Teijin Frontier Facilitates Recycling Of Discarded Polyester Apparel With Novel Technology For Removing Polyurethane Elastomer Fiber

TOKYO — April 10, 2023 — Teijin Frontier Co. Ltd., the Teijin Group’s fibers and products converting company, announced today it has developed a new foreign material removal technology to eliminate polyurethane (PU) elastomer fiber from discarded polyester apparel.

The technology features a new processing agent used during the pretreatment phase of the chemical recycling process, which helps improve the quality of the recycled polyester fiber that is derived from clothing containing PU elastomer fiber. In addition to removing the PU elastomer fiber, the new technology eliminates foreign materials such as dyes, and helps to omit the decolorization process of polyester fiber. Teijin Frontier has been conducting tests of this new technology since October 2022 for practical use.

Guided by THINK ECO® environmental strategy, Teijin Frontier is striving to achieve ambitious sustainability goals by developing advanced technologies that support recycling and enhance the value of environmentally responsible materials. As part of its initiative focused on polyester fiber, the company is working with the supply chain to establish a comprehensive ecosystem spanning apparel collection, sorting and recycling. Teijin Frontier is confident that its new foreign material removal method can help expand the scope of fiber-to-fiber recycling and contribute to a zero-waste society.

The new foreign material removal technology swells the PU elastomer fiber, breaks the chemical bonds and dissolves them with the new processing agent. Simultaneously, the agent eliminates foreign substances including dyes to optimize decolorization of the polyester fiber. For system cost control and environmental load reduction, the processing agent can be collected and reused. Recycled polyester materials generated by this method can be used in the existing chemical recycling process.

Stretchable polyester clothing that contains PU elastomer fiber is becoming popular as the demand in the industry for quick-drying, wrinkle-resistant, and comfortable-to-wear is increasing along with the trend to casual wear. However, as conventional chemical recycling technology for polyester assumes 100-percent polyester products, the quality of the recycled product deteriorates when PU elastomer fibers are included. Therefore, it is important to remove PU elastomer fiber from discarded polyester clothing.

Posted: April 10, 2023

Source: The Teijin Group

Smartwool Launches Second Cut™ Hike Sock, A Sock Made From Your Old Socks

DENVER, Colo. — April 10, 2023 — Smartwool, a manufacturer of merino wool apparel for active living, announces the release of its first circular sock — the Second Cut™ Hike Sock. This sock delivers the same iconic comfort and performance the brand’s Original Classic Hike Sock, but is made with repurposed yarn from Smartwool’s Second Cut sock takeback program that launched in 2021. The Second Cut sock highlights Smartwool’s shift toward a circular business model, which involves collecting and repurposing materials for deconstruction and reuse.

Smartwool, best known for being a pioneer in making performance merino wool socks, is one of the first brands to commit to a focus on sock circularity. After several years of experimentation and thousands of consumer donations, Smartwool is respinning old socks into new yarn. The repurposed yarn is blended with responsibly sourced merino wool and designed with an elasticized arch and seamless toe for comfort. Smartwool teamed up with North Carolina-based circularity manufacturing facility, Material Return to develop and refine this process.

“Smartwool’s partnership with Material Return has ultimately led to a closed-loop model that goes beyond recycling,” says John Ramsey, director of Product Development at Smartwool. “We were able to accomplish this through new and innovative technology, team collaboration, and consumer participation. Investing in this process has enabled Smartwool to take leaps forward toward our goal of shifting towards a more circular business model.”

Only 14 percent of textiles are recycled according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and socks are one of the most discarded pieces of apparel. In April 2021, Smartwool launched its Second Cut sock take-back program to drive change in eliminating waste from the apparel industry and make it easy for consumers to be part of the solution.

Through the Second Cut program, consumers can recycle any sock brand, color, size, and material, but only material from donated Smartwool socks was used to create the Second Cut sock. The first product featuring consumer donations was Smartwool’s Second Cut K9 Camp Cushion dog beds, where donated socks were repurposed into bed filling.

Since the Second Cut program launch, Smartwool has collected more than 725,000 socks and diverted more than 54,200 pounds of socks from landfills. To participate in the take-back program, consumers can add a pre-paid, mail-in bag to their cart at checkout to send in used socks for recycling.

Posted: April 10, 2023

Source: Smartwool®

C&S Becomes Co-Owner Of The Brand Siviglia, Consolidating Its Leadership In The Manufacturing Of Refined Made In Italy Garments

PERUGIA, Italy — April 4, 2023 — After the recent acquisition of Texo S.R.L. which has strengthened the company’s presence in the luxury segment, C&S takes a further step forward in the creation of a widespread garment manufacturing hub in the heart of Italy. C&S takes ownership of the Seville brand together with the Bianchetti family, who remain co-owners covering mainly style research and development functions. The Italian style, which amounts to an aesthetic identity and a guarantee of artisan quality, a cultural orientation toward manufacturing excellence and product design, finally to an approach to the market characterized by availability, openness and interaction with the customer.

High quality and Made in Italy trousers, but there is more, the brand Siviglia from the Marche region brings to C&S a wealth of tailoring skills and product construction. Born in Marotta in 2006 from the Bianchetti family, Siviglia is a reality that has experienced rapid commercial success since its entry into the market thanks to the intuition of the iconic trousers with fabric inserts at mid-thigh inspired by the Spanish horsemen, hence the name that recalls the Andalusian capital. The exceptional success of this iconic garment has made it possible to launch a product diversification strategy aimed at satisfying all the needs and requirements of the reference target, making Siviglia a point of reference for Made in Italy men’s fashion.

Federico Corneli of C&S, outlines the path to follow: “The partnership with the Bianchetti family has the objective of relaunching the brand through a strategy of values and repositioning in both domestic and international markets, leveraging on the values that, in the past, have made the Siviglia brand one of the most important in the Italian market”.

The success of Siviglia is built on coats, trousers and jeans characterized by fit and linear style, thanks to the continuous research on the product, on the fabrics and on the emerging trends, in a personal reinterpretation of the codes of elegance. The corporate style permeates not only the choice of materials and accessories, but is distinguished by the packaging components and the use of visual and communicative languages in line with the brand identity. By interpreting the contemporary and foreseeing the future needs of a constantly evolving market, Siviglia aims to provide its customers with the best in the broadest sense, including among its qualitative goals the reduction of the environmental impact of productions and materials used.

This acquisition strengthens C&S direct contact with retail, going alongside HAIKURE, PDF and other brands still being finalized, and will be able to generate a profitable exchange with the Style Services Luxe and Style Services Denim divisions, through which C&S stands out as an exceptional partner for all the brands that choose to rely on its experience in the world of jeans, luxury and formalwear.

Posted: April 7, 2023

Source: C&S

National Retail Federation: Imports Climbing But Below Pandemic Peaks

WASHINGTON — April 7, 2023 — Import cargo volume at the nation’s major container ports should climb steadily through this summer but will remain below record-setting levels seen during most of the pandemic, according to the Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

“Last spring and summer were the busiest ever as consumers spent freely and retailers brought in merchandise to meet demand,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. “This year won’t repeat that, but the numbers we’re expecting would have been considered normal before the pandemic. The priority at the moment is resolving labor negotiations at the West Coast ports and avoiding any self-inflicted supply chain challenges on top of those we’ve faced the past three years.”

NRF last month sent a letter signed by 238 national, state and local trade associations to President Biden encouraging further engagement by the administration in the West Coast talks. In addition, NRF President and CEO Matt Shay met with Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka at NRF headquarters in Washington to hear the latest developments regarding the status of negotiations. The contract between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association expired July 1. Workers remain on the job, but many shippers have shifted cargo elsewhere to avoid any potential disruption.

“Compared with last year, the flow of import containers on the West Coast continues to decline along with demand as carriers increasingly drop service to Los Angeles-area ports but stretch voyages to include other ports of call to help absorb excess capacity,” Hackett Associates Founder Ben Hackett said. “Meanwhile, freight rates have been impacted by the fall in demand, but new ships are starting to show up and more have been ordered – a sign that carriers expect demand will improve by the time the new vessels are delivered.”

U.S. ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 1.55 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units – one 20-foot container or its equivalent – in February, the latest month for which final numbers are available. That was down 14.4% from January and down 26.8% year over year. February is historically the slowest month of the year, but the number was the lowest since 1.53 million TEU in May 2020, when many factories in Asia and most U.S. stores were closed due to the pandemic.

Ports have not yet reported March numbers, but Global Port Tracker projected the month at 1.68 million TEU, down 28.2% year over year. April is forecast at 1.86 million TEU, down 18% from last year; May at 1.91 million TEU, down 20.1%; June at 1.99 million TEU, down 11.8%; July at 2.1 million TEU, down 3.9%, and August at 2.13 million TEU, down 5.9%.

The large year-over-year declines are skewed by unusually high volumes last year. A 20-month streak of totals above 2 million TEU that began in 2021 – including an all-time monthly record of 2.4 million TEU in May 2022 – didn’t end until last November. By comparison, imports averaged 1.8 million TEU per month during pre-pandemic 2019.

The first half of 2023 is forecast at 10.8 million TEU, down 20.2% from the first half of 2022. Imports for all of 2022 totaled 25.5 million TEU, down 1.2% from the annual record of 25.8 million TEU set in 2021.

Global Port Tracker, which is produced for NRF by Hackett Associates, provides historical data and forecasts for the U.S. ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma on the West Coast; New York/New Jersey, Port of Virginia, Charleston, Savannah, Port Everglades, Miami and Jacksonville on the East Coast, and Houston on the Gulf Coast. The report is free to NRF retail members, and subscription information is available at NRF.com/PortTracker

Posted: April 7, 2023

Source: National Retail Federation (NRF)

Apparel Impact Institute Welcomes Claire Bergkamp To Board Of Directors

SAN FRANCISCO — April 6, 2023 — Apparel Impact Institute (Aii) today announced that Claire Bergkamp, Textile Exchange CEO and long-time Aii partner, has joined the nonprofit’s board of directors. Bergkamp brings over a decade of extensive experience in climate leadership, driving sustainability and innovation strategy for Textile Exchange, and prior, for Stella McCartney.

Bergkamp’s appointment to Aii’s board of directors marks the continuation of years-long partnership and collaboration. Dedicated to mobilizing climate action in fashion, Aii manages a range of growing factory improvement programs, including Clean By Design, which reduce the environmental impacts of textile manufacturing. While at Stella McCartney, Bergkamp served as a strategic partner to bring Clean By Design to the luxury industry.

Building on its programmatic work, in June 2022, Aii announced the launch of a $250 million Fashion Climate Fund to accelerate collective action to tackle fashion’s supply chain emissions. To apply use of funds and support management and scaling of solutions, Aii is currently building out a Climate Solutions Portfolio — a public registry of proven greenhouse gas reduction solutions. Helmed by Bergkamp, Textile Exchange has been an integral collaborator on both of these efforts.

As part of Aii’s Board of Directors, Bergkamp will continue to bring her exceptional leadership in holistic systems thinking to advance Aii’s strategies, programs, and initiatives to ameliorate greenhouse gas emissions in fashion.

“I am so excited to be joining the board at Apparel Impact Institute. Having a long history with Aii’s flagship program, Clean By Design, it has always been a pleasure to work with Lewis Perkins,” Bergkamp said. “I am deeply impressed by the breadth of the work that Aii is now covering, including the creation of the Fashion Climate Fund, which has so much potential to catalyze action and unlock the funding needed to get the industry moving.”

“Claire’s depth of expertise — especially in fiber, materials, and building supply chain projects — will be instrumental as Aii grows the Fashion Climate Fund and identifies and scales raw material decarbonization solutions for the Climate Solutions Portfolio,” said Lewis Perkins, Aii President. “Industry-wide collaboration with partners such as Textile Exchange and leaders like Claire continue to be of the utmost importance as the industry aligns data, insights, efficiencies, and priorities.”

Posted: April 6, 2023

Source: Apparel Impact Institute

CORDURA® NYCO Fabric, CORDURA TrueLock™ Fabric And CORDURA re/cor™ Fabric Uniform & Equipment Solutions Take Center Stage At LAAD ‘23

KENNESAW, Ga. — April 6, 2023 — Set to propel and underscore its commitment to best-in-class solution-dyed nylon 6,6 fiber technology innovation as well as developing the durable, long-lasting fabric solutions of tomorrow; INVISTA’s CORDURA® Advanced Fabrics will focus on responsible uniform solutions, and military and tactical equipment,  tailored to the South America market at this year’s LAAD Defence & Security show, April 11-14 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Join the CORDURA team at booth #C20 Pavilion 2.

The CORDURA Advanced Fabrics comprehensive, global, head-to-toe military, tactical and law enforcement portfolio will showcase:

  • CORDURA NYCO Fabric has a 3-5x slower flame spread versus polyester/cotton alternatives.* 50/50 CORDURA NYCO Fabric outperformed heavier weight Poly/Cotton Military fabrics in Abrasion Resistance testing.**
  • CORDURA TrueLock™ Fabric Solution Dyed Nylon 6,6 (SDN) provides unparalleled lot-to-lot color consistency plus long-lasting color durability and Stewardship benefits; now available in Navy Blue and a palate of 7 military colors.
  • CORDURA re/cor™ RN66 The brand’s latest fabric made from 100 percent post-industrial nylon 6,6 fiber material that is Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certified.

Also on display will be a full collection of lightweight, breathable, quick dry, head-to-toe mission critical performance fabrics including CORDURA Classic Fabric.

The CORDURA Advanced Fabrics global military, law enforcement and tactical applications include: Combat Uniforms, Ballistic Vests, Packs, Load Carriage Equipment, Webbing and Trims, Footwear, Base Layer, Combat Shirts, Headwear, Seat Covers and many more.

Erik Walker CORDURA Global Military Segment leader explained: “Throughout our 55-year brand journey, we’ve worked to establish a foundation built on durable and long-lasting fiber technologies, including our legacy of solution dyed, high-performance nylon 6,6 offerings. As we advance on this journey, we continue to invest and expand our capabilities to include solutions that are not only durable but lead down the path to using fewer resources to make the products our customers value.  We continue listening to the demands of the market; identifying unmet needs, solving problems, and utilizing innovation to create cutting-edge solutions to meet the ever changing needs of global militaries and law enforcement.“

Luciano Salazar CORDURA South America Business Manager added: “At CORDURA brand we know life in law enforcement, military or with a tactical unit can be demanding. So, we develop fabrics specifically designed for combat uniforms. Engineered to be comfortable even in the most challenging conditions; fabrics that are tough, versatile and engineered to excel in the field. We continue to push the boundaries of durable fabric development to meet the physical and environmental demands of combat and tactical life.”

More about CORDURA® brand innovations in focus at LAAD:

CORDURA® NYCO Fabric – Comfort of cotton with enhanced durability

Originally designed as a rugged, lightweight comfort solution for military combat uniforms, durable CORDURA NYCO Fabric is engineered with an intimate blend of INVISTA T420 nylon 6,6 staple fiber and cotton delivering enhanced abrasion and tear resistance, No Melt No Drip*** performance and 3-5x slower flame spread* versus internally tested equivalent weight polyester/cotton. CORDURA NYCO Fabric Extreme based on INVISTA T420HT high tenacity fiber technology has a mission to create a new generation of durable, yet even lighter weight fabrics.

CORDURA TrueLock™ Fabric – Responsible fabrics with locked-in color

CORDURA TrueLock Fabric is engineered with high-tenacity nylon 6,6 multi-filament fiber that locks in the color at the molten polymer extrusion level to create deep, durable color throughout the entire fiber structure. CORDURA TrueLock Fabric has excellent color fastness, UV-fade and abrasion resistance, extended UV strength stability, and long-lasting color vibrancy.  Color consistency is crucial when pairing fabric with other materials such as webbing and elastic to create military and law enforcement gear.  Additionally, compared to conventional level acid piece dyeing, the process used to make CORDURA TrueLock™ Fabric uses less water, energy and emits fewer greenhouse gases****.

CORDURA TrueLock Fabrics are already available in Navy Blue, Desert Sand, Tan-499, Coyote-498, Ranger Green, Camo Green-483, Wolf Gray and Black. End-uses include bags, load carriage, and reinforcements as well as use in responsible  webbings and trims.

CORDURA re/cor Fabric RN66 – ‘Expect More, Waste Less’

The new recycled nylon 6,6 (RN66) collection is ‘durable, responsible and innovated to last.’  CORDURA re/cor RN66 fabric is made from 100 percent post-industrial fiber material that is GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certified and can be produced in a full range of mil-spec colors.

CORDURA® Classic Fabric

The original CORDURA fabric made with a cotton duck appearance optimized for abrasion resistance.

Designed for living and built to last, the original durable CORDURA fabric has proven performance in many of the world’s toughest environments.  Made with high tenacity air jet textured nylon 6,6 filament yarns in a range of sizes — 330, 500, 700, and 1000 denier.

*Flame Spread rate as measured according to ISO 6941.

**ISO 12947-2 (woollen abradant, 12 kPa) after 5 home laundering cycles at 60°C

***No Melt, No Drip Performance based on ASTM 6413.

****2013 LCA study based on the average comparison of conventional level acid piece Dyeing to SDN at 3 independent/3rd party dyeing and finishing mills.

Posted: April 6, 2023

Source: INVISTA

Lotus Teknik Tekstil A.Ş. Successfully Starts Up A Complete Production Line For Biodegradable Wet Wipes Delivered By ANDRITZ

GRAZ, Austria — April 6, 2023 — Lotus Teknik Tekstil A.Ş., Turkey, has successfully started up a complete line to produce nonwoven roll goods for biodegradable, plastic-free wet wipes. This line has been delivered, installed, and commissioned by international technology group ANDRITZ.

The state-of-the-art neXline wetlace CP line combines the benefits of two technologies: wetlaid and spunlace. Natural fibers are processed gently to create a high-performance and sustainable wipe. This next-generation wipe, called Newipe®, combines the benefits of spunlace fabric, in particular remarkable strength in all directions, with the biodegradability and softness of a Wetlace™ fabric. It is produced with a lower carbon footprint, has a low lint rate, and does not generate dust during production.

ANDRITZ and Lotus Teknik Tekstil have a strong focus on sustainable products for a greener future. Lotus Teknik Tekstil supported the technology development intensively from the perspective of a roll goods producer and converter. Thus, the nonwoven roll goods perfectly suit the converting lines for wipes.

Ceyhun Zincirkiran, co-owner and managing director of Lotus Teknik Tekstil A.Ş., said: “We aim to be a part of the sustainable transformation. That’s why we have developed the Newipe next-generation viscose fabric. With the neXline wetlace CP line from ANDRITZ we are setting new benchmarks on the market and securing our position as one of the industry leaders in wipes production.”

Lotus Teknik Tekstil A.Ş. is a nonwoven roll good producer and a member of a group company. The group company consists of four companies that operate end-to-end manufacturing including nonwovens, cardboard packings, plastics, and finished wet wipe products. Headquartered in Istanbul, Sapro is the leader in Türkiye and one of the four leaders in the manufacturing of wet wipes in Europe. The company produces, converts, and supplies 161 million sheets of wipes per day for personal, household, and industrial use, exporting 70 percent of its production to 65 countries all over the world. Sustainability plays a prominent role in Sapro’s business strategy.

Posted: April 6, 2023

Source: International technology group ANDRITZ

Killer Brand Uses Sorona® In Launch Of Sustainable Yarn Dyed Shirting Fabrics

Photo: KKCL and Killer Brand

NEWARK, Del.  — April 6, 2023 — CovationBio, a global company offering bio-based solutions, announces the latest innovation from its bio-based polymer brand Sorona®, in collaboration with Killer, a young, trendy, vibrant fashion brand with an attitude. The release of this collection brings an innovation to the shirting world with Sorona polymer treated in a hank dyeing process for the first time. The new application for shirting offers a two-way stretch with Sorona polymer removing the need for spandex.

The collaboration between CovationBio and Killer combines cotton and Sorona polymer to create a garment with exceptional comfort, moisture management, luxurious drape, and a superior hand feel in addition to vibrant color, and outstanding stretch and recovery. The new global collection expands the future of sustainable textiles in casual fashion, streamlining the method for dyeing Sorona polymer and reducing the processing time for colored stretch fabrics made with Sorona polymer.

Sorona polymer, made from 37-percent annually renewable plant-based ingredients, offers a high-performing, responsibly sourced material option. Fibers made with Sorona polymer are currently used in various apparel applications, including athleisure and athletic wear, insulation, swimwear, outerwear, suiting, faux fur, and more. Sorona polymer is a USDA Certified Biobased Product, has earned Class 1 certification as an OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 product, and is bluesign® approved.

“The traditional yarn dyed checked fabrics lack stretch and Sorona polymer fills the void,” said Neelmani Verma, South Asia Mill manager & Technology Specialist for CovationBio. “While the yarn dyed concept is not new, Mr. Rakesh Basa, technical manager from the Killer team, challenged us to develop a process that would still work with Sorona polymer. The excellent stretch and recovery displayed by the yarns must be maintained through the yarn dyeing and fabric development process. Working closely with our strategic value chain partners, we delivered this innovative solution to the Killer brand team who realized the potential to add an entirely new category to their shirting portfolio.”

“At KKCL, we are driven by a strong desire to constantly keep pace with the newest trends that are attractive to Gen Z, our core customer segment, that values performance and style in equal measure,” said Hemant Jain, joint managing director, KKCL and Killer Brand Leader. “Shirting is a growing segment within our menswear portfolio. We chose Sorona polymer as a key innovation to bring the elements of comfort, stretch, recovery, and moisture management. We believe in close customer engagement and have enabled that through these new garments that deliver both performance and sustainability. Our collaboration with the CovationBio team is an important step towards innovation that balances three key elements for our offerings — style, comfort, and fashion.”

“Sorona polymer in yarn dyed format is an innovation that simplifies the overall fabric processing and maintains and delivers superior performance and an additional degree of design freedom. The Killer brand team was looking at new ways to innovate in the arena of yarn dyed shirting. They realized fibers made with Sorona polymer present a unique way to bring comfort and youthful vibrancy to their garments and express the spirit of what their brand stands for — freedom in movement that displays both style and substance. We were fortunate to work with the Killer brand who have a strong pulse of the needs of their customer and are pioneers in this space,” said Dr. Michael Saltzberg, CEO, CovationBio.

Posted: April 6, 2023

Source: Covation Biomaterials (CovationBio)

Experts To Give Keynote Presentations At ITMA Forums On Sustainable Textile Innovation

BRUSSELS — April 6, 2023 — Two industry forums on nonwovens, and textiles and colourants will be reprised at ITMA 2023 which will be held in Milan this June. The ITMA Nonwovens Forum and ITMA Textile Colourants and Chemicals Forum will feature renowned experts who will offer insights into current challenges and share ideas on how the textile industry can achieve sustainability by leveraging innovative technologies.

Ernesto Maurer, president of CEMATEX, said: “Challenges in the industrial environment also bring with them a wealth of innovation opportunities. The ITMA forums will bring together stakeholders across the entire value chain to review the issues of the day, dialogue, collaborate and ensure that we will have a sustainable future. ITMA 2023 offers a unique platform as it attracts all the textile industry players in one convenient place. Delegates can also visit the exhibition to discover new trends and technologies in the sustainability sector.”

ITMA Nonwovens Forum

The Nonwovens Forum will feature a keynote presentation by Dr. Bryan Haynes, Technical Director for Global Nonwovens at Kimberly-Clark Corp. (United Kingdom). He will speak on the topic: Ready Now Nonwoven Solutions for the Global Plastics Crisis. In his presentation, he will provide insights into solutions that are commercially available, highlighting Kimberly-Clark’s sustainability journey.

According to Dr Haynes, who has a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Tennessee at Knoxville, the Single Use Plastics Directive was a wake-up call to the nonwoven industry. Hence, he would like to urge industry players to explore ‘Coopetition’ or cooperative competition as this will accelerate speed to market solutions.

Following the keynote, there will be two sessions with presentations by ITMA 2023 exhibitors. The forum will end with a panel discussion on the theme, Leveraging Sustainable Innovation and Digital Technology in the Nonwoven Industry.

The panel includes Dr. Haynes and program committee members: Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Executive Director & Associate Dean of The Nonwovens Institute; Dr.-Ing. Martin Dauner, Head of Competence Centre, Chemicals Fibres & Nonwovens of the Deutsche Institute für Textil (DITF); and Professor Stephen J. Russell, Professor of Textile Materials & Technology of Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour.

ITMA Textile Colourants and Chemicals Forum

Held since 2011, the Textile Colourants and Chemicals Forum will feature a joint keynote presentation by Mr Prasad Pant, Director, South Asia, ZDHC Foundation and Ms Sophie Mather, Co-Founder and Executive Director, The Microfibre Consortium (TMC).

The presentation, Textile Wastewater: Addressing Microfibre Loss during Manufacture, focuses on the impact of fibre shedding from clothing during manufacture and consumer use. Microfibres have been flagged as an environmental hazard and the presenters will share the key findings from the joint project by the two organisations on fibre fragmentation in wastewater. Through the presentation, they would like to propel various stakeholders to collaborate towards a sustainable manufacturing value chain.

Pant has a degree in Textile Chemistry and 30 years of experience in textile processing, dyes and auxiliaries manufacturing, and marketing and chemical management systems implementation; while Ms Mather is a thought leader on sustainable innovation and brings innovative thinking and network to tackle the industry challenge of microfibre release within the clothing industry.

A highlight at the forum is the panel discussion, Unlocking the Decarbonisation Opportunity led by Fashion for Good (FFG). Moderated by Ms Jana van den Bergen, FFG Innovation Manager, the session will map the opportunities for impact reduction and dive into FFG’s D(R)YE Factory of the Future Project. The project brings together key players in the industry and several innovators in pretreatment and colouration to validate their technologies.

The forum programme committee comprises Mr Andrew Filarowski, Deputy Chief Executive, Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC); Ms Diana A. Wyman, Executive Vice President, American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC), Mr Frank Michel, Executive Director, The ZHDC Foundation; Mr Janak Mehta, Chairman, Asia Dyestuff Industry Federation (ADIF); and Mr Stefano Cavestro, President, Associazione Italiana di Chimica Tessile e Coloristica (AICTC).

The Textile Colourants and Chemicals Forum will be held on June 9, 2023, while the Nonwovens Forum will be held on June 10, 2023. The delegate fee is 219 euros. Members of supporting organisations enjoy a preferential rate of 189 euros. Registration for the event badges can be done at www.itma.com.

Besides ITMA forums, participants can also attend other complimentary activities, such as the Innovator Xchange (June 9-13) and the Innovation Video Showcase which will feature selected videos from exhibitors.

To be held in Milan from June 8-14, ITMA 2023 will feature more than 1,600 exhibitors from 44 countries. Visitors can register online and enjoy early bird badge rates till 7 May. Each badge entitles the visitor to access ITMAconnect, the world’s largest directory of textile machinery manufacturers. For enquiries, please email info@itma.com.

Posted: April 6, 2023

Source: The European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers (CEMATEX) / ITMA Services

OrthoLite Cirql™ Named Finalist For Drapers Footwear Awards 2023 “Best Sustainable Initiative Of The Year”

AMHERST, Mass. — April 6, 2023 — OrthoLite Cirql™, the world’s first circular foam material solution for footwear, has been named to the shortlist in the “Best Sustainability Initiative of the Year” category by Drapers Footwear Awards 2023.

Drapers has been the leading authority on fashion retailing in the UK since 1887, and its annual Drapers Award is given to a UK or Irish footwear brand, retailer, etailer or supplier that has improved its environmental impact or launched an impressive product within the year. Submissions are judged on four criteria: How the initiative was implemented across the business, the difference made to the business and its operations, how the activity or product achieved its objectives, and relevance to target audience.

Introduced in March 2022, OrthoLite Cirql was developed through an exclusive partnership between OrthoLite®, the global leader of sustainable, performance and comfort insoles and footwear materials solutions, and Novamont, the international innovator and leader in the advancement, development and manufacture of biodegradable and compostable bio-products.

“We are honored that OrthoLite Cirql is among this exceptional group of finalists in the category of best sustainable initiative of the year,” said Glenn Barrett, founder and CEO of OrthoLite. “OrthoLite Cirql is on a mission to help lead the footwear industry toward true circularity, and we consider this innovative new material solution already to be a ‘win’ for all of our brand partners who are making strides toward sustainability in footwear.”

OrthoLite Cirql foam is a patented footwear materials solution combining OrthoLite’s 26 years of expertise and innovation in foaming polymers and Novamont’s world-leading bio-based, compostable and recyclable polymer to provide the first technology capable of greatly reducing the impact of the manufacturing process with multiple end-of-life disposal options.

OrthoLite Cirql will offer a traditional plastic-free, scalable and truly circular material to OrthoLite’s 500+ footwear brand partners and factory stakeholders in 2023.

OrthoLite Cirql is free from “forever chemicals.” It is responsibly sourced from non-GMO traditional vegetable raw materials derived from plants plus synthetic biodegradable materials. The material can be returned to the production cycle by advanced chemical recycling to help keep materials in use or back to nature as fully compostable through selected industrial composters.

Using existing and new, closed loop, take back, recycling streams for footwear, scalable end of life management will involve collaboration with footwear brands and the waste management sector. OrthoLite Cirql will also help avoid the accumulation of persistent microplastics as particles will biodegrade similar to natural polymers such as cellulose.

OrthoLite Cirql is committed to full transparency and third-party validation, and has  undergone extensive third-party testing, and analysis including a complete Life Cycle IVL Assessment. OrthoLite Cirql is Certified Industrial Compostable – (Din Certco), REACH-certified (EU) and USDA Certified Bio Preferred®, RSL compliant (Intertek), certified GMO-free, certified Vegan and Hypoallergenic.

The winner of “Best Sustainable Initiative of the Year” will be announced at the Drapers Footwear Awards 2023 in London on June 22, 2023.

Posted: April 6, 2023

Source: OrthoLite®

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