to fiber recycling. The garment pieces are cut and innovative technology capable of identifying and removing the non-fibrous materials from the waste stream was demonstrated at ITMA. The technology pulls any garment components containing non-fibrous materials such button or zippers and removes them from the product stream while only fabric pieces move forward to the next step, which is shredding.
Figure 1: Schematic showing Valvan’s Trimclean™ process
Both Valvan and Andritz demonstrated technology at ITMA that effectively separated non-textile components from the base fabrics that are found in post-consumer textile waste. Both companies have combined new technology to develop systems that have the potential to transform the textile waste industry and help the move towards a circular economy. Valvan’s technology first determines the fiber content before clipping the garment into smaller pieces and then feeding them into the Trim-clean™, a highly effective system for removing zippers, buttons, labels and other non-textile raw materials (See Figure 1). The undesirable components are pneumatically separated from the textile. This increases the purity of the feedstock resulting in both quality and reliable feedstock for fiber-to-fiber recycling. Valvan creates solutions for all steps in the recycling process including supply systems, bailing systems and sorting.
Andritz also demonstrated technology that successfully separates non-textile components from the fabrics. Like Valvan, the Andritz system covers several segments in the textile industry from sorting, shredding and mechanical recycling. The equipment shreds the fabric while simultaneously removing heavy and metal parts including buttons zippers, rivets and other embellishments commonly found in apparel. Andritz is moving forward into both chemical and mechanical recycling through collaborations with international partners.
Fiber Separation & Regeneration
Technology that can instantly identify fiber content in the sorting process and then remove non-textile components from post-consumer textile waste has been described. However, until recently, it has not been possible to separate fibers in multifiber blended fabrics and therefore fiber-to-fiber recycling has been limited to those products of a single fiber. As the push for recycling continues, technology to separate garments containing blends of fibers is critical. Through various panels, presentations and various networking events, companies pioneering fiber separation from mixed textile materials were present at ITMA.
Representatives from Circ, Ambercycle Inc., and Renewcell shared information about their technology that successfully separates the different fibers in fabric blends and the production of new fibers from the recycled raw materials.
Circ, Danville, Va., has flexible technology that is capable of separating synthetic fibers from cellulosic content; capturing the majority of the raw materials so it can be remade into high-quality fibers to be used in future clothing. The company initially focused on biofuel production, but now is applying a technical solution to blended textile fabrics. In an interview with Elle magazine, Peter Majeranowski, Circ CEO, stated: “A key step in a fully circular fashion system is creating technology to break down textile waste and create new fibers from it [and then] creating garments that are using fibers made from recycled textile waste.”6 Circ uses a hydrothermal processing technology to treat and separate the fibers.
Aksay Sethi and Moby Ahmed founded Los Angeles-based Ambercycle in 2015 as they developed a breakthrough technology using a biological recycling process that enables the molecular separation of different fibers, such as cotton and polyester. This process, known as Ambercycling, produces regenerated materials from post-consumer waste that has been separated and purified at the molecular level. In their process, a whole T-shirt goes into a reactor, and using their patented process, polyester is recovered and reformed into a yarn. These newly regenerated materials can then be made into fabrics for new garments. This not only reduces garments from going into landfills but also reduces the need to use new resources. Ambercycle introduced Cycora® which has been designed to serve as a direct replacement for polyester used in apparel. Cycora is a closed-loop circular yarn created using regenerated textile waste. Ambercycle also collaborated with Avery Dennison to create a unique, scannable QR code label, which allows for full traceability, transparency, and authenticity.
Renewcell was formed in Sweden in 2017 and its technology trans-forms cellulose waste into pulp and allows for the efficient reuse of chemicals. Renewcell’s goal is to recycle more than 1.4 billion T-shirts every year by 2030. The process still has limitations when recycling blends, however Renewcell’s technology can recycle clothes that are made of cotton and up to 5 percent non-cotton material like polyester.
Legislation Driving Textile Recycling
There are numerous drivers moving industry and consumers to a circular economy. Increased awareness of the environmental impact of the global textile complex through scientific reporting, social awareness, and ease of access to information is one of these drivers. Another driver is legislation related to textile waste, both pre- and post-consumer waste, and in some cases the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibilities.
Specifically, the European Union’s Waste Directive Framework requires countries to separate all textile waste by 2025, and the Circular Economy Action Plan ensures that circular economy principles are applied to all textile manufacturing products. These actions have pushed forward the technologies discussed here and support their implementation so companies throughout the supply chain will be in compliance with such legislation.
The SAC-organized Planet Textiles conference that took place during ITMA 2023 highlighted upcoming legislation during a panel presentation titled “The Global Legislative Landscape: What to Expect for Fashion, Sport and Footwear.”
The panel was moderated by Baptiste Carriere-Pradal, co-founder and director of 2BPolicy, and featured speakers ESG, Simple Approach General Manager Ilishio Lovejoy and New Standard Institute Director Maxine Bédat. Current and future legislation is expected to impact all sectors of the value chain.
(left to right): The Planet Textiles panel featured Moderator Baptiste Carriere-Pradal, Ilishio Lovejoy and Maxine Bédat.
Carriere-Pradal began the session with an overview and noted that 10 years ago it was thought that consumers would be the drivers of a change to more environmentally and socially sustainable goods, and brands would change things to meet this demand by ensuring the choices they provide to consumers are made with a “fairly minimum impact.” However, Carriere-Pradal noted that is it now the citizens that are requiring change which has resulted in an increase in legislation addressing the way products are designed, sourced, manufactured, marketed and what happens at end of life. Chun1 noted that regulatory trends are also a factor influencing the landscape of sustainability within the global textile complex and regulation will factor into future innovation development and implementation. Many of the legislative acts mentioned during Planet Textiles relate to transparency and traceability of the product. Increased transparency will allow more accurate and easily accessible information regarding product raw material content and processing and will aid in the recyclability of post-consumer textile waste. Following are the pieces of legislation discussed and or mentioned during the Planet Textiles session. It is expected this legislation will drive the development and implementation of innovative technologies leading to a more sustainable industry.
The Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act — also known as the New York Fashion Act — was a bill introduced in the New York Assembly in 2022. However, the bill did not move forward because of lack of support. A 2023 version of the bill was reintroduced, which stalled in the last session. The act has the four key elements of supply chain map-ping, due diligence, adverse impact disclosures and targeted impact reduction.7 During the Planet Textiles panel presentation Bédat noted that this bill includes due diligence language incorporating what has other-wise been voluntary. The approach is requiring the fashion seller and/or brand to set and achieve science-based targets. “The idea is not to put the information on the consumer and have the consumer do decide and decipher any labeling,” Bédat said. The brand will set the goals and decide how they will structure their business to meet these goals. There is language within the New York Fashion Act, of not only what the fashion seller/brand has to do, but also what information regulators must provide and make available to prevent lack of clarity about what is the responsibility of the supply chain and seller.
The aim of the Corporate Sustain-ability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) adopted by the European Commission in February 2022 is to “foster sustainable and responsible corporate behaviour throughout global supply chains …. requiring companies to identify, and where necessary, pre-vent, end or mitigate adverse impacts of their activities on …. the environment for example pollution and biodiversity loss,” as well as “anchor human rights and environmental consideration in companies’ operation and corporate governance.”
When referring to the CSDDD during the Planet Textiles panel, Carriere-Pradal stated, “…even if this obligation will be for the people putting the product on the market, it’ll have definitely ripple effect for every-body in the value chain, so there will be changes throughout the industry.”
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive adopted by the European Parliament in November 2022, strengthens and expands sustainability reporting to move to a green and sustainable economy. This framework will be introduced in phases beginning in 2024. It includes reporting on environmental and social aspects and how related issues impact their business and how their operations affect people and the planet. Items related to environmental areas include science-based tar-gets, E.U. Taxonomy, and climate risk related reporting.8
On March 30, 2022, the proposal for a new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) was published by the European Commission, which will improve product circularity, energy performance and other environmental sustainability aspects. It allows performance and information requirements to be set for most categories of physical goods placed on the European Union market. The requirements cover a broad range including product durability, reusability, and reparability, recycled content, carbon, and environmental footprints, including Digital Product Passport. The ESPR proposal will apply to all products placed on the E.U. market whether they are produced inside or outside of the European Union.
Transformational Change Is Coming
ITMA 2023 provided the opportunity to learn about the trends impacting sustainability and circularity within the global textile complex. With increased media attention and consumer awareness on the environmental impacts of textile industry, technology, and legislation, there is a transformational change coming in the future. Innovations that allow the mechanization and automation of textile sorting, fiber identification, and the creation of new fibers from textile pre- and post-consumer waste are being developed and implemented as the textile industry moves to meet this change. Both start-ups and well-established companies are taking leadership roles through all sectors of the textile and apparel supply chain to meet the new criteria imposed on the industry. Increased collaboration among non-governmental organizations, industry and academia are tackling the complex issues facing the textile industry. New collaborations, innovative technologies, increased consumer awareness and legislation are driving this transformative change.
References:
Chun, C. (2023, June 11) “The Recycling idea at Levi’s, Adidas, Zara to stop trillions in fast fashion from going to waste”, CNBC. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/11/a-recycled-idea-at-levis-adidas-to-stop-clothing-from-going-to-waste.html
Rudenko, O. (2018, December 10) “The 2018 apparel industry overproduction report and infographic” ShareCloth.com Retrieved from https://medium.com/nataliya-makulova/the-2018-apparel-industry-overproduction-report-and-infographic-by-sharecloth-284cda8f1f9
Englund, F., Wedin, H., Ribul, M., de la Motte, H., and Ostlund, A. (2017) “ Textile tagging to enable automated sorting and beyond-a report to facilitate on active dialogue within the circular textile industry”, Mistra Future Fashion report number 2018:1, RISE Research Institute of Sweden, 2017.
Chen X, Memon HA, Wang Y, Marriam I, Tebyetekerwa M. (2021) Circular economy and sustainability of the clothing and textile industry. Mater Circ Econ. 2021;3(1):12. doi: 10.1007/s42824-021-00026-2. Epub 2021 Jul 6. PMCID: PMC8257395.
Chong, D. A. (2023, May 5) “The future of fashion is circular- here’s how major fashion brands are adapting. Elle. Retrieved from https://circ.earth/the-future-of-fashion-is-circular-heres-how-major-fashion-brands-are-adapting/
Lupo, A.V., Santos, A. M., Roque, R. E., Xu, F.A., and Lewis, E.B. (2023, July 17) “ New York’s fashion sustainability and social accountability act – Round 2 underway”, ArentFox Shiff, Retrieved from: https://www.afslaw.com/perspectives/alerts/new-yorks-fashion-sustainability-and-social-accountability-act-round-2-underway
Crabbendam, N. (2022, December 15) “Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) Explained”, Carbon Trust. Retrieved from https://www.carbontrust.com/news-and-insights/insights/corporate-sustainability-reporting-directive-csrd-explained
Editor’s Note: Dr. Karen K. Leonas is a professor of Textile Sciences in the Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management department at Raleigh, N.C-based North Carolina State University’s Wilson College of Textiles, as well as co-chair of the Wilson College Sustainability Committee.
HOUSTON — September 28, 2023 — Award-winning textile technology Acteev® is growing beyond its anti-odor roots, parent company Ascend Performance Materials announced today.
Acteev has grown into a collection of long-lasting solutions for textile and soft goods applications. A new high-tenacity nylon, an antistatic fiber and a certified bio-based nylon have joined the successful odor-fighting offering.
Acteev’s flagship anti-odor line is now labeled Acteev FREE. It allows the creation of athleisure, outdoor wear, intimates and more with fabrics that combat odor. Acteev FREE can be combined with other fibers to create custom blends, and it allows for dyeing without limitations.
Acteev TOUGH is a high-tenacity, low-DPF nylon 6,6 staple fiber designed for rugged applications such as workwear, footwear, backpacks, straps and climbing ropes. It is fit for everything from industrial coveralls to military and law enforcement tactical gear. As a staple fiber, it is suitable for intimate blends and integrates well with cotton and wool for looks requiring uniform dyeing.
Acteev CLEAN is a fiber with anti-static properties that repel hair, dust and lint on textiles for clothing and household goods such as upholstery. Acteev CLEAN’s functionality is embedded within the fiber itself and requires no finishes or chemical treatments, making it ideal for next-to-skin applications. Effective at low loading, it can be spun into yarns with other fibers and still provide static-free performance.
Acteev BIOSERVE is a nylon derived from plant sources aimed at helping brands achieve their sustainability goals without sacrificing performance.
Finally, Acteev MED is available, with form factors including fibers for next-to-skin applications such as compression garments, nonwovens for moisture management in wound care, and filaments for sutures.
Each member of the Acteev line is available in a low-carbon offering.
The Acteev team will debut the new line at four upcoming trade shows: Performance Days in Munich, Germany, from October 4-5; Functional Textiles Shanghai from October 16-17; the Taipei Innovative Textile Application Show from October 17-19; and Functional Fabric Fair, which runs November 1-2 in Portland, Oregon.
The brand’s various offerings can be combined to create unique solutions, said Nikki Huffman, global business development director for Acteev.
“Our textile scientists can work directly with brands to create a material that solves their customers’ biggest challenges,” Huffman said. “For example, a maker of athleisure might want a no-odor garment that can go from gym to street while also repelling pet hair at home. We can combine our technologies to deliver that, and even make it plant-based and low-carbon.”
Proud recipient of two ISPO Textrends Top 10 Awards and the Outdoor Retailer Innovation Award, Acteev is working with high-fashion designers, entertainment personalities and professional athletic brands to bring innovative, sustainable visions to life. Currently, major brand partner collections include sustainable, high-performing tennis, yoga and golf athletic wear from InPhorm; odor-free socks created by puberty-positive, Gen-Z-favorite OOMLA; odor-free and UV-resistant Suray sun shirt by Coalatree and more. For more information on the new line of Acteev textile solutions, go to Acteev.com
THE WOODLANDS, Texas — September 26, 2023 — Huntsman Corp. today announced construction has commenced on the 30-ton MIRALON® carbon nanotube materials plant, originally announced at Huntsman’s 2021 Investor Day event. The new plant, which converts methane gas to carbon nanotubes and clean-burning hydrogen, will be one of the largest of its kind in the Americas. It represents a major step forward in the commercialization of the MIRALON technology and another step closer to an industrial-scale production facility. A video on the MIRALON process is available on the Huntsman YouTube channel.
“Our business prides itself on bringing advanced materials to market to help our customers solve difficult engineering challenges through innovation,” said Scott Wright, president of Huntsman’s Advanced Materials division. “Today marks a significant step forward in the development of a new class of valuable, sustainable material.”
Huntsman’s MIRALON® carbon nanotube materials plant, which converts methane gas to carbon nanotubes and clean-burning hydrogen, will be one of the largest of its kind in the Americas.
MIRALON structural carbon products are carbon nanotube-based advanced materials, which can be produced as sheets, tape, yarn, or additives and dispersions. Thinner than a human hair and up to 25 times stronger than steel, MIRALON carbon nanotube materials are lightweight and electrically and thermally conductive — attributes that can benefit a wide variety of applications in aerospace, automotive, construction and other industries. MIRALON carbon nanotube materials can be used in electric vehicle batteries, high-performance composites, engineered thermoplastics, conductive adhesives, specialized concrete, and longer-wear tires.
“One of the interesting aspects of this project is that there are actually two valuable products created through the technology,” said David Hatrick, vice president of Innovation and Strategic Marketing for Huntsman’s Advanced Materials division. “The first product is the MIRALON carbon nanotube materials which have tremendous opportunity to create better products and new applications that don’t even exist today. The second product resulting from the process is clean hydrogen — a fuel in high demand as society collectively seeks to lower CO2 emissions and accelerate the energy transition.”
The manufacturing process produces clean hydrogen as a by-product, with little to no CO2 emissions. This can play an exciting role in energy transition by minimizing the carbon footprint of many industries, explained John Fraser, commercial director for MIRALON technology and materials.
“The carbon footprint related to our manufacturing process can be up to 95-percent less, when compared to the traditional process of steam methane reforming (SMR), avoiding the majority CO2 emissions normally associated with hydrogen production,” Fraser said. “Co-locating a small MIRALON manufacturing unit on a customer’s site, creates the opportunity to produce hydrogen right where our customers need it. This will allow companies to reduce their carbon footprint and benefit from the potential of CO2 sequestration/capture credits.”
The new plant is expected to be completed by year-end 2023, in line with commitments made at our 2021 Investor Day.
DyeCoo and CleanDye CO2 Dyeing Technology Slashes Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 58 Percent Compared to Conventional Dyeing
NEW YORK CITY — September 27, 2023 — DyeCoo’s waterless dyeing technology, operated by CleanDye’s factory in Vietnam, generated 58 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions than conventional textile dyeing vendors, an independent lifecycle assessment (LCA) commissioned by Adidas shows.
The LCA was commissioned as part of a program with Adidas to identify and certify low carbon textile coloration technologies.
As brands like Adidas reshape the apparel industry to address climate concerns, technologies such as DyeCoo’s supercritical CO2 dyeing that reduce both carbon emissions and water pollution are essential for sustainable fashion. Based on these results, Adidas will be incorporating CO2 dyeing into its supply chain.
The LCA was conducted by Sphera, a third-party consultant with a proven track record of producing reliable sustainability reports across several industries. Sphera compared CleanDye and DyeCoo’s waterless dyeing process to three of Adidas’ conventional fabric vendors and found that CleanDye and DyeCoo generated a 58 percent smaller carbon footprint versus conventional fabric dyeing technology.
This report coincides with increasing interest in DyeCoo’s technology from firms all over the world, including manufacturers in Turkey, Vietnam, India, Bangladesh, and Central America and large international brands and retailers that seek to reduce their carbon footprint over the coming years. DyeCoo received enthusiastic feedback at ITMA — the world’s largest international textile and garment technology exhibition, which was held in Italy in June. During the exhibition, DyeCoo introduced a range of new CO₂ dyeing solutions, including a smaller fully electric CO₂ dyeing machine suitable for sampling and small-scale production, as well as an advanced lab system for R&D purposes.
“We are thrilled about this report — and that CO₂ dyeing is gaining momentum in textile manufacturing,” said Kasper Nossent, commercial director at DyeCoo. “We look forward to expanding our technology beyond our current customers to other factories around the world in collaboration with our brand partners.”
Besides the significant sustainable impact, DyeCoo’s CO₂ dyeing technology also provides a full color gamut and a very high batch-to-batch consistency in bulk production, without compromising on quality and cost.
Simon Weston, CleanDye’s CEO, said, “The LCA is also a testament to our Vietnam facility, where we use DyeCoo technology to deliver high-quality, sustainably manufactured fabric at competitive prices.”
CleanDye has already produced fabrics for brands such as Decathlon, Tom Tailor, s.Oliver, Marco Polo, and Bonprix, and many other global apparel and footwear brands are in discussions to incorporate DyeCoo and CleanDye into their supply chains.
“After analyzing the LCA, CleanDye has made further improvements to our process, and we are confident that our carbon emissions are even lower than the already impressive LCA figures,” added Weston.
“We already knew that CO₂ dyeing technology dramatically reduces water pollution from textile manufacturing,” said Kenneth Katz, managing director & head of Asia at TAU Investment Management, a New York City- and Hong Kong-based private equity firm that holds a controlling interest in CleanDye and a significant interest in DyeCoo. “Innovation like this is critical. Twenty percent of industrial water waste comes from textile dyeing. But this report is especially exciting since it demonstrates that DyeCoo’s patented technology and CleanDye’s purpose-built dyeing facility in Vietnam also dramatically reduce carbon emissions.
“We look forward to expanding the impact of DyeCoo and CleanDye’s innovation in the sustainable transformation of the fashion industry,” Katz said.
KINGSPORT, Tenn. — September 28, 2023 — Eastman Chemical Co. announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Texas City Operations, located in Texas City, Texas, to INEOS Acetyls, a global manufacturer and supplier of acetic acid and related chemicals owned by the INEOS Group. Texas City Operations is currently part of Eastman’s Chemical Intermediates segment. Eastman will retain ownership of its plasticizer business at the site, which INEOS will operate for Eastman as part of this agreement. Eastman and INEOS have also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to explore options for a long-term agreement for supplying vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) to Eastman.
The total sale price of $490 million consists of approximately $415 million cash at closing and the remainder in equal installments on the first and second anniversaries of the closing. The final purchase price is subject to working capital and other customary adjustments at closing. Proceeds from the divestiture in the near term are expected to be used for debt repayment. The company expects the sale to be accretive to adjusted earnings per share in 2024.
“We are happy to have reached this agreement with INEOS. They have been a strong partner with us at the Texas City site and have extensive experience and a complementary position in the acetyls space,” said Erwin Dijkman, Division president, Chemical Intermediates. “Our Texas City Operations is an attractive site with an incredible team of people, and we are pleased that INEOS plans to further invest in and grow the site. We look forward to working closely with INEOS as we prepare for a seamless transition later this year, and longer-term as operators of our plasticizer assets at the site.”
David Brooks, CEO, INEOS Acetyls, said, “We are delighted to announce this strategic acquisition, which helps drive our global ambitions for our acetyls business. The site is ideally placed to take advantage of competitively priced feedstocks, which will help support our future growth of our business and the sustainable future of the site.”
Eastman will continue to manufacture acetyls at its Tennessee Operations in Kingsport. Dijkman added, “As a global leader in acetyls, we remain committed to maintaining our position and to serving our current markets. We will also continue to pursue attractive opportunities created by our integrated cellulosics stream in Kingsport, such as our recent growth in textiles and expected growth of our Aventa™ Renew compostable materials in food service applications.”
The sale, subject to regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions, is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2023. The agreement contains customary representations, warranties, and covenants of both parties.
Beginning in the third quarter of 2023 and until sale, the assets of the Texas City acetyl operations will be reported as held for sale.
TOKYO — September 27, 2023 — KnitWarm, a company redefining well-being through advanced textiles, recently showcased its award-winning innovations at the 50th International Home Care & Rehabilitation Exhibition in Tokyo. Known for its groundbreaking advancements in smart textiles, KnitWarm focuses on enhancing well-being.
Innovations for Enhanced Well-Being
At the forefront of innovative design and practical utility, KnitWarm’s products go beyond providing warmth; they offer a path to a healthier, more comfortable life. KnitWarm Technology seamlessly combines smart textiles with thoughtful design transforming the experience of warmth and relief into a soft, fabric-centered solution.
Notable innovations featured at the exhibition include:
WarmerShoulder: This heat-therapy solution is tailored to alleviate shoulder discomfort, muscle pain, and arthritis. It boasts a seamless one-piece design for exceptional comfort and effortless mobility.
CrossOver Scarf: This stylish accessory provides cozy warmth while allowing the wearer to express their unique style with ease.
Empowering Enhanced Wellness
KnitWarm’s unwavering commitment to innovation is rooted in its mission to empower individuals to lead healthier lives. Their products promote wellness by enhancing blood circulation, alleviating muscle tension, and inducing relaxation.
Leading in Smart Textiles
KnitWarm’s products have garnered acclaim from prestigious awards panels. Their combination of proven and innovative materials results in “functional advantages” such as “breathability, flexibility, and skin-friendliness,” as noted by the Red Dot Award jury. The use of patented textiles is hailed as an “innovative application of conductive smart textiles and a discreet solution for delivering heat therapy,” commended by the Australian Good Design Awards jury.
Celebrating Excellence
KnitWarm takes pride in celebrating 60+ global awards, underscoring its unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation.
CAMPBELL HALL, N.Y. — September 28, 2023 — The mission of Accelerating Circularity is to create new supply chains and business models to turn textile waste into mainstream raw materials. Accelerating Circularity has created a working group, the Alliance of Textile Chemical Recycling (ACTR), to meet and address the textile industry with a common voice to facilitate accurate information on textile chemical recycling.
“We formed this collective to move chemical recycling technology forward, share common definitions, and address policies in a collaborative way to maximize the elimination of textile waste to landfills and incineration” explained Karla Magruder, Founder and President of Accelerating Circularity. “Chemical recycling technology has many benefits, including quality more similar to virgin fiber and the ability to recycle multiple times.”
ACTR plans to provide the industry with information on how textile chemical recycling can:
offer solutions for diverting textile waste to landfill;
enable textile to textile recycling versus incineration/landfill;
provide sustainably sourced/circular materials;
support brand/retailers/producers in achieving their CO2 reduction targets; and
provide long term price stability and consistent supply of raw materials versus virgin.
Members of the Alliance include founding members Eastman, Lenzing, and The LYCRA Company, as well as key innovators Circ®, Sappi, Renewcell, Infinited fiber, Worn Again Technologies, Gr3n, CuRe Technology, and OnceMore® from Sodra.
As a first step, the ACTR (Alliance of Chemical Textile Recycling) is introducing a dictionary of common terms developed to educate the industry on the chemical recycling of textiles.
TOKYO — September 27, 2023 — KnitWarm, a company redefining well-being through advanced textiles, recently showcased its award-winning innovations at the 50th International Home Care & Rehabilitation Exhibition in Tokyo. Known for its groundbreaking advancements in smart textiles, KnitWarm focuses on enhancing well-being.
Notable innovations featured at the exhibition include:
