The Fashion Impact Fund And Lenzing Fibers Hosted Circular Textiles Roundtable At The United Nations

Images courtesy of Lenzing and Lisa Kato

NEW YORK CITY — October 25, 2022 — To mark the third annual World Circular Textiles Day, which took place on October 8th, an action-oriented Roundtable with a select group of industry pioneers came together at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City to identify realistic and achievable priority milestones over the next three decades to create the foundation for a Roadmap to Full Textiles Circularity.

Representatives from the co-founding organizations of World Circular Textiles Day (WCTD), including Circle Economy (Netherlands), Centre for Circular Design (London), and Worn Again Technologies (UK), together with Lenzing Fibers (US) and in collaboration with the United Nations Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network hosted the Circular Textiles Roundtable with key stakeholders from across the circularity landscape, including textile collectors and sorters to brands/retailers, industry associations and policymakers.

The United Nations Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network, a joint initiative of the Fashion Impact Fund and the United Nations (UN) Office for Partnerships, is an UN-hosted online platform for industry stakeholders, media, Governments, and UN system entities to showcase collaborations that accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Participants were brought together to vision and populate a textiles circularity roadmap to 2050, identifying key milestones for transitioning from the current linear model of ‘make, use and waste’ to one which is circular, where products and materials are kept in continual circulation, and replace the use of virgin materials use, and industry workers are supported inequitable, socially just and resilient societies.

The roundtable took a future system thinking approach, across three core themes: Materials and Planetary boundaries, Products and Services, and People and Society, and across three distinct development phases over the next 3 decades.

Cyndi Rhoades, founder of Worn Again Technologies, and co-founder of WCTD shared: “The scale of change required to transition to a fully circular textiles industry is immense but can be broken down into bite-sized and achievable phases and delivery plans. Designing and aligning on circular strategies for implementation and action across the industry today is crucial for achieving future goals and delivering beneficial outcomes for society, economics, and the environment in equal measures. Convening these committed industry leaders to evolve collective knowledge and strengthen relationships is a crucial step in fast-tracking necessary change.”

Kerry Bannigan, executive director, of Fashion Impact Fund, added: “The United Nations Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network fosters transparent, inclusive, and transformative engagement of global stakeholders to drive urgent action for sustainability. The Circular Textiles roundtable aligned with our objective to mobilize expertise, innovation, technology, and resources towards a sustainable and inclusive COVID-19 recovery, with the Sustainable Development Goals as a guiding framework.”

Key insights generated by some of the industry’s leading pioneers included:

  • Technology — a clear, rationalized plan for scaling up between now and 2050 is needed, for all parts of the collecting, sorting, pre-processing, and recycling stages
  • Scope 3 — education, training, new investment, and business models are needed to transform the supply chain, including multi-stakeholder models for ownership and distribution
  • Data/Digitization — a data-driven approach embedded as soon as possible, to enable greater understanding and efficiencies for circular flows
  • Policy — development of Government policies for micro, meso, and macro actions, that include alignment between global North and South actors

Overall, the group expressed a desire to see ‘turbo stakeholder collaboration’ and more partnerships established, at a greater pace. They also noted a lack of information and action around the social innovation potential for the circular textiles industry and requested more information on realistic and fair proposals for transformation.

Tori Piscatelli, regional marketing manager, Lenzing Fibers, commented: “Witnessing leaders across the textile industry come together at the United Nations to engage in collaborative exercises and conversations on circularity, in itself, shows the urgency and need to work together to set up systems and guidelines to achieve this common goal. Most notably, I remember one participant saying ‘We need to go faster. Let’s get there now.’”

Karla Magruder, Accelerating Circularity, added: “At Accelerating Circularity we call ourselves a “Do Tank” and ask everyone we work with to provide their expertise and energy to making the textile-to-textile circular transition. It’s not enough. At WCTD 3 key systems, Product & Services, Materials and People have been put forth as essential. To enable circularity, we must align on all strategies to implement and accelerate this necessary revolution. “Action”, “change”, and “fast” are descriptors we use for the textile industry. Let’s show the world we can take the required ACTION to CHANGE FAST and create a textile industry worthy of the needs of our industry and world.”

The roadmap template will be released in the coming months and will be used as a foundation for integrating existing industry circularity and decarbonization commitments, as well as for setting a longer-term framework across a range of topics, including transparency, traceability, social metrics, legislation, design, circular materials, and products & services. The aim of the Roadmap is to focus industry activities on aligned activities that will accelerate circularity momentum while supporting the industry in reaching its climate targets and delivering against multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Participants

22 x In-Person Roundtable Attendees:

  • Marisa Adler, Senior Consultant, Resource Recycling Systems
  • Chad Bolick, VP Brand Sales – Global Key Accounts, Unifi Manufacturing, Inc.
  • Steven Bethell, Founder, Bank & Vogue, BVH Services Beyond Retro
  • Carmen Gama Ramirez, Director of Circular Design, Eileen Fisher
  • Steven Usdan, Founder, Giotex US
  • Stephanie Warrick, Industry Engagement Director Apparel Impact Institute
  • Tricia Carey, Director of Business Development – Americas and Denim, Lenzing Fiber
  • Cyndi Rhoades, Founder, Worn Again Technologies
  • Rebecca Earley, Professor of Circular Design Futures, UAL
  • Caroline Rush, CEO of, the British Fashion Council
  • Caitlyn Holt, Director, Product and Business Innovation – Cone Denim, Elevate Textiles
  • Cynthia Power, VP of Brand Success, Recurate
  • Martin Böschen, CEO, Bei Texaid AG
  • Ann Runnel, Founder & CEO, Reverse Resources
  • Boris Mercier, VP of Marketing, Recover
  • Peter Majeranowski, CEO & Co-Founder, Circ
  • Karla Magruder, Founder, Accelerating Circularity
  • Paola Laudazi, Senior Accounts Manager, Eon
  • Raymond Randall, Sr. Manager, Textiles – Sustainability Growth Solutions, WM
  • Kerry Bannigan, Executive Director, Fashion Impact Fund
  • Megan McAstocker, Head of Events and Programs, Fashion Impact Fund
  • Tori Piscatelli, Regional Marketing Manager, Lenzing Fibers

5 x Virtual Attendees:

  • Hilde Van Dujin, Capacity Development Programme Lead, Circle Economy
  • Arnoud Passenier, Strategic Advisor on Circular Economy, Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure & water Management | Environment Directorate | International Affairs
  • Taylor Hill, Senior Manager Circular Solutions, Bleckmann
  • Ke Wang Program Director, PACE (on behalf of Stientje vanVeldhoven, Vice President/Regional Director Europe, WRI)

Posted: October 25, 2022

Source: The Lenzing Group

Milliken And PureCycle Advance Circularity By Launching New Concentrate Using Recycled PP Resin

GHENT, Belgium — October 21, 2022 — Today, Milliken & Company and PureCycle Technologies, Inc., jointly announced that they have created the first fully sustainable concentrate for PP on the market. This development advances circularity, since the concentrate based on PureCycle materials will allow for greater use of 100-percent recycled content. Additionally, when used in combination with PureCycle’s recycled PP, it produces a formulation with a carbon footprint (GHG) approximately 35-percent lower than that of virgin PP.

The new concentrate has been formulated using Milliken’s Millad® NX® 8000 ECO clarifier. As an added benefit, the certified energy savings realized by using resin produced with this clarifier allows brand owners to display the much-desired UL Environmental Claim Validation label on their injection-molded parts.

In a press panel at the K 2022 fair in Düsseldorf, Dustin Olson, CEO of PureCycle, and Wim Van de Velde, global vice president of Plastics Additives at Milliken, provided an update on their companies’ collaborative efforts since the partnership began in 2019. Today’s announcement of the first odorless concentrate for PP based on a recycled resin carrier was a direct result of that collaboration.

Headquartered in Florida, PureCycle’s patented recycling process was developed and licensed by The Procter & Gamble Co. The game-changing technology separates color, odor and other contaminants from PP waste feedstock to transform it into ultra-pure, virgin-like resin.

Milliken’s technical leadership and top-tier additives play a critical role in reinvigorating recycled polypropylene (rPP) for PureCycle. By providing a backbone of support through the principal scientist role, and across their broader R&D team, and by establishing an exclusive supply relationship with PureCycle, Milliken is helping to address the plastics end-of-life challenge.

Purposeful innovation for a “no-compromise” solution

The innovative concentrate resulting from this partnership is proof that Milliken’s mission of working together for tomorrow can lead to moving the industry forward in its goals for circularity. It also aligns with the company’s stated goals to advance the circular economy through chemistry. In this case, because the new concentrate enables the production of parts that are free of odor and color, it makes using rPP an attractive option for PP converters as it can be used in various applications, provides the same high quality as virgin PP and has crystal clear clarity.

“Milliken has been a steadfast partner for PureCycle since the very early days,” Olson noted. “For a startup company like ours with groundbreaking technology, we needed their help to set our technical foundation. Their expertise and commitment to understand, grow and develop our product is a differential factor in this partnership.”

Olson stressed that PureCycle is developing a “no-compromise solution” that is designed to deliver high-quality polypropylene resin for a wide spectrum of applications, along with a good carbon footprint — both of which he says are important when innovating in a new space like sustainability. In addition, customers using PureCycle’s product should not need to adjust their operations to accommodate it. This offers a distinct advantage compared with using alternative recycled material, which typically requires the customer to make color or formulation adjustments to get an acceptable end result.

From collaborative vision to global reality

PureCycle is currently scaling its production capabilities. In addition to completing its first plant, in Ironton, Ohio, the company has announced it will install two lines at a new plant it is building in Augusta, Ga. It is also establishing a partnership in South Korea, with plans for another partnership in Japan.

“Our global growth is good for the planet and good for consumers,” Olson said. “We have a special product that can change the world of recycling, and we are executing on our strategic plan to deliver this product to the world, because the world needs it.”

Van de Velde added: “Sustainability is a key pillar and our focus as an organization. The concentrate we announced today is just the beginning. With our technical expertise, we will continue to innovate and bring in new technologies and sustainable solutions to enable our customers to grow. We know that continuing to work with PureCycle and supporting their solution can help the industry move towards where they need to be in the next 10 to 15 years.”

Olson said: “This partnership is proof that when you have groups of people working collaboratively together with a similar vision they can execute results quickly to meet industry commitments. What we like about Milliken is that they don’t represent only one additive. They have other technologies that help boost sustainability. Three years ago, we announced what we would do together in this partnership, and now we are doing it.”

To learn more, visit Milliken in Hall 6, Booth A27 at the K Show or k2022.milliken.com, or check out PureCycle online at www.purecycle.com.

Posted: October 24, 2022

Source: PureCycle Technologies

Motion Ai Opens New Facility In Minnesota

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — October 24, 2022 — Motion Industries Inc. (Motion), a distributor of maintenance, repair and operation replacement parts, and a premier provider of industrial technology solutions, is pleased to announce Motion Ai’s new and extensive facility, which officially opened on June 1, 2022. The address is 7350 Golden Triangle Drive, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, 55344.

As an industrial automation solution provider, Motion Ai needed a larger space for their growing business. The new 105,000 square-foot premises features a gain of 55,000 square feet over the old location, which was also in Eden Prairie. The larger space allows for integrated use, including a regional sales and support center, classrooms for employee and customer training, a regional fulfillment center, assembly and fabrication shops, a proof-of-concept design area, and engineering labs for customer product and demonstration engagement. In addition, Motion Ai capabilities at this facility include large conveyor system builds, complete automation system builds, robotic and machine vision solutions, expanded pneumatic and machine control solutions, machining, welding, and more comprehensive value-added offerings.

“We wanted to meet the growing demands of our customers and the industry by growing every facet of automation and robotics solutions,” said Aurelio Banda, Motion’s senior vice president, Automation Intelligence. “Our investments allow for future, incremental expansion within our structure up to 30 percent beyond our current growth plans. This will also allow us to add employees over time.”

Randy Breaux, president of Motion, said: “Opening this state-of-the-art automation facility represents just one more way we anticipate our customers’ needs in production efficiency across virtually all industry sectors. This is an important step in our long-term growth strategy, and we’re excited to see the upward trajectory of technological innovation and services that the new Motion Ai location will support.” Motion Ai will hold an open house at the new facility in Spring 2023.

Posted: October 24, 2022

Source: Motion

Good Earth Cotton® Partners With Advance Denim On Positive Impact Collection

MOREE, Australia — October 19, 2022 — China–based Advance Denim has announced its partnership with Good Earth Cotton®, offering a fully traceable denim collection made from climate positive fiber, produced using clean indigo dyeing technology.

This movement is part of Advance Denim’s ongoing commitment to a new production model which centers environmental protection while simultaneously elevating innovation and quality.

Good Earth Cotton is earth’s only climate positive, traceable cotton, sequestering more carbon than it emits across its entire growth lifecycle with secure, auditable data protecting provenance and transparency.

Sharing a vision for a more environmentally accountable fashion industry, Advance Denim embraces Good Earth Cotton as a means of change — to disrupt traditional farming and manufacturing practices to further improve the environmental impact of denim and cotton overall.

Cotton makes up 25 percent of the world’s global fiber use and the fashion industry accounts for 5 percent of annual global carbon emissions as the third most polluting industry after construction (10 percent) and food (25 percent).*

Advance Denim intends to incorporate 90 percent environmentally-conscious fibers in its product line by 2023.

As an industry pioneer, Advance Denim’s 30 year history recognizes environmental care as a prerequisite to development. Their focus on constant sustainable modernization has led to such innovations as BigBox Dyeing and BioBlue Indigo that create cleaner indigo dye by using 95-percent less water as well as the elimination of added toxic sodium hydrosulfite in the dye process.

“Advance Denim is proud to announce that we will be adding another layer of sustainability to our Advance Sico mill in Nah Trang Vietnam by partnering with Good Earth Cotton, bringing denim made with modern regenerative cotton to the Vietnam region,” said Advance Denim’s US Marketing Director Mark Ix.

“Advance Sico and Good Earth Cotton share a commitment to sustainability and carbon reduction, and are motivated to deliver high quality, sustainable and fully traceable products.”

Good Earth Cotton employs modern regenerative and smart farming practices to minimize its global environmental footprint and maximise soil health, while elevating members of the global supply chain as agents of change.

Good Earth Cotton is completely traceable, backed by the power of FibreTrace® technology, which delivers end-to-end traceability in real-time to allow for irrefutable data and storytelling that is backed by scientific evidence.

The first of the partnership collection between Good Earth Cotton and Advance Denim will be released in December 2022.

Posted: October 24, 2022

Source: Good Earth Cotton

Orvis Adopts HD® Wool Apparel Insulation For Its New Anchorage Pieced Field Jacket

SHIPLEY, England — October 24, 2022 — HD® Wool Apparel Insulation is proud to partner with Orvis, the family-owned and operated outdoor retailer specializing in fly-fishing gear, dog products and active lifestyle apparel, in the development of its new Anchorage Pieced Field Jacket now available in Orvis retail stores and online.

Orvis used fabric from three renowned British companies, with over three centuries of experience between them to create this extraordinary jacket that protects from the cold and damp. The outer shell is a weather resistant classic waxed cotton from Scotland’s Halley Stevensons who specialize in rugged, densely woven fabrics. The bottom paneling is a warm plaid from West Yorkshire’s Abraham Moon & Sons, one of the last remaining vertical woolen mills in Great Britain. The wool-insulated, quilted interior, made with British-based HD Wool Apparel Insulation, adds an extra layer of warmth in a weight that feels just right.

“We are excited to partner with the team at HD Wool to be one of the first brands to adopt its HD Wool Apparel Insulation in the U.S.,” said Ben Johnson, Orvis director of Merchandising – Men’s. “Consumer reaction to our new Anchorage Pieced Field Jacket has been extremely positive and we look forward to further collaborating with HD Wool in the development of our product line.”

Developed for outdoor and lifestyle apparel, HD Wool Apparel Insulation is 100-percent natural, renewable, and exceptionally durable. Furthering its excellent temperature regulating and moisture management properties, HD Wool Apparel Insulation is actively supporting farmers to start the ReGenerative Agricultural process by having their land subjected to an annual Ecological Outcome Verification set forth by the Savory Institute to show progress in Land to Market objectives. HD Wool Apparel Insulation is the first Global Supply Chain partner of the Savory Institute. Additionally, the hand selected British wool that is used to make HD® Wool Apparel Insulation is fully traceable back to a farm group upon which it is grown and sourced via The Woolkeepers®, the company’s bespoke quality assurance platform.

“We are delighted to collaborate with our friends at Orvis, a leader in outdoor pursuits,” said Gary Lucier, HD Wool Apparel Insulation sales director, North America. “Both companies share an authentic heritage and a vision for doing the right thing. We look forward to developing their product range further together.”

Posted: October 24, 2022

Source: HD® Wool Apparel Insulation

Independent Study By Gherzi Shows: Warp Knitting Consumes Significantly Less Energy Than Weaving

OBERTSHAUSEN, Germany — October 24, 2022 — Warp knitting technology is not only one of the most efficient, but also an extremely environmentally friendly technology of textile production. Especially in comparison with weaving, it shows clear advantages. In the Chinese industrial city of Shengze, for example, a rescue program for Lake Tai Hu in 2018 included replacing many of the more than 100,000 water-jet weaving machines installed there with warp knitting machines to curb the harmful discharge of wastewater into the drinking water source for several million people. The district and city government of Wujiang Shengze received support from KARL MAYER for this project.

Warp knitting machine manufacturer KARL MAYER continues to focus on the ecological advantages of warp knitting over weaving. Only recently, it arranged for a comparative energy consumption study to be carried out by the independent consulting firm Gherzi. The results were already available at the beginning of this year, but are gaining in explosive power now: the possible savings in electricity are not only remarkable in terms of CO2 emissions, but also a real cost advantage in view of exploding energy prices. Ulrike Schlenker from my TEXTILE NEWS wanted to know more about the study and asked Christof Naier, President of KARL MAYER’s Warp Knitting Business Unit.

Schlenker: There are many electricity consumers in warp knitting and weaving mills, and they are globally positioned. How did you set the framework for the energy consumption study?

Naier: We set clear process engineering limits. The study focused on warp preparation, the actual surface production as the main process, and the design of the production environment required for this in terms of humidification, air conditioning and lighting. In the weaving mill, sizing, which is usually indispensable, was also taken into account.

In the main process, the focus was on the use of electricity to drive motors and to generate air and water flows for the weaving machines.

Energy consumption data came from different textile companies, mainly based in India due to corona-related travel restrictions. In addition, we and other European textile machinery manufacturers provided input from internal performance measurements.

From the data, the amount of energy required per m² was determined for the comparison.

Schlenker: Which textile items were you looking at?

Naier: For the study, we selected four product categories that are representative of both technologies. These were terry fabrics made of cotton, and linings, curtains and trouser fabrics each made of polyester or polyamide. In particular, warp knitted 4-way stretch apparel fabrics are currently in great demand. Elastic, crease-resistant and easy-care, they meet the trend for comfort and convenience when worn and washed.

The considered warp knitted and woven articles had comparable fabric parameters.

Schlenker: What were the results of the comparison of consumption data in the production of the goods?

Naier: For warp preparation, fabric production and setting of the ambient parameters, significantly less electricity is required overall in the warp knitting mill than in the weaving mill. This applies to all product categories.

Particularly large differences can be seen in the energy expenditures for the main process, i.e. for pure machine operation. These are particularly well suited for technology comparison, as they are independent of location and therefore the same in all countries.

In terms of product groups, the advantage of warp knitting over weaving is greatest in the production of trouser fabrics. For the production of apparel textiles, warp knitting machines require only about one tenth of the energy consumed by weaving machines. In absolute terms, the potential electricity saving is 0.57 kWh/m².

Schlenker: What are the ecological savings potentials behind this figure?

Naier: The positive effects on the environmental balance sheet, but also on the cost balance sheet, can best be illustrated by an example. An Indian company with 400 air-jet weaving machines and an average daily production of around 134,000 m² of these textiles can reduce its CO2 emissions by around 55 t per day by switching technology to warp knitting – with CO2 emissions of 725 g/kWh in India in 2019. /1/ Coal-fired power generation dominates the country’s energy mix.

In addition to less environmental impact, there are also lower electricity costs. At a price of 0.104 US dollars per kWh at the end of 2021, the savings potential is around 8,000 US dollars per day. Today, this amount is likely to be much higher. /2/

In addition, the previous output can be achieved with far fewer machines. With a 14-fold increase in daily production, 27 warp knitting machines can replace the previous 400 looms. /3/ Smaller machinery fleet requires less space and personnel. These are also significant advantages.

Of course, a change in technology requires consideration of other aspects. Against the background of rising energy costs, however, it is to be expected that the importance of energy consumption in the choice of production technologies will increase.

1 https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/e4945633-ab7c-45cc-8e3a-aa74dd3de962/AirQualityandClimatePolicyIntegrationinIndia-Frameworkstodeliverco-benefits.pdf

2 https://de.globalpetrolprices.com/India/electricity_prices/

3 Gherzi: Compare conversion cost (mainly power related) of weaving and warp knitting, study for KARL MAYER, 24. 02. 2022.

Posted: October 24, 2022

Source: KARL MAYER GROUP

CIBO Announces Availability Of Cotton Modeling For Scope 3 Emission Reduction, Sustainably Sourced Cotton, and Carbon Offsets

MINNEAPOLIS — October 24, 2022 — CIBO, the science-based software company that provides the food and ag value chain with a complete platform to drive ag carbon and nature-based climate programs, announced today that cotton modeling is available in the CIBO platform.

Adding cotton to CIBO’s existing crop modeling and remote sensing capabilities is a significant milestone in the company’s mission to scale regenerative agriculture across crops, geographies and management systems. These new capabilities enable the entire agri-fiber value chain- from cotton growers to the textile industry to consumers- to easily engage in and scale regenerative agriculture. With this addition cotton growers can benefit from expanded carbon offset and Scope 3 incentive programs that leverage CIBO’s platform, and companies with cotton in their supply chain can efficiently inventory and develop individualized incentive programs with cotton growers to reduce their Scope 3 emissions.

“By adding cotton modeling and remote sensing capabilities, CIBO is expanding the reach of regenerative agriculture,” said CIBO CEO Dan Ryan. “This milestone allows us to help more companies and growers achieve their objectives.”

CIBO powers regenerative ag initiatives of grower-focused food, ag and fiber companies committed to sustainable agriculture. CIBO supports the goals of its partners by leveraging its science-based software platform to develop, deploy and manage sustainability programs.

Posted: October 24, 2022

Source: CIBO

Schumacher Announces Rug Program with Instant Availability for Designers’ Ease

NEW YORK CITY — October 24, 2022 — Schumacher, the venerable American design house, announces the launch of its in-house designed rug program, the first since the 1960s. The initial collection consists of 13 stylish patterns, many inspired by Schumacher’s most beloved fabric and wallpaper designs. All will be stocked, ready-to-ship, and available in multiple standard sizes with the goal of providing near-instant gratification for designers and their clients.

The rugs are woven by female artisans through a program called Women’s Weavers, which helps women in rural India learn the art of weaving, giving them the opportunity to help support their families.

Stocked sizes will include 5×7, 6×9, 8×10, 9×12 and 10×14 as well as runners, and range from eco-friendly indoor/outdoor to jute to flatweaves to hand-knotted styles. They will be available to design professionals through schumacher.com and Schumacher showrooms. More rug designs will be introduced in Spring 2023.

“Everyone knows Schumacher for its exceptional fabrics, wallpapers and trims and it’s a thrill to be able to continue to expand our product line. In the last few years, we’ve added bedding, accessories, and furniture to our portfolio and now we have this sensational rug collection. Running through all of it is our singular passion for design, style and quality”, says Dara Caponigro, Schumacher’s creative director.

Posted: October 24, 2022

Source: Schumacher

IFAI Expo Brings Thousands Of Textile Industry Professionals Together For A Successful Event

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — October 24, 2022 — Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) wrapped up what will be known as the final IFAI Expo on October 14 in Charlotte, N.C. As of next year, IFAI Expo will be known as the Advanced Textiles Expo. This year’s IFAI Expo featured a collocation with Sun Shading Expo North America which is organized by Messe Stuttgart, the founders of R + T — a trade fair for roller shutters, doors/gates and sun shading systems.

IFAI Expo and Sun Shading Expo North America together delivered more than 4,200 attendees access to the industry’s leading companies, live product demonstrations on the show floor, exciting social events, the latest innovations in technology and textiles as well as valuable education and insight on current trends.

Attendees had the opportunity to browse a combined show floor of 314 exhibiting companies who were displaying their latest products, equipment, and services. In addition to visiting exhibit booths, the show floor also hosted over 20 campfire education sessions broken out by Advanced Textiles, Specialty Fabrics, and Shade and Weather Protection markets.

“We are pleased with our inaugural collocation with Sun Shading Expo North America. One of our primary objectives in the collocation was to deliver new leads, new markets, more international attendees and ultimately more value to exhibitors. We saw some extremely positive indicators that the textiles industry is on the upswing—orders were being written, machinery was being sold and business owners received valuable insight on the latest trends and innovations to help them propel their businesses forward. Through Expo, we provided a space for fabricators and suppliers to safely convene and do business.” said Steve Schiffman, president and CEO of Advanced Textiles Association (ATA).

The Advanced Textiles (AT) Conference was held on October 11, the day before the show floor opened. The AT Conference offered a Plenary session and networking lunch followed by an afternoon of 12 classroom education sessions dedicated to the Advanced Textiles market. Topics included Advancing Textile Manufacturing Through Collaboration, Innovations in E-Textiles, 3D Printing, Medical Textile Breakthroughs, and Sustainability in Advanced Textiles.

IFAI Expo also hosted two days of market-specific classroom education featuring 20 sessions focused on shade and weather protection, graphics, marine, sustainability and business operations, along with a wealth of other specialty fabrics and advanced textile-focused content.

“I would say my favorite part of expo is seeing the entire supply chain. It’s important to have those conversations with vendors and customers to gain knowledge and make better business decisions moving forward for your company,” said Jordan Krauss, vice president, American Cord and Webbing.

Highlights at Expo included IFAI Expo’s Opening Reception, which took place just outside of the show floor, allowing participants to socialize, enjoy refreshments and hors d’oeuvres and listen to music. Industry Night at the Charlotte Beer Garden was a popular event where attendees enjoyed live music from ATA member band, Hangin’ by a Thread, which is comprised of industry veterans along with some guest vocalists.

Keynoter Elliot Eisenberg engaged attendees with his in-depth and thought-provoking speech on preparing for what comes next in the economy. The Annual Fun Run/Walk also returned to Expo this year and allowed participants to either run or walk a designated route throughout uptown Charlotte.

Multiple companies were recognized for their outstanding work at this year’s Awards Tower Experience. This new area of the show floor allowed attendees to view all of the impressive work on award boards displaying all of the winners and award entries. Also recognized on the show floor were the winners of this year’s Show Stopper Program. These companies received an award and winner’s flag that is displayed in their booth to signify their innovative work.

“Seeing a lot of really cool stuff. Things that will help us step our game up. I think it’s good to just get out and meet people. Especially being somewhat new in the industry. There’s a lot of people here who have 20-30 years of knowledge and I’m hoping to sponge up some of that knowledge. Outside of just seeing the suppliers, new products, and stuff like that getting to meet people who have been in the industry for a long time can really help me overcome some of the hurdles that we’re encountering,” said Dorian True, Carolina CoverTech.

Just before attendees were directed to view the awards tower on the show floor, the ATA Division Meeting took place in the ATA Hub. This meeting encompassed all divisions of ATA to provide updates and valuable information on how ATA membership can serve every member’s individual needs.

Finally, the announcement was made that starting in 2023, IFAI Expo will now be called the Advanced Textiles Expo. This event will still offer all of the exceptional value that IFAI Expo has but with a new look and brand name attached to it.

On the rebranding of IFAI Expo and future of the event, President and CEO of ATA Steve Schiffman added this: “ATA is proud to host a gathering place where all markets across the advanced textiles industry can come together and get business done. With that said, we’re just scratching the surface of making changes designed to improve the attendee experience, which will become evident over the next few Expos.”

Join thousands of your industry peers next year in Orlando for the debut of the Advanced Textiles Expo. The official dates are November 1–3, 2023 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

More information about Advanced Textiles Expo 2023 is coming soon.

Posted: October 24, 2022

Source: Advanced Textiles Association (ATA)

Sustainability And Disruptive Trends In Absorbent Hygiene And Personal Care Highlight Hygienix™ Nov. 14-17 Conference In New Orleans

CARY, N.C. — October 24, 2022 — With the largest absorbent hygiene conference just three weeks away, INDA is ready to welcome over 500 industry professionals and 50 tabletop displays to the sixth edition of Hygienix™, the premier event for the absorbent hygiene and personal care markets, November 14-17, 2022, at The Roosevelt New Orleans Hotel, New Orleans, La.

Featuring three days of premium content, scheduled networking, product innovations, and awards, Hygienix™ is devoted to the latest in sustainable inputs, natural fibers, product transparency, consumer research, menstrual care, and market trends in the absorbent hygiene and personal care industry. Twenty-two industry thought leaders will present their on-point insights in these hot topics:

  • Dr. Robert Fry, Principal, Robert Fry Economics LLC, winner of the Most Accurate Macroeconomic Forecaster for the Year Ending June 2022 from the National Association for Business Economics, will present the North American Economic Outlook
  • Greys Meyer, co-founder/CEO, Sequel, founder will discuss innovations in the tampon market
  • Dr. Prasad Thitame, manager – global sales & marketing Nonwovens, Birla Cellulose/Multifibres and Yarns (USA), will present updates on sustainable product designs
  • A panel featuring disruptive entrepreneurs, from Grace, Kudos, and ParaPatch Inc., will discuss challenges, biases, and taboos in bringing new innovations to market
  • Matt Schiering, professor of Marketing, Dominican University, will present insights and implications from a consumer survey spanning five generations’ use of hygiene products
  • Len LaPorta, managing director, The DAK Group, will discuss mergers and acquisitions and the impact this activity has on the nonwovens industry
  • Dr. Jennifer J. Austin, Market Segment Manager – Hygiene & Medical, ExxonMobil Chemical Company, will present ExxonMobil’s investments and innovations to create a more sustainable future and a better tomorrow
  • Plus, the Hygienix Innovation Award™ Presentations

A full description of all 22 speakers can be viewed on www.hygienix.org

Event Highlights

Three finalists for INDA’s prestigious 2022 Hygienix Innovation Award™ will present their game-changing innovations that use nonwovens and engineered materials in a creative, novel, and technically sophisticated approach on Tuesday, November 15, for a conference participant vote. Finalists include:

  • Egal Pads: Pads on a Roll™ — 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. This product promotes period product accessibility and destigmatizes menstrual health. It is targeted to schools and universities and the away-from-home market.
  • Kimberly-Clark: Kotex® Pantyliner with pH Indicator — The new Kotex Pantyliner with pH indicator, shifts color at the moment it needs to be replaced. This technology works by changing the color from yellow to blue when activated by fluids such as urine, sweat, or others. By indicating the moment to change the product, helps to maintain the intimate area clean, fresh, and consequently healthy.
  • Sposie Kids: Sposie® Dribbles® Potty Training Pads — An absorbent potty training pad that adheres to boy’s and girl’s underwear to protect against leaks and accidents during the transition from diapers to underwear, while still providing physical cues to the wearer to promote potty training.  The pads absorb over half of an average 2-year-old’s bladder capacity and are 100 percent free from any fragrance, latex, and chlorine.

The Hygienix Innovation Award winner will be announced on Thursday, November 17.

Hygienix will also feature the presentation of the INDA Lifetime Service Award on November 15 to recognize an individual possessing a long-established record of service to INDA and the nonwovens industry as a whole.

Hygienix will open on November 14 with two optional workshops. Absorption Systems for Absorbent Hygiene Products will be led by Jim Robinson, Principal, Absorbent Hygiene Insights, LLC and Know the Global Trends in Diapers, Baby Pants & Adult Underwear will be led by Carlos Richer, CEO/Director, Natalia Richer, COO, and Irene Richer, Market Analyst & Partner with Diaper Testing International.

This year’s event includes 13+ hours of networking, tabletop displays, receptions, coffee breaks, and a welcome reception at the Court of Two Sisters. For registration and additional information, visit: www.hygienix.org

Posted: October 24, 2022

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

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