INDEX™ 2023 Exhibitor Preview: Kelheim Fibres

KELHEIM, Germany— April 12, 2023 — Absorbent hygiene products such as diapers, sanitary pads, and incontinence products are an integral part of our daily lives. However, most of these products contain synthetic components and contribute to the global plastic waste problem. The search for alternatives is becoming increasingly urgent. The catch is that only innovations that offer the same performance and reliability as conventional products can be successful in the market. After all, no one wants to compromise in such a sensitive area as personal hygiene.

Kelheim Fibres is currently working on various development projects to design fully biobased AHP (absorbent hygiene product) concepts that do not compromise on performance. In this area, the company continues to focus on its wood-based specialty fibers, which the tampon industry has trusted for decades. However, the requirements for AHP products differ, as each layer must fulfill a specific function.

To meet these requirements, Kelheim Fibres has developed a range of functionalized specialty fibers, including hydrophobic Olea, trilobal Galaxy®, and the hollow fiber Bramante. These specialty fibers ensure optimal results in every layer of the AHP product.

All of Kelheim’s fibers are manufactured from 100-percent wood pulp derived from certified and sustainably managed forests. They are fully biodegradable — microorganisms in soil and seawater ensure that no residues remain.

“As pioneers in our industry, we do not limit ourselves to producing innovative fibres,” said Dr. Crnoja-Cosic, director of New Business Development at Kelheim Fibres. “Together with our partners we develop holistic concepts that cover the entire value chain. Through this collaboration based on the Open Innovation principle, products are created that take into account the real needs of customers and are thought through from beginning to end, so they can be quickly ramped up to a commercial scale.”

A current example of such a partner project is the development of a completely bio-based panty liner with the nonwovens manufacturer Sandler and the hygiene products manufacturer pelzGROUP, which is due to be launched on the market shortly.

In addition to new projects in the field of biobased disposable and reusable solutions, Kelheim will also present its tried and tested fibers at the fair, for example for tampons or flushable wipes. The Kelheim Fibres team is looking forward to your visit at booth 2415 at INDEX.

Posted: April 12, 2023

Source: Kelheim Fibres GmbH

RUDOLF HUB 1922 Innovations Will Be Presented At Kingpins

GERETSRIED, Bavaria — April 3, 2023 — Looking at the runways of fashion and luxury brands and the variety of denim novelties constantly on display, it is never a question of whether to wear denim, but rather “how” to wear it.
 However, if we look at the mainstream markets and if we pay more attention to garment finishing, a very different picture emerges in the stores. At all retailers and across all sales channels, we tend to find simple finishes: commercial dark, medium, light shades and distressed looks. No more resinations, no coatings, no printing, no glitter, little tinting and over-coloring.

It’s all about simplicity.

Simplicity is what the market demands in terms of finishing, because differentiation mostly comes from silhouettes, details and branding.
Simplicity is about authenticity and original denim looks that go back to the origins. And simplicity is, above all, an opportunity for reduced environmental impact.

At the upcoming Kingpins show, taking place April 12-13 in Amsterdam, RUDOLF HUB1922 will showcase its simplified and highly conscious range of distinctive products for total abrasion, local abrasion, bleaching and special softening.

“In fact, there is nothing really simple about our products” said RUDOLF HUB1922 Director Alberto De Conti, while referring to the chemical auxiliaries, which are designed according to a thorough scientific approach and made from renewable raw materials such as food waste or recycled plastics. “Simple is the product range we offer to achieve a variety of amazing esthetics and a much lower environmental impact”.

Posted: April 12, 2023

Source: RUDOLF GmbH

VEOCEL™ Expands Responsible Viscose Fiber Portfolio With New Global Offerings

LENZING, Austria  — April 12, 2023 — Lenzing Group, a global producer of wood-based specialty fibers, has announced the expansion of its sustainable viscose fiber portfolio globally with the launch of carbon neutral* VEOCEL™ branded viscose fibers for Europe and the United States. In Asia, Lenzing will convert the existing production capacity for conventional viscose into capacity for responsible specialty fibers in the second half of this year. The expansion represents VEOCEL’s latest act in providing nonwovens value chain partners and brands with offerings that make a positive impact on the environment and empower an industry-wide shift to reduce carbon footprints.

“Everything we do is centered around VEOCEL’s mission to be a responsible everyday care brand and demonstrate our care for the future of our planet. We believe it is imperative for us to not only reduce our own carbon emissions, but also to empower our partners to reduce their carbon footprint. The launch of our carbon neutral* VEOCEL Viscose fibers via our production plant in Austria and the investment in converting our production plant in Asia to production of environmentally responsible viscose, highlights our commitment to ongoing innovation and driving positive environmental impact. We hope that by taking responsibility to effect real change within the industry, we can build a better tomorrow for future generations,” said Monique Buch, vice president, Global Nonwovens Business, Lenzing.

Carbon neutral viscose to support booming hygiene market**

For the carbon neutral* VEOCEL Viscose fibers Lenzing has partnered with ClimatePartner, a leading solution provider for corporate climate action. The fibers are made from wood and pulp sources derived from sustainably and responsibly managed forests, following the stringent guidelines of the Lenzing Wood and Pulp Policy and trusted forest certification systems. They are produced in Lenzing’s production plant in Austria, an integrated site where actual carbon emissions are reduced through leveraging efficient production methods, such as the direct production from wood to fiber, as well the use of renewable energy sources such as solar power and biomass. To offer the fibers as carbon neutral products, the emissions were measured, reduced and unabated emissions were offset by financing climate projects.

Carbon neutral VEOCEL Viscose fibers produced in Austria will be available from May 1, 2023, onward. With effective liquid management properties, the wood-based fibers are targeted for the wipes and absorbent hygiene product segment, an area where demand has significantly increased since the COVID-19 pandemic***.

To support the growing demand for sustainable nonwoven products, Lenzing and Suominen have been working closely with Lenzing’s first carbon neutral fiber launch, VEOCEL Lyocell fibers resulting the first carbon neutral nonwoven, BIOLACE® Zero to the market. The collaboration continues with Lenzing’s newest product launch, carbon neutral VEOCEL Viscose fibers. Nonwoven roll-goods made utilizing VEOCEL Viscose fibers are available for Suominen’s clients. “We are happy to see Lenzing growing their sustainable fibers portfolio. Collaboration throughout supply chain is the key to increase sustainable product development in nonwoven’s market,” said Marika Mäkilä, senior manager, Category Management, Europe.

Production plant upgrade helps gear up for eco-responsible viscose in Asia

To address the steadily growing demand for sustainable materials in Asia, Lenzing has started to convert capacity for conventional viscose into capacity for environmentally responsible specialty fibers in its Asia-based production plants. This will enable a more optimized production process and efficient use of energy for the production of VEOCEL branded responsible viscose fibers. These responsible specialty fibers will help address the growing demand for more sustainable materials in everyday body and hygiene products, as well as in surface cleaning wipes. The conversion is expected to be completed in the second half of this year.

*Carbon neutrality is achieved by balancing remaining GHG emissions through verified compensation measures (e.g., reforestation) and by retiring carbon credits so that the impact of global warming from human-related industrial and agricultural activities is calculated to zero.


**Hygiene products market forecast to grow faster than projected global GDP through 2027, Smithers 2023 


*** Hygiene products take centre stage, In-Cosmetics, 2021

Posted: April 12, 2023

Source: Lenzing Group

ITMA 2023 Exhibitor Preview: DyStar

SINGAPORE — April 11, 2023 — DyStar, a specialty chemical company with a heritage of more than a century in product development and innovation, will be exhibiting and presenting at ITMA, the world’s largest international textile and garment technology exhibition, taking place in Milan, Italy, June 8-14, 2023.

DyStar is proud to be part of this prestigious global trade event which is well trusted by the textile and chemical manufacturing supply chain. Its booth is situated in Hall 5, at Stand H5-B201.

Eric Hopmann, chief commercial officer of DyStar Group said it is great that members of the global supply chain can finally meet to exchange ideas at ITMA post-pandemic.

“The energy crisis, inflation, and climate impact have accelerated the pace of the textile supply chain’s transformation. DyStar’s innovations will help global manufacturers and producers, Brands and Retailers continue creating value-added confidence and assurance, while keeping up with transformational needs to deliver quality products without compromising sustainability.” Hopmann said.

DyStar’s product innovations are backed by an unwavering commitment to sustainability, and its expertise in reducing the environmental impact of the products. Our econfidence® program creates fundamental value for our customers. At ITMA, DyStar will be featuring a suite of product and process innovations which include Cadira®, Dianix®, Evo®, Indigo, Jettex®, Levafix®, Procion®, Remazol® and more.

All customers and stakeholders can expect to connect with DyStar’s subject matter experts who will be available at the stand, to provide customers with in-depth knowledge of our products and answer any questions they may have during the seven-day event, as they learn more about DyStar’s latest innovations.

Visitors to the stand can also take advantage of getting instantaneous product information digitally in a few clicks.

In addition, DyStar will deliver an insightful paper at the Innovator Xchange on 12 June. Registered visitors may also take the opportunity to establish a fireside chat with our experts on various other topics.

Posted: April 12, 2023

Source: DyStar

Polartec Proudly Shares Milliken & Company Accolades As 2023 World’s Most Ethical Company Honorees

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — April 10, 2023 — Polartec® — the creator of innovative and sustainable textile solutions — is proud to share its parent organization, Milliken & Company, has been recognized by Ethisphere, a leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, as one of the 2023 World’s Most Ethical Companies. For the seventeenth year in a row, Milliken is recognized as one of 135 honorees spanning 19 countries and 46 industries and one of only six honorees appearing on the World’s Most Ethical Companies list every year since the award was founded in 2007.

“At Milliken, we are guided by a commitment to do the right thing,” shared Halsey Cook, president and CEO of Milliken & Company. “We’re honored to be recognized once again, and we’re proud of the strong sense of integrity that drives our global team.” Eric Yung, managing director at Polartec, continued, “Doing what is right encourages us to take bold steps at Polartec. We are very proud to be aligned with Milliken on company core values — integrity, excellence, innovation, sustainability and people — and together work to be leaders in responsible manufacturing.” Milliken and Polartec both recently announced its path toward a net-zero future by 2050 with Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) approved short- and long-term net-zero targets, in addition to the 2025 Sustainability Goals that define both company’s work with its products, its people and the planet.

“Milliken has been a part of our World Most Ethical Companies honorees for the last 17 years — the only industrial manufacturer to meet the 17-time honoree milestone,” said Ethisphere CEO, Erica Salmon Byrne. “We commend the entire team on their dedication to making real impact for their stakeholders and commitment to exemplary values-based leadership.”

Ethisphere’s 2023 Ethics Index, the collection of publicly traded companies recognized as recipients of this year’s World’s Most Ethical Companies designation, outperformed a comparable index of large-cap companies by 13.6 percentage points over a five-year period.

The methodology and scoring for the award is grounded in Ethisphere’s proprietary Ethics Quotient®, the World’s Most Ethical Companies assessment process includes more than 200 questions on culture, environmental and social practices, ethics and compliance activities, governance, diversity, and initiatives that support a strong value chain. The process serves as an operating framework to capture and codify the leading practices of organizations across industries and around the globe.

Posted: April 11, 2023

Source: Polartec®, a Milliken & Company brand

Teknor Apex Acquires The Business Of Nu-Pro Polymers  

PAWTUCKET, R.I. — April 11, 2023 — Teknor Apex, a material science company with multiple specialty plastics divisions, reports it has acquired the business of Nu-Pro Polymers Inc., Wheeling, Ill., late last year. Nu-Pro works with clean post-industrial (PIR) streams and converts them into new PVC compounds which perform equivalently to prime compounds. Nu-Pro specializes in clear, natural and black reprocessed compounds in a range of durometers. Under the acquisition, Nu-Pro will continue to produce products for Teknor Apex at this time, under the Cycle-Tek brand as a subsidiary of Teknor Apex.

“We are very excited about this acquisition that will further enable us to develop innovative compounds that meet the performance and sustainability requirements of our customers,” said Lou Cappucci, executive vice president, Teknor Apex.

“Our flexible, reprocessed and recycled PVC compounds incorporate up to 90 percent post-industrial recycled content,” said Don Brown, co-owner, Nu-Pro Polymers. “Our goal is to convert PVC waste streams into products that perform for our customers.”

“Teknor Apex prides itself on providing innovative and sustainable products, whether through development, expansion or partnerships. The acquisition of the Nu-Pro business is another step in ensuring vinyl continues to be a sustainable option in the plastics manufacturing market,” added Sunny Mahajan, senior technical manager – Teknor Apex, and Business Manager – Cycle-Tek.

Posted April 11, 2023

Source Teknor Apex

Cone Denim x AMK Atelier x Tonello Launch Collaborative Collection At Kingpins Amsterdam

GREENSBORO, N.C. — April 11, 2023 — Cone Denim® will debut Wander, a denim collaboration with AMK Atelier, garment finisher Tonello and videographer Eduard Nijgh at Kingpins Amsterdam April 12-13. The collaborative collection was inspired by the outdoors and the mental health benefits of being immersed in nature. Wander, designed by AMK Atelier Founder Maria Gunnarsson, includes garments in a range of Cone Denim fabrics with the Cone® Community Mental Health Awareness selvage as its hero.

“Project Wander grew organically after a conversation with Maria last year at Kingpins Amsterdam. We worked together on a prior Cone Denim collaboration, The Very Best of Times, and our shared passion for how being outdoors can benefit an individual’s mental health inspired this collection,” said Cone Denim Design Director Pierette Scavuzzo. “The opportunity to work with AMK Atelier, Tonello and Eduard Nijgh on a cause-oriented collaboration and raise awareness through our reach in the industry has been a profound experience.”

Wander carries a dual meaning. On one hand, our minds can wander and cause our mental health to be challenged. On the other hand, wandering in nature positively affects our mental health. Being nurtured by nature benefits both our physical and mental well-being, as reported by the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. Their research cites the benefits of nature therapy on mental health and wellness. Studies have shown that spending time in nature is therapeutic. The simple act of spending time outdoors has been associated with lower rates of depression and reduced stress.

“I was born on a farm in the Swedish countryside, and spending time in nature has been a big part of my upbringing. Now that I live in Amsterdam, I value nature even more. My partner Arne and I try to get out as often as we can in our camper car to change the scenery from the city life,” said AMK Atelier Founder and Designer Maria Gunnarsson. “With this background, it was natural to design an outdoor collection based on our lifestyle in the mental health fabric from Cone Denim. I would be honored if this collection could inspire anyone to take a breath, go for a walk and look outside for what nature has to offer.”

The Wander capsule collection on display at Kingpins will showcase 13 garments inspired by nature and the outdoors. Gunnarsson’s concept for the collection focused on nature, recovery and function. Maria featured the Cone Community Mental Health Awareness fabric with its neon green ID, symbolizing the importance of mental well-being as a central element in her designs. Each garment has the well-known J.R.R. Tolkien’s quote, ‘all who wander are not lost,’ lasered into the fabric.

“The Wander collaboration with Cone Denim and AMK Atelier was a bit like getting lost, only to find yourself again. A finding oneself understood as being in greater contact with nature, as well as in finding a balance with it,” said Alice Tonello, marketing and R&D director for Tonello. “All of this inspired us in making the washes and dyes, which were very responsible and gentle.”

Created in 2019, The Cone Community Collection of fabrics supports and raises awareness for worthy causes that align with the values of Cone Denim. Mental Health was the fourth to launch in the collection and has a neon green ID symbolic for mental health awareness. Made from Cone Denim selvage, this collection has an authentic, 80s-inspired construction in 100% cotton. Cone Denim donates a portion of sales from this collection to the Child Mind Institute.

According to the Child Mind Institute, as many as 1 in 5 children struggle with mental health and learning challenges. Due to stigma, misinformation, and a lack of access to care, the average time between the onset of symptoms and any treatment is over 8 years. This is the reason the Child Mind Institute was created.

The Child Mind Institute is an independent, national nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders by giving them the help they need. They have become the leading independent nonprofit in children’s mental health by providing gold-standard evidence-based care, delivering educational resources to millions of families each year, training educators in underserved communities, and developing tomorrow’s breakthrough treatments.

Scavuzzo continued: “We are excited to, once again, bring some of the greats in the industry together to support such an important cause. Tonello is one of the global leaders in garment finishing technologies and was able to bring beautiful, authentic washes to life. With Maria’s impeccable craft and design details and Eduard Nijgh contributing with his storytelling, we are happy to bring a collection that inspires and supports those facing mental health struggles.”

Posted April 11, 2023

Source: Cone Denim

Textile Recycling: The Sorting Challenge

TW Special Report

To this day, only a tiny fraction of discarded textiles is recycled. While the clothing industry has doubled production in the last 15 years, the time garments are worn has fallen by more than 30 percent. At the same time, the rising demand for low-cost fast fashion is driving a decline in the quality of the materials, which makes them more difficult to re-use or recycle. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, it is estimated that 114 million tonnes of textile waste are generated every year. Of the clothing that is collected for recycling, 12 percent is downcycled into lower-value applications such as insulation material, and less than 1 percent is used to make new clothing in a closed-loop circular economy. The high content of polyester in fast fashion also means that an increasing quantity of discarded textiles are incinerated in waste-to-energy plants because of its high calorific value.

The environmental impact of textile waste

The rising consumption of clothing, coupled with the decreasing wearing time and increasing use of synthetic materials such as polyester and nylon, is worsening the negative impact on the environment. Large quantities of plastic microfibres shed through the washing of textiles are leaked into the ocean, accounting for 35 percent of microplastic pollution1. Improper disposal can also result in flat textiles released into the environment, endangering wildlife on land2 and marine life3.

Regulatory drive for the development of textile recycling

Policymakers have a key role to play in driving an increase in recycling. In Europe, in 2022 the Commission presented an EU Strategy for Sustainable Textiles4, which includes extending the lifetime of textiles by recycling the materials they contain into new quality products. The revised Waste Framework Directive requires EU member countries to establish systems for separate collection of textile waste by the beginning of 2025, and at the same time, new collection and recycling targets will kick in. The infrastructure for collecting, sorting and recycling these materials will need to expand fast in readiness for the new regulations.

The textile sorting challenge

Clothing is made of different fabrics, fixtures and accessories, such as buttons or zips, and they contain a variety of raw materials — combinations of natural and synthetic fibers, plastics and metals. This makes disposing of it sustainably a complicated matter.

“The recycling industry requires pure fractions or very specific mixtures,” explained Annika Ludes, engineer for Digital Solutions at STADLER. “This means removing the fixtures and accessories from the fabric. The different materials in the garment — the outside fabric, the lining, the seams — need to be separated, then the different fibers in each fabric — cotton, elastane, polyester, etc. — must be sorted.”

Today, textile sorting is done manually, and only a small portion of the output material is suitable for recycling. However, research is ongoing on automating the process with the aim of producing the high-quality fractions required to address the recycling challenge.

Automated sorting: the path to a textile circular economy

STADLER — a supplier of sorting plants for the recycling industry — is researching automated sensor-based solutions for textile sorting. In 2017, in partnership with TOMRA, it has designed and built a small pilot project plant in Avesta, Sweden, in the second phase of the government-funded Swedish Innovation Platform for Textile Sorting (SIPTex) project, which aims to develop a sorting solution tailored to the needs of textile recyclers and the garment industry. This was followed in 2020 with the third phase of the project: the first industrial-scale fully automated mixed textile waste plant in the world, which is capable of achieving the purity and recovery required for recycling and reutilization.

This facility, located in Malmö, processes preconsumer waste from textile producers (clippings and rejects) and post-consumer waste, which consists of clothing and household textiles, and may contain non-textile parts such as buttons and zippers. The material is delivered in bales weighting from 350 to 500 kg and is sorted whole. The plant has the capacity to process up to 4.5 metric tons per hour in one line.

The textile sorting process

The process developed by STADLER with the cooperation of TOMRA in the SIPTex project starts with the waste textiles entering the plant in batches, dosed, fed by conveyor belts into four sensor-based TOMRA AUTOSORT® units.

“Because of the nature of the textile material fed into the plant, the feeding system and dosing are very important to the success of the sorting process,” explains Dr. Bastian Küppers, Engineer for Digital Business Development at STADLER. “The STADLER dosing drum features mechanical components specially designed to handle the soft, flexible textile materials, of various shapes and unpredictable sizes, prone to tangling. Similarly, the design and layout of the conveyor belts, hoppers and chutes need to be designed to avoid tangling of long pieces of fabric.”

The TOMRA NIR (Near Infrared) sorting technology is also key to the process and capable of recognizing and differentiating various types of textiles in a first step. A second optical sorter is added for further cleaning of impurities.

Towards a textile circular economy

As the textile industry is moving towards a circular economy, driven by public opinion and legislation, the demand for textile sorting equipment is set to grow at an accelerated pace. STADLER has already seen an increase in interest for textile sorting plants and has been approached by companies in the recycling sector. “At STADLER we are seeing many interested parties who would like to visit the textile sorting plant we designed and built in Malmö,” comments Annika Ludes.

STADLER is uniquely well placed to meet this new demand, bringing to the table its extensive know-how in the design and construction of sorting plants and the specific experience it has acquired through the SIPTex project, as well as the expertise of its technological partners such as TOMRA. With its holistic approach, it is able to develop complete solutions tailored to the requirements of the individual customers.

Sources:
1.     Boucher, J.; Friot, D. Primary microplastics in the oceans: A global evaluation of sources. IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature, 2017 / Büks, F.; Kaupenjohann, M. Global concentrations of microplastics in soils – a review SOIL Band:6; H. 2, S. 649–662; 2020
2.     Macklin, Malorie: 5 Ways Plastic Pollution Impacts Animals on Land
3.     Center for Biological Diversity; Ocean plastics pollution – A global tragedy for our oceans and sea life
4.     EU strategy for sustainable textiles

April 11, 2023

Moss Wins IFES Development + Innovation Award for SustainaTex Ocean

FRANKLIN PARK, Ill. — March 14, 2023 — Moss Inc., a provider of high-quality graphics and tension fabric structures, has won the coveted first-place prize at the IFES Development + Innovation Awards (IDIA) for its SustainaTex Ocean, a fabric blend produced from upcycled marine plastic, post-consumer waste, and recycled polyester. The prestigious award was presented at EuropShop, an event for the global retail industry.

SustainaTex Ocean sets a new industry standard for brand impact using 100-percent recycled eco-friendly graphic materials. A breakthrough product that tackles the growing problem of plastic waste in our oceans, SustainaTex Ocean is made entirely from recycled materials, including plastic recovered from the ocean, and is a sustainable and eco-friendly textile that is perfect for event graphics, exhibition design, and retail environments.

“We are thrilled to have won the IDIA first-place prize for SustainaTex Ocean,” said Jason Popp, president and CEO of Moss. “Our team has worked diligently to offer a product that not only meets the highest standards of design and performance but also addresses a critical environmental issue.”

IDIA recognizes exceptional products and companies that showcase outstanding design, innovation, and sustainability in the industry. This designation reflects Moss’ unwavering commitment to the environment and ongoing pursuit of innovative materials and technologies that minimize waste and advance sustainability in the industry. Moss is fully dedicated to responsible manufacturing practices and reducing their environmental footprint. As a crucial first step towards becoming carbon neutral, the Company has partnered with ClimatePartner to offset the carbon emissions generated by their North American and European plant operations.

“Our role as stewards of the environment is not only to lessen the footprint of our operations but also to assess and reduce the impact of our suppliers and customers too,” Popp added. “This is an excellent challenge for the ingenuity of Moss.”

Moss exclusively launched SustainaTex Ocean as part of its alliance with the SEAQUAL INITIATIVE, a community that works with ocean clean-up programs worldwide to transform recovered marine litter into Upcycled Marine Plastic. As further dedication to this initiative that drives positive change through sustainable solutions, Moss will only ship in bags made from 100% recycled content that are fully recyclable in Europe and the United States.

Posted April 11, 2023

Source: Moss

Alliance For European Flax-Linen & Hemp To Host Expanded Natural Fibre Village And Release New Vibration Damping Report At JEC World 2023

PARIS — April 3, 2023 — Responding to demand from manufacturers for reinforcements that are scientifically proven to be sustainable and high-performing, Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp (previously known as the European Confederation for Flax and Hemp) will once again partner with the JEC Group to host an expanded Natural Fibre Village at JEC World 2023. The group will also showcase its new visual identity and name having rebranded in December 2022.

Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp members Bcomp, Demgy Group, Depestele, EcoTechnilin, Flipts&Dobbels, Safilin and Terre de Lin will be joined at the 2023 Natural Fibre Village by first time exhibitors CultureiN and Texinov Tech, making it one of the largest natural fiber villages at JEC to date. Members will exhibit a wide range of flax products designed for industrial-scale-use, from building materials and performance parts for automotive vehicles, to motorsport components, consumer goods and products for the marine industry. For this latest edition, a central networking and social area will also be added to the Natural Fibre Village for increased collaboration amongst members and their partners.

As well as the latest developments exhibited on member stands within the village, highlights on display at the JEC World 2023 Innovation Planets will also include:

  • Alpine A110 E-ternite with flax fibre composite parts by Terre de Lin
  • Harley Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle with Bcomp ampliTex™ flax bodywork
  • K2 touring skis using Bcomp ampliTex™ natural fibre reinforcements

Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp will also publish a new technical fiber technical report at JEC World 2023 with the latest addition to its document library featuring a detailed study of the vibration damping benefits of flax and hemp fibers in composite structures. In addition, the Alliance will continue to reinforce the value of its European Flax® certification, that provides manufacturers of composites with fully traceable and certified premium-quality flax fibers that are sustainably grown in Western Europe.

Further, as part of the JEC Composite Exchange sessions during the show, Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp will present a session titled, “Flax and Hemp fibre composites, The biobased solutions for the Industry,” when it will discuss the latest natural fiber composite developments, vibration-damping properties of flax and hemp in composites, and updates on its work on environmental trajectory, life-cycle analysis (LCA) of flax-fiber reinforcements. The session, presented by the experts of the enlarged European Scientific Council of the Alliance, will take place on 25 April at 4.00PM on the Agora Stage in Hall 5.

“We are clearly stating our ambition of making European Flax-Linen and Hemp the preferred sustainable premium fibers worldwide. To this end, our strategic trajectory focuses on three pillars: growing our Flax-Linen and Hemp ecosystem; becoming an innovative and sustainable international reference; and, finally, guaranteeing quality and embodying desirability. Today, the European Flax-Linen and Hemp ecosystem thus embodies an innovative and sustainable European textile dynamic that meets the needs of consumers and brands.” Bart Depourcq, President, Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp.

“The composites industry is striving to make its products more environmentally sustainable, without compromising the low weight and excellent mechanical properties for which they are prized. The use of flax-fiber reinforcements could make a significant contribution to meeting these challenges, and we look forward to promoting the latest developments from our members at JEC World 2023.” Valentin Depestele, president of Technical Uses, Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp.

Posted April 11, 2023

Source: Alliance For European Flax-Linen & Hemp

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