Honeywell’s Corporate Headquarters Earns LEED® Gold

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — September 27, 2022 — Honeywell today announced that its Charlotte, N.C., corporate headquarters building has earned the coveted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Buildings Council (USGBC) for its building envelope and tenant upfit. The most widely used green building rating system worldwide, LEED is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership.

The 23-story, 313,000 sq. ft. facility located in Charlotte’s Legacy Union site incorporates Honeywell’s latest building controls, fire and life safety, security, energy and carbon management and indoor air quality (IAQ) technologies — all of which gave the new building an edge in the LEED assessment. The technology is anchored by the Honeywell Forge enterprise performance management software-as-a-service that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms to help deliver operational efficiencies and help meet energy performance goals.

USGBC assesses 100-plus elements of building design, construction, furnishing and maintenance and awards points to a project based on energy efficiency, water conservation and other measures of environmental sustainability. In its report, the USGBC cited the building’s optimization of energy performance, including advanced energy metering and lighting power reduction as well as its indoor environmental quality, including enhanced IAQ strategies, low-emitting construction materials, interior lighting and effective use of daylight; and its use of innovative technologies. The building also earned high marks for sourcing of raw materials, material ingredients and construction waste management.

“We’re honored to receive the LEED Gold certification from USGBC,” said James O’Reilly, vice president of global corporate real estate, Honeywell. “We’ve been purposeful to create a building that not only provides an occupant-first experience but also is mindful to the impact on our environment. Our Charlotte headquarters allows us to show our customers how our ready now solutions can help solve some of their biggest challenges – meeting sustainability goals and creating a better occupant experience.”

“Achieving LEED certification is more than just implementing sustainable practices. It represents a commitment to making the world a better place and influencing others to do better,” said Peter Templeton, interim president and CEO, USGBC. “Given the extraordinary importance of climate protection and the central role buildings play in that effort, Honeywell is creating a path forward through their LEED certification.”

Honeywell Forge Predictive Maintenance analyzes and optimizes systems maintenance to recommend early and proactive actions to avoid costly, unnecessary changes and reduce unplanned, reactive work on building systems.

Carbon & Energy Management, part of the Honeywell Buildings Sustainability Manager powered by Honeywell Forge, continuously investigates, analyzes and optimizes building performance, down to an asset-specific level, measuring critical sustainability KPIs including carbon emissions.

Earning the LEED Gold certification will further help Honeywell realize its commitment, announced in April 2021, to achieve carbon neutrality in its operations and facilities by 2035. The company is working to achieve this goal by further investing in energy savings projects, converting to renewable energy sources, completing capital improvement projects at its sites and in its fleet of company vehicles, and using credible carbon credits, if necessary.

Honeywell’s commitment to carbon neutrality builds on the company’s decades-long history of innovation to help its customers meet their environmental and social goals. In 2021, approximately 60 percent of the company’s revenue and more than 60 percent of Honeywell’s new product research and development investment was directed toward products that improve ESG outcomes for customers.

Posted: September 27, 2022

Source: Honeywell

Bridgestone Advances Sustainable Manufacturing: First American Tire Manufacturing Facility To Earn The International Sustainability And Carbon Certification

GRANITEVILLE, S.C. — September 27, 2022 — Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone) announced its Aiken County Passenger/Light Truck Radial tire plant is the first tire manufacturing facility in America to earn the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS recognition for its transparency and traceability of sustainable raw materials including bio, bio-circular and circular-based material to replace synthetic rubber*, as the company’s continues its drive toward tires made from 100-percent sustainable materials by 2050.

“Step by step, we are working to overcome the technological and market barriers to fully sustainable and renewable tires made with bio-sourced and recycled materials,” said Nizar Trigui, chief technology officer and group president, Bridgestone Americas. “This ISCC PLUS certification for our Aiken County Plant is an important mile marker in our journey to become a leading sustainable solutions company.”

In 2021, Bridgestone announced the manufacturing process at the Aiken County facility would be directly powered by its first ground-based solar array. The facility is powered by approximately 8 acres of solar panels that generate enough electricity to power over 200 homes annually, while also reducing 1,400 metric tons of CO2 emissions each year.

The 2.78 million-square-foot manufacturing facility in Graniteville, S.C., employing over 1,740 Bridgestone teammates, began production of passenger and light truck radial tires in 1997. Tires produced at this plant equip standard passenger vehicles and light trucks for original equipment and retail.

Sustainable practices in its manufacturing facilities is a critical element of Bridgestone’s 2050 sustainability commitments, including its aims to achieve carbon neutrality and tires made with 100% sustainable materials. Bridgestone Technical Center Europe SpA in Roma also recently earned an ISCC PLUS certification for Bio-Circular & Circular based materials. Bridgestone also continues to advance its leading initiative to diversify the world’s natural rubber supply by commercializing use of guayule-derived natural rubber in tires by 2030.

The ISSC PLUS certification of the Aiken County Passenger/Light Truck Radial tire plant supports the “Ecology” and “Energy” values of the Bridgestone E8 Commitment, which establishes eight values starting with the letter “E” to solidify Bridgestone’s commitment to a more sustainable world.

*The bio- based and recycled content of the synthetic rubber is allocated using the ISCC PLUS mass balance approach.  With respect to sustainable materials handled by the certified site, the annex to the ISCC certificate provides additional information and states that it is only applicable for material handled under the scopes: farm/plantation, point of origin, central office, (farm/plantation or point of origin) first gathering point, processing unit (any type) but not for material that is only traded and/or stored).  Mass balancing is a chain of custody option in which certified and non-certified materials are mixed physically but kept separate in the bookkeeping. This method is used to document and track biological, circular and renewable materials through complex manufacturing systems. By using mass balance, certified entities can track how much sustainable material has been used in their manufacturing systems and ensure that it corresponds exactly to the amount of certified content in the end products.  Specific information about the ISCC certification is available at: All Certificates › ISCC System (iscc-system.org)

Posted: September 27, 2022

Source: Bridgestone Americas Inc.

Cozmo, Kornit Digital Present “Sustainable Choice” With Stunning Printed Designs For Sofa Jackets By Raw-Edges With On-Demand Textile Production

ROSH HA’AYIN, Israel — September 22, 2022 — Kornit Digital is collaborating with furniture start-up Cozmo and London design studio Raw-Edges to showcase the unlimited creativity made possible by digitally produced custom sofa jacket designs at the London Design Festival, September 17-25. Dubbed “Cheek Prints,” the collection was created sustainably, quickly, and on-demand with Kornit’s digital fashion and textile production solutions. Each unique cover features visually stunning designs intended to transform plain, standard sofas into custom creations with an entirely fresh look and feel. The collection was designed by Raw-Edges at their London design studio.

“The ability to transform a generic fabric with custom prints creates a sofa that can change with the owner’s tastes and provides a lifetime of value,” said Phil Oakley, director of UK and Ireland at Kornit Digital. “With digital production technology, there’s no need to throw away older sofas. It allows owners to redesign the furniture’s look and feel quickly, easily, and cost-effectively. We’re excited to exhibit at the London Design Festival and are proud of our collaboration with both Cozmo and Raw-Edges, showing all that is possible for home décor with sustainable, on-demand production.”

“Our sofas are design-led, offering customers total freedom to create a sofa that is unique and special and doesn’t exist in the market,” said Jacob Peres, co-founder of Cozmo. “Working with Kornit, we’re not only putting creativity in the buyer’s hands, but also allowing the market to respond quickly to changing customer demand. We’re very pleased of our collaboration with Kornit and Raw-Edges, which is unlocking new levels of creativity with highly sustainable digital production.”

The sofa collection was produced using Kornit’s Presto direct-to-fabric digital production system, widely considered the industry’s most advanced, single-step solution for high-quality decoration — and the only system offering white printing on coloured fabrics. With the power of on-demand technology, designers can easily and rapidly embrace new possibilities to transform mere concepts into brilliant, custom fabrics. Digital production removes typical limitations of one fabric, one design at a time – whether it’s a single sofa or many sofas — and at the same cost. For industries ranging from fashion and home décor to other advanced textile applications, the Kornit solution consistently unlocks unlimited creativity – producing garments and fabrics with the highest quality and softest feel.

General audiences are encouraged to view the collection live September 15-22. Media are invited to experience the new possibilities enabled by digital production at a press session on Thursday, September 22nd at 5:00 pm [UK] at Gallery 7 at 4 Cromwell Place in London.

Posted September 27, 2022

Source: Kornit Digital

Milliken Launches New Polypropylene Clarifier Plant: Increase Capacity By More Than 50 Percent

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — September 12, 2022 — The recent launch of production at Milliken & Company’s new clarifier plant in Blacksburg, S.C., will enhance access to the Millad® NX® 8000 additive for customers worldwide. This facility will enable Milliken, a global manufacturer of plastic additives and colorants, to meet increasing demand for these products well into the future.

”We’re pleased to report that the plant has begun manufacturing product, and we plan to reach full operating capacity by the end of 2022, allowing us to increase Millad production by 50 percent,” said Cindy Boiter, president of Milliken’s Chemical Business. Announced earlier this year, “this represents the largest clarifier plant investment in Milliken history.”

Millad NX 8000 helps reduce carbon emissions1 by enabling converters to lower their energy use during processing while also improving production efficiency. This has never been more important than during this period of unparalleled spikes in energy prices. Additionally, these certified energy savings allow brand owners using PP clarified with Millad NX 8000 ECO to display the much-desired UL Environmental Claim Validation label on their injection-molded parts.

Boiter went on to recognize the impressive efforts that went into making this plant opening a reality. “We greatly appreciate all the efforts of our associates who were involved in making this plant exceptional.”

Milliken has long been known for its innovation, collaboration and commitment to advancing sustainability. Recognized as one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” by Ethisphere Institute for 16 straight years, the firm leverages its 157-year history and extensive chemical expertise to tailor products that make the world a better place and create a healthier future for generations.  Millad NX 8000 is an excellent example of applying innovation through chemistry to advance sustainability.

Polypropylene (PP) is durable, lightweight, highly recyclable and, thanks to Millad, offers glass-like clarity. This improvement enables PP to be used in applications such as thin-wall packaging. It also is one of the least energy-intensive polymers to make and recycle compared to other clear polymers. Additionally, the How2Recycle® labeling program in late July upgraded the eligibility of rigid PP tubs, bottles, jugs, and jars to “Widely Recyclable” in the United States.

1CO2 reductions based on reduced cycle time and energy usage are highly dependent on energy source.

Posted: September 27, 2022

Source: Milliken & Company

Venator Becomes First Titanium Dioxide Producer With ECO PASSPORT By OEKO-TEX® Certified Grade For Textile Industry

WYNYARD, England — September 27, 2022 — Following the recent publication of its second sustainability report, Venator has become the first manufacturer and supplier of fiber anatase titanium dioxide (TiO2) to the textile industry to secure an ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX®. The accreditation relates to Venator’s HOMBITAN® LW-S 100 pigment, a premium TiO2 grade for delustering synthetic fibers such as polyester, viscose, and acrylic.

ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX® is an independent, multi-stage testing and certification system for chemicals, colorants and auxiliaries used to manufacture textiles and leather. The rigorous ECO PASSPORT evaluation process provides independent proof that raw materials are produced in an environmentally friendly way and under socially responsible conditions.

HOMBITAN® LW-S 100 is an important TiO2 grade in the textile industry. Widely used to reduce gloss, and create an aesthetically pleasing matt appearance, this special pigment also makes yarns easier to spin and improves lightfastness and weather resistance compared to standard pigments.

With an ECO PASSPORT in place, HOMBITAN® LW-S 100 is now certified suitable for use in specialist textile applications where there is direct skin contact and where the highest quality standards are required. This includes personal hygiene products such as wet wipes, diapers, and feminine hygiene products. The certification of HOMBITAN® LW-S 100 will also interest sports apparel manufacturers producing sweat wicking garments.

Xandra Bläser, Global Business director – Specialty Pigmentary TiO2 at Venator, said: “Textile producers are increasingly looking to source raw materials with an ECO PASSPORT in place. Purchasing ingredients with this quality mark makes it easier for them to achieve the STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® label. If a garment carries the STANDARD 100 label, consumers expect that every component, i.e., every thread, button, and zip, has been tested for harmful substances and will not have a detrimental effect to their health. With this accreditation for HOMBITAN® LW-S 100, our customers have confidence that they are specifying a product from a reliable, responsible partner that adheres to the strictest safety and product stewardship standards.”

To secure ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX® status for HOMBITAN® LW-S 100, Venator worked with the testing provider Hohenstein. As part of the accreditation process, Venator’s TiO2 experts had to pass three screening steps:

  • First, HOMBITAN® LW-S 100 was cross checked against lists of harmful chemicals including REACH’s substances of very high concern (SVHC) candidate list
  • The product was tested in an independent laboratory to ensure its suitability for use in the sustainable production of textiles
  • The final step was a site visit to check that Venator had all the correct systems in place for environmental management, health and safety, quality management and social responsibility.

John Murphy, technical director of Hohenstein Europe, said: “We’re delighted to congratulate Venator on their successful ECO PASSPORT certification, the systematic testing promotes confidence, compliance and efficiency in the textile industry and means Venator’s HOMBITAN® LW-S 100 meets the very highest standards for safer textiles.”

The OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT certification is recognized as a LEVEL 3 ZDHC* MRSL Conformance Indicator for the ZDHC Roadmap to Zero program – meaning Venator’s HOMBITAN® LW-S 100 meets the highest ZDHC’s guidelines for safer textile chemistries and is verified as being responsibly manufactured. The Roadmap to Zero Program, by ZDHC, is leading the fashion industry to eliminate harmful chemicals from its global supply chain by building the foundation for more sustainable manufacturing to protect workers, consumers and our planet’s ecosystems.

* The ZDHC is a multi-stakeholder organization made up of over 170 contributors from across the textile industry including brands, suppliers, chemical suppliers, and solution providers.

Posted: September 27, 2022

Source: Venator Materials PLC

ExxonMobil Expands Product Portfolio To Advance Healthcare Solutions

SPRING, Texas — September 27, 2022 — ExxonMobil has expanded its portfolio of healthcare solutions to meet changing medical market needs for healthy, safe material options. Adhering to industry requirements for testing, quality assurance and traceability, the portfolio unites a wide range of high-performance products that are produced using Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for batch-to-batch product consistency that customers can rely on.

The portfolio provides the building blocks to engineer a range of applications including medical supplies, infection protection products, and pharmaceutical and laboratory supplies. The portfolio includes Achieve™ Advanced PP, ExxonMobil™ PP, Vistamaxx™ performance polymers, Exact™ polyolefin elastomers, ExxonMobil butyl polymers, Exxpro™ specialty elastomers and ExxonMobil Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA).

“The decision to create a portfolio of healthcare solutions, supported by a dedicated team of trusted industry application experts, was cemented by a combination of market factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Market Development Manager Gertrud Masure. “With a legacy of innovation that spans over 100 years, ExxonMobil is well placed to meet demand from customers for a broader selection of alternative solutions that promote healthy and safe patient care.”

The COVID-19 pandemic, which required rapid production of face masks and other products to help combat virus transmission, was a major factor in ExxonMobil’s decision to create a portfolio of healthcare solutions.

The healthcare industry’s desire for a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) replacement was another market driver which led ExxonMobil to develop suitable alternatives. While another motivating factor was customers’ preference to do business with a single-source materials supplier.

ExxonMobil’s high-quality, compliant-safe material solutions enable tailored innovation for:

▪  Optimized performance and longevity of medical supplies, including drug/medical fluid delivery. Applications include syringes, infusion bags, IV/saline containers, ostomy bags, inhaling systems, drug and vitamin tubes, bottles, vials, containers, caps, seals, closures, briefs, and absorbent pads.
▪  Purity required to meet the toughest standards for laboratory components and pharmaceutical packaging solutions, including labware, sanitizers, bio reactor bags, and pharmaceutical stoppers/seals.
▪  Cleanliness and safety for protective products, such as face masks, gowns, gloves and alcohol wipes that help prevent infection.
▪  Softness, loft, strength, improved barrier performance and ease of processing for spunbond or meltblown nonwoven products. Typical applications include absorbent articles, medical PPE, bandages, masks, gowns and wipes, surgical drapes and gowns, medical protective gowns, shoe covers, disposable bedding and hospital apparel, pads, wraps, and filtration media.

“It really is the sum of the parts that makes our healthcare portfolio so attractive to customers,” said Americas Market Development Manager Abigail Agentis. “We seek to meet industry needs with a trusted portfolio of performance products that adhere to strict industry requirements for testing, quality assurance and traceability. Our collective motivation is to deliver innovative healthcare and pharmaceutical products that help enable patients to receive best-in-class, safe treatment.”

To support its commitment to the healthcare industry, ExxonMobil is dedicated to fulfilling the future business needs of its customers by continuing to invest in production capacity and comprehensive supply chains. For example, ExxonMobil’s Polypropylene Growth Project in Baton Rouge is nearing completion, and the company continues to make good progress in support of a 2023 startup of the $2 billion investment to expand its Baytown chemical plant with a new Vistamaxx unit and world-scale, full range Linear Alpha Olefins unit. Products from both are expected to be used for a broad range of applications.

Posted September 27, 2022

Source: ExxonMobil

EURATEX And Partners Launch New Horizon Europe Innovation Project On Circular & Sustainable Textiles

BRUSSELS — September 27, 2022 — Launched today, the new Horizon Europe project CISUTAC will support the transition to a circular and sustainable textile sector. As part of a consortium of 27 partners working on the project, EURATEX will work towards facilitating the Circular Economy transition.

While the production and consumption of textile products continue to grow, so does the impact on the environment caused by a lack of reuse, repair and recycle of materials. Quality, durability, and recyclability are often not being set as priorities in the design and manufacturing of garments (EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, March 2022).

CISUTAC aims to remove current bottlenecks in order to increase textile circularity in Europe. The objective is to minimize the sector’s total environmental impact by developing new, sustainable and integrated large-scale European value chains.

The project will include most parts of the textile sector: comprising the two groups of fibers that represent almost 90 percent of all textile fibers — polyester and cotton/cellulose — and focusing on products from three sub-sectors experiencing most circularity bottlenecks — fashion garments, sports and outdoor goods, and workwear.

CISUTAC will follow a holistic approach covering the technical, sectoral and socio-economic aspects of textile value chain, and will perform 3 pilot phases to demonstrate the feasibility and value of:

  • Repair and disassembling;
  • Sorting (for reuse and recycling); and
  • Circular garments through fibre-to-fiber recycling and design for circularity.

To realize these pilots, the consortium partners will:

  • Develop semi-automated workstations;
  • Analyze infrastructure and material flows;
  • Digitally enhance sorting operations (for reuse and recycling); and
  • Raise awareness among consumers and the textile industry.

As part of the CISUTAC consortium, EURATEX will facilitate the Circular Economy transition, liaise with other projects & initiatives, support the development of training and education material, including masterclasses and MOOC, raise awareness in Europe of the environmental impact of textile and provide input for policy, standardization and certification to facilitate the transition to the Circular Economy.

Posted September 27, 2022

Source: EURATEX

Under Armour Releases 2021 Sustainability And Impact Report, Outlines New Strategic Framework, Goals And Targets

BALTIMORE, Sept. 27, 2022 – Under Armour Inc. today announced the release of its 2021 Sustainability & Impact Report, outlining a new sustainability framework, goals, and targets that will guide the company’s work to reduce the environmental footprint associated with its products and operations while accelerating its social and community impact.

Aligned with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Sustainable Accounting Standard Board

(SASB) industry standards, the report outlines 23 goals and targets designed to drive company progress across three key pillars — Products, Home Field, and Team — and underscore Under Armour’s core values, including ‘Act Sustainably’ and ‘Stand for Equality.’

“As a global innovator and leader in athletic performance apparel, footwear, and accessories, we believe Under Armour has an important role to play in addressing impending challenges facing our society, industry, and planet. This belief informs our innovation methods and compels us to rethink, reinvent, and reimagine our products and how we make them in our work to support athletes and protect people and our shared planet,” said Colin Browne, Under Armour interim president and CEO. “Mindful that lasting change will require global cooperation across communities and industries, our new report conveys our renewed commitments to continuous improvement, industrywide collaboration, and transparent communication with our stakeholders in our ongoing sustainability journey.”

Under Armour’s sustainability approach, What’s Under Matters, reflects the company’s mission to make athletes better by focusing on performance-driven innovations that utilize more sustainable materials designed for recyclability and more efficient production processes in its delivery of durable, quality, high-performing products athletes know and trust.

“The details underlying a company’s sustainability strategy are foundational to its longevity and ability to generate lasting impact. For this reason, Under Armour has worked diligently over the years to finalize our approach and take concerted action before releasing this report,” said Michael Levine, Under Armour vice president and chief sustainability officer. “We’re pleased to share our accomplishments and perspective on our future goals, and we look forward to providing updates on our progress.”

A selection of report highlights within each pillar follows:

Products

Through 10 goals, the company is embracing material innovations that will enable less waste and more durability, setting the stage for circular systems by 2030, including:

  • Prioritizing recycled and renewable materials and reducing single-use plastic brand product packaging by 75 percent by 2025.
  • Implementing sustainability and circular design principles in at least half of its products by 2027 and developing chemistry and processes that can enable a circular footwear program to be launched in market, at scale, by 2030. At the end of 2021, approximately 40 percent of fabrics used in the company’s apparel and accessories were made from materials capable of being recycled.
  • Supporting innovation that reduces fiber shedding from textiles and targeting 75 percent of fabric to be made of low-shed materials, as defined by industry-leading guidance on fabric shedding that the company will work collectively to shape by 2030.

Home Field

The company is working to reduce its overall environmental footprint and do its part to protect the planet through seven goals, including:

  • Eliminating 100 percent of biocides and fluorine DWR in its products by 2025.
  • Reducing absolute scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent and increasing renewable energy in owned and operated facilities to 100 percent by 2030.
  • Advancing low-impact manufacturing, reducing the environmental impact of its materials, and targeting net-zero emissions by 2050.

Team

The company is supporting its people and communities through six goals that build upon longstanding efforts, including:

  • Continuing to invest in teammates’ health, safety, and well-being – including through initiatives to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion and develop underrepresented talent at all levels.
  • Protecting workers’ human rights and well-being in its supply chain through comprehensive programs and audits.
  • Working to create opportunities for millions of youth to engage in sports by 2030.

To download the 2021 Sustainability & Impact Report and for further information on Under Armour’s sustainability program, visit this link.

Posted September 27, 2022

Source: Under Armour

Compostable Clothing Brand KENT Lands Deal On Live Season Premiere Of Shark Tank

LOS ANGELES — September 26, 2022 — KENT, a verified compostable clothing brand, was the first company to secure a deal on the live season premiere of Shark Tank.

In a whirlwind bidding war, KENT received offers from four Sharks before landing a deal of $200,000 for 15 percent of the company with Daymond John, CEO and Founder of FUBU. Stacy and Jeff Grace, the husband and wife duo behind KENT, chose Daymond to leverage his experience in the fashion industry.

“When Daymond jumped back in with a deal, we were ecstatic. He’s an industry icon and has had so much success growing mission-driven companies like ours,” said Jeff.

KENT tackles two major problems in fashion — landfill waste and plastics — focusing on the untapped space of undergarments. 85 percent of textiles today are made from plastic fibers and 11 million pounds of under-apparel go into landfills and incinerators daily in the United States.

KENT’s underwear is LA Compost verified and designed to break down in 90 days. Made with a proprietary blend of plant-based materials, including GOTS certified organic pima cotton, KENT eliminates the need for petrochemical-based fabrics.

“I saw an opportunity to rethink how undergarments are made when I realized all of my underwear were made of synthetic materials,” said Stacy, “That’s when the idea of KENT was born — a line of thoughtfully designed 100-percent organic, vegan and compostable underwear. I see composting as a natural recycling process. With cities like New York and LA rolling out curbside composting this year, we see composting becoming mainstream in America as a natural solution to landfill waste, for fashion and beyond.”

KENT founder and CEO, Stacy Grace has more than a decade of experience in sustainable fashion, where she’s worked with brands like TOMS, Wrangler and Timberland. She’s a Tory Burch Fellow and winner of the Canadian Arts and Fashion Sustainability Award.

Her husband, Jeff Grace, is the CMO at KENT and comes with experience in advertising and comedy, which showed during their humorous Shark Tank performance. Jeff is best known for his creative work at Leo Burnett, where he helped grow Altoids from a small regional brand in Seattle to the #1 selling mint in the category.

KENT offers a line of men’s and women’s briefs, tees, and reusable totes.

Posted: September 26, 2022

Source: KENT

Knix Surpasses 2 Million Customers And Finalizes Its Acquisition By Essity, Making History For A Female Founded DTC Brand

Joanna Griffiths

NEW YORK CITY — September 26, 2022 — After announcing their acquisition by global health and hygiene brand, Essity, in early July, Knix is proud to share that the deal has officially closed, valuing Knix at $400 million  and marking one of the largest publicly disclosed private sales of a DTC company by a female founder. The closing comes following Knix surpassing the 2 million customer mark. Knix Founder and CEO, Joanna Griffiths will stay on as president of Knix and continue to lead the brand under its new partnership with Essity.

Founded in 2013 with a mission to redefine intimates, Knix has been a pioneer in leakproof underwear and apparel and has helped create and grow the category while breaking barriers for all people to live unapologetically free. Griffiths took a set of problems, experienced by half of the global population, and turned to innovation and design to find a solution that has truly started a movement towards alternative, fashionable and sustainable options for leaks.

Having faced adversity along the journey to normalize leaking and end stigma, including being told in the early days that leakproof underwear was a “niche” idea, Griffiths has made major strides in changing the face of the intimates industry. In 2020 Knix was the first brand to feature an entire campaign of women over 50 and in 2013 to showcase their products in all available sizes and to use only customers in their advertising. Knix has also fought for representation in body diversity, paving the way for a needed shift towards inclusivity in the intimates category. Griffiths has also been a champion for female entrepreneurship, stressing the importance of supporting female founded businesses and being vocal about the gendered language and stereotypes that exist around women in business today. In 2021 Griffiths made headlines when she closed their Series B financing just three days before giving birth to twins, eliminating any investors from the process who questioned her ability to run a business and be a mother. The brand went on to achieve 97 percent Y-O-Y growth that year.

Knix is extremely proud of the strategic partnership with Essity which makes them the global leader within leakproof apparel, the fastest growing product segment in Intimate Hygiene which includes Menstrual Care and Incontinence Products. Essity has acquired 80 percent of the shares in Knix for $320 million. Founder and president Joanna Griffiths holds the remaining 20-percent share.

Posted: September 26, 2022

Source: Knix

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