61st Dornbirn GFC Global Fibre Congress — 2nd Dornbirn GFC Startup Days, September 
14 – 16, 2022

DORNBIRN, Austria — June 13, 2022 — The 61st anniversary of the Dornbirn GFC Congress will take place LIVE this year and we are expecting a high number of participants as usual.
Further, the exhibition of young innovative companies in the Dornbirn GFC Innovation Hub form meanwhile an integral part of the innovation network at the congress.

Top level Keynote speakers on the Opening Day from:

Board Members of Lenzing and Indorama, the biggest global players from the fibre industry, the CEO of Paboco, the most innovative company in the packaging industry and a highly reputated professor from Oxford University will open the congress. Further, top companies from the digital sector like Servicenow and PwC will show us how they will support to create a sustainable future for the industry.

Key topics will be innovation, sustainability & circular economy and the and the final panel discussion “CEO Panel” with the above leaders will show us the way forward and how current and future challenges will be managed.

93 expert lectures from industry, universities and research institutes:

Top lectures on latest innovations will take place in parallel in 3 lecture halls.

20 pitches of young growing companies:

A dedicated lecture hall will provide all necessities for young companies to present their innovations and business models to the relevant parties – an active matchmaking is granted as Dornbirn GFC, RWTH Aachen, PwC, Vagabond and other collaborators will accompany the young companies on their journey of success.

Exhibition area and Innovation Hub: 20 established exhibitors and ca 20 young innovative companies are using their booth as contact point & advertising space

Dornbirn GFC 2022 Topics:

  • Fibre Innovations
  • Sustainability and Circular Economy
  • Machinery & Equipment
  • Smart & Functional Surface
  • Nonwovens & Technical Textiles
  • Sustainable Packaging
  • Apparel & Sports

Thanks to our ambitious partners and sponsors, we are able to attract a global audience. This will foster the global exchange of ideas and innovations in the fibre industry and along the value chain of textiles and nonwovens and well into the packaging industry.

Oher interesting ideas and topics will follow. Please join us and register: www.dornbirn-gfc.com

Posted: June 13, 2022

Source: Dornbirn GFC

ITM 2022 Exhibitor Preview: Jeanologia Presents Laser Technology

VALENCIA, Spain — June 13, 2022 — Jeanologia, the Spain-based eco-efficient technologies company, will present the fastest laser on the market at ITM Exhibition 2022. (Hall 1 Booth 105B)

Pioneers in the development and application of advanced lasers for garment finishing, the company provides greater productivity to the textile industry with a better cost per garment, thanks to the perfect integration of its hardware and software.

During ITM, Jeanologia will show that its laser solutions are 40-percent faster than other laser technologies. Specifically, it will present its Compact Super range of laser solutions with which it achieves productivity of 2,000 garments at day, reducing operational costs and speeding up time-to-market guaranteeing a more competitive and sustainable industry.

The Compact Super integrates the revolutionary software e-Mark X2 which increases the laser speed as well as allowing a more efficient energy management. The integration of hardware and software makes it possible to increase the marking speed while maintaining the same power, simplifying processes as well was allowing infinite design possibilities with great quality and authenticity. At the same time as avoiding second quality garments, achieving perfect reproducibility from the first to the last garment.

Adrián Baldó, division director EMEA at Jeanologia, highlighted how Jeanologia has led the way with its laser technology, creating a more sustainable, ethic and eco-efficient industry, “We have achieved the trust of the market because we have added value to our customers with the investment in R+D to develop the most advanced laser that ensure the best return on investment.

“Our mission is to digitally transform the industry and to do so we added our efforts to that of our customers, accompanying them in the implementation of our technologies to optimize their production”.

Compact Super Laser: The Power of Simplicity

At ITM Jeanologia will show its laser Compact Super, designed to obtain maximum production flexibility, precision and power with a compact design and high profitability.

Intended to take maximum advantage of space in production centers, creating a safe and comfortable working environment for its operators, this advanced laser range satisfies the needs of large productions with garment versatility, detailed and precise designs, while being easy to use.

During ITM, Jeanologia will also spotlight the integration of its disruptive technologies promoting a new operational model focused on sustainability and digitalization reducing times, costs and simplifying processes.

The company will show its commitment to the textile industry promoting sustainability and competitivity, turning it into a key piece in meeting MissionZero: Jeanologia’s challenge to eliminate the use of water and discharge completely from global jean production.

The integration of laser, G2 ozone, e-Flow, Smart Boxes and H2Zero (the company’s first water recycling system creating productions that are 100% ecological), developed by Jeanologia make it possible to produce with zero discharge, stimulating productivity and efficiency in the textile industry for garment finishing.

Jeanologia in Türkiye

For 20 years Jeanologia has been active in Türkiye as a supplier of key solutions to make the Turkish textile industry more efficient and sustainable, promoting production techniques that increase productivity and reduce water, chemical and energy consumption.

World leaders in ozone technology, it has more than 15 years’ experience. To support the Turkish market, it opened a production center in Izmir for ozone technology in 2015, along with a center for demonstrating its technologies. Currently, there is a team of more than 20 specialist technicians and creatives that directly attend customers’ needs within the country.

More than 35 percent of the 5 billion jeans produced every year in the world are made using Jeanologia technologies and it is trusted by the biggest market brands.

Posted: June 13, 2022

Source: Jeanologia

Lotustex Textile Invests In KARL MAYER’s First LINK-MATIC® System For Automatic Batch Change On PRODYE®-S Slasher Indigo Dye Range

Link-MATIC®

OBERTSHAUSEN, Germany — June 13, 2022 — KARL MAYER has placed its first LINK-MATIC® system on the market. The sophisticated automation solution considerably simplifies the batch change on indigo and sizing machines, thus increasing productivity. An increase of up to 30 percent is possible, depending on the number of batch changes per day.

In addition, less yarn waste is produced. Up to 600 meters, on indigo dyeing range, of unusable yarn material can be saved with each batch — while at the same time requiring less manpower. During batch changes, only one operator is required to prepare the warper beams for entry into the machine. A fully automatic knotting unit couples the warp yarns of the new batch to the yarns of the batch just finished.

Lotustex Textile has recognized all these advantages for itself. The Egypt-based denim manufacturer, which was only founded in 2019, was the first company to invest in the innovative LINK-MATIC system in recent months in order to optimize the performance of its PRODYE®-S sizing machine. Especially for its activities in the fashion sector, Lotustex Textile expects a significantly higher flexibility and cost reduction. The delivery date for the new acquisition is November 2022.

Continuous processes with LINK-MATIC®

LINK-MATIC makes it possible to automate the batch change on the PRODYE-S and PROSIZE® with two subsystems. The first subsystem focuses on feeding the yarn sheets of the new batch from the warper beams to the infeed of the machine. The yarn material is guided to its destination in the lower section of the warper beam frame. Previously, it had to be threaded by hand, usually by two skilled workers, under the bottom cover. The lengthy, complicated process resulted in a batch of waste and numerous sources of error.

With the new solution, only one operator fixes the warp yarns of a warper beam in homogeneous distribution by a clamp in beam length. He then guides the clamp downward and hooks it into a transport chain on each side. The circulating chains take care of the transport to the machine. The time savings are immense. What’s more, the quality is right. The yarns are guided to the machine with uniform, constant tension. Here, the second dividing system cuts the warp yarns of the finished batch at the infeed and knots on the warp yarns of the new batch – each with high precision and fully automatically. The actual batch change can thus be reduced to 90 seconds. What appears to be so simple is the result of the precise interaction of well thought-out components such as the clamping device for string formation before knotting and the pneumatic solution for sucking in the yarn ends.

The new LINK-MATIC system can develop its full potential in conjunction with an moveable creel.

Posted: June 13, 2022

Source: KARL MAYER Gruppe

Westex®: A Milliken Brand And Lenzing Partner For Protective Textile Sustainability

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — June 13, 2022 — Westex: A Milliken Brand, a global manufacturer of flame-resistant and arc-rated (FR/AR) textiles, and Lenzing, supplier of wood-based specialty fibers through its brand TENCEL™, announce a new partnership aimed at enhancing sustainability efforts within the protective apparel industry. This collaboration illustrates a long-term commitment to bring more sustainable fabric options to market and kicks off with recognizing the use of TENCEL Lyocell fiber into Westex® DH and DH Air™ fabric collections.

“Westex — along with our parent organization, Milliken & Company — and Lenzing see an incredible opportunity to reframe the sustainability conversation within the protective garments industry,” said Michael Langley, vice president of sales and marketing for Westex: A Milliken Brand. “Performance, protection and responsible manufacturing don’t have to be prioritized against each other. We’re hoping to show our customers and end users that you can find FR/AR textiles with proven protection and want-to-wear characteristics that uphold sustainability markers, too.”

Milliken, known for applying its material science expertise to help solve critical challenges, found a like-minded partner in Lenzing, whose commitment to sustainability is foundational to the company’s work to improve fibers that, in turn, improve people’s lives. TENCEL Lyocell fibers are derived from renewable wood and produced in a closed-loop process which transforms wood pulp into cellulosic fibers with high resource efficiency and low ecological impact. Blended with  TENCEL Lyocell fibers, Westex DH and DH Air™ fabric collections offer trusted protection with outstanding breathability and optimized moisture management, with 50 percent less greenhouse gas emissions than generic lyocell.1 

“Sustainability is in Lenzing’s DNA, and a huge driver of our innovations. We are thrilled to partner with Milliken to complement each others’ goals towards enhancing sustainability in the industry. While TENCEL Lyocell fibers are mostly associated with fashion, they are in fact very versatile, and can complement many kinds of materials in the apparel industry. The addition of TENCEL fibers in protective appareal does not only add to the sustainability level of the finished fabric, but also greatly enhances comfort. We are confident that the industry will find value in Westex’s engineered FR/AR textiles that incorporate a future-focused fiber like TENCEL™,” said Oliver Spöcker, Global Commercial director – FR Fibers, Director Protective Work Wear & Protective Wear.

1 according to Lenzing’s Higg MSI scores.

Posted: June 13, 2022

Source: Milliken & Company

Techtextil 2022 Exhibitor Preview: Huntsman Textile Effects

SINGAPORE — June 13, 2022 — Huntsman Textile Effects will be showcasing its extensive and complete end-to-end suite of solutions for various applications, including technical and functional apparel and home and hospitality textiles, at Techtextil from June 21-24, 2022, in Frankfurt, Germany.

Consumers increasingly want both sustainability and performance when choosing apparel and other textile products. While achieving this balance has traditionally been a challenge, new technologies are changing the game.

“Sustainability has become an increasingly urgent priority for consumers, as well as a core business strategy for brands. The future of sustainable textiles largely depends on the industry’s ability to minimize resource use,” said Markus Dueblin, commercial director – Europe, MEA, Turkey, Huntsman Textile Effects. “We have innovative solutions that can help brands and mills to develop new high-value products and further leverage their sustainability credentials to meet growing consumer demand for eco-friendly textile products.”

Huntsman innovations and solutions being showcased at Techtextil include:

  • Resource-saving solutions — AVITERA® SE Fast process is a revolutionary technology that delivers the lowest environmental impact for dyeing polyester-cellulosic (PES-CO) blends. It combines alkali-clearable TERASIL® W/WW disperse dyes and AVITERA SE reactive dyes to cut processing time from around nine hours to just six. This helps mills reduce the water and energy required for production by up to 50% and increase output by up to 25 percent or more. AVITERA SE Fast also delivers outstanding wet-fastness to ensure that sportswear will not bleed or stain during home laundering, or while in storage or transit.
  • Eco-friendly stain and rain resistance — Continuing its long-standing partnership with Chemours, Huntsman will present eco-friendly finishes that repel water and stains to help garments look new for longer. Teflon™ EcoElite with Zelan™ R3 technology is the industry’s first renewably sourced water-repellent finish. It contains 63 percent plant-based materials and exceeds performance levels possible with traditional fluorinated technologies, offering excellent water repellency and durability while preserving breathability.
  • Huntsman also continues to extend its range of popular PHOBOTEX® non-fluorinated water-repellent finishes. PHOBOTEX is an advanced and comprehensive range of water repellents that can be quickly, easily and safely applied to any substrate to ensure premium softness and comfort as well as lasting protection against rain and everyday stains. The latest additions to the range — PHOBOTEX RDE, PHOBOTEX® RSY and PHOBOTEX REC — provide excellent protection in extreme environments, allowing brands to produce sustainable textile products without compromising performance.
  • Innovative dyes — TERATOP® dyes are designed to meet all levels of light-fastness requirements for polyester textiles, making them ideal for outdoor furniture, awnings, banners and automotive textiles. They are manufactured according to stringent production practices and quality standards to achieve the highest shade reproducibility when used on PES. NOVACRON® EC dyes have very high solubility, good diffusion and levelness, and high fixation. They are suitable for short liquor ratio dyeing, with outstanding compatibility, excellent reproducibility, easy washing-off and good all-round fastness. The latest addition to the range is NOVACRON Atlantic EC-NC, the industry’s first blue element that delivers chlorine — and nitrogen oxide (NOx) — fastness alongside lightfastness for textiles, ensuring garments look as good as new for longer
  • Revolutionary digital inks — A longstanding innovator in digital printing solutions, Huntsman has built high-performance digital ink ranges for all textile substrates and applications, delivering bright lasting colors and excellent stability, runnability and reproducibility, along with highest wash-fastness.
  • High-performing and sustainable towel solutions — Huntsman offers robust and innovative solutions for home and institutional textiles for a multitude of end-uses and market segments. As a company that serves the world’s top towel brands, Huntsman has world-class expertise and a full range of solutions – from pre-treatment to coloration and finishing effects – to produce high-quality, eco-friendly towels for households, hospitals, hotels and more.
  • High-performance flame-retardants — Huntsman’s PYROVATEX and FLOVAN® product ranges deliver a complete portfolio of flame-retardant products designed for a wide range of end-uses and high-performance functional textiles.
  • Innovative odor-control solutions — Huntsman will also showcase revolutionary antimicrobial and odor-control solutions as part of its partnership with Sciessent. Sciessent’s latest anti-odor technology, NOBO™, has been specifically developed to reduce body odors in natural and synthetic fabrics. It can be incorporated into virtually any fabric, making it ideal for everything from socks and underwear to trousers and jackets. It offers a cost-effective way to upgrade everyday garments.

In addition, the partners will also present Sciessent’s Agion Active X2®, a next-generation odor-control solution that combines advanced antimicrobial and odor-absorbing technologies to both capture and fight odor-causing bacteria, and Lava X2®, a standalone odor-adsorption product and key component of Agion Active X2® that attracts, adsorbs and degrades odors for long-lasing odor protection.

Meet Huntsman Textile Effects at Techtextil

Techtextil, a leading international trade fair for technical textiles and nonwovens, will take place from June 21-24, 2022 in Frankfurt. You are invited to visit Huntsman in person at Hall 11.0, Stand C91 or virtually in Techtextil Digital Extension.

Posted: June 13, 2022

Source: Huntsman Textile Effects

Meryl Fabrics® Celebrates TWO Major Industry Award Accolades

CONGLETON, England — June 10, 2022 — Meryl Fabrics® was presented with two highly coveted Med-Tech Innovation Awards at a prestigious ceremony held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole.

The Med-Tech Innovation Awards is a celebration of the vital work of the medical device engineering community.

In recognition of the great advances the business has made in bringing to market their landmark textiles with ‘infinite recyclability’, Meryl Fabrics® collected the winner’s trophy for the ‘Med-Tech Innovation Sustainability Award’ and was highly commended in the ‘Materials Innovation Award’.

Peter Broom, director & technical innovator at Meryl Fabrics commented: “We feel extremely honoured and proud to receive such high-profile industry recognition. Meryl Fabrics has come up with a solution to reduce our impact on the environment today, and we are innovating every day to improve what we have. Adopting Meryl Fabrics in large textile use industries will massively reduce the amount of virgin polymer being manufactured and would significantly reduce human environmental impact. In turn this also helps our customers achieve their own internal green targets.”

Re-engineering the present and future of apparel, its mission is to lead a radical change in the textile industry through advanced hydrogen technology, creating 100-percent recyclable, high-performance fabrics which do not release microplastics, with no water consumption and no use of chemicals.

All Meryl Fabrics products are treated with a permanent antiviral-effect, antibacterial and anti-fungal technology co-developed alongside their virology partner, HeiQ.

Meryl Fabrics is dedicated to reducing the negative impact of the textile industry on the environment, providing large industries with the expertise as we drive forwards into the circular economy and complete sustainability.

Posted: June 10, 2022

Source: Meryl Fabrics®

ISKO™ Purchased New State-Of-The-Art Itema
 Weaving Machines

BURSA, Turkey — June 10, 2022 — ISKO, a reference point for the industry in the production of premium sustainable denim, found in Itema the best fit for its strategy in weaving technology.
By choosing Itema’s latest rapier machine, a groundbreaking innovation enhanced by the iSAVER® technology, ISKO is well underway in terms of an even more sustainable denim future. The rapier machine ensures the highest efficiency by reducing waste production and energy use, while optimizing the fabrics’ hand-feel, aesthetic, and performance.

This decision is an additional, important asset in ISKO’s journey towards a genuine Responsible Innovation™. It is part of other crucial investments made by the company, aimed at further reducing its environmental impact, among which stand out R-TWO™50+ — a new denim generation made with a minimum of 50 percent pre- and post-consumer recycled blend — and the Green Machine — a pioneering technology providing a 100-percent post-consumer recycling solution that fully separates and recycles cotton and polyester blends at scale.

After an intensive process, a selection was made where ISKO focuses on the development of technical solutions that enable greater resource savings and more sustainable production methods, always with the protection of workers at heart.

As a result, ISKO’s Headquarters extend the company’s long-term relationship with Itema, strengthening the company’s position as the mill with the world’s largest denim capacity. The new rapier machines are enhanced by the iSAVER technology, a breakthrough mechatronic innovation that eliminates the waste selvedge on the left side of the fabric, allowing for saving in energy and raw materials, cutting in half the cotton waste that typically results from the weft yarn. All types of ISKO’s innovative fabrics, with a multitude of different constructions and fiber mixtures, can now be produced using these advanced weaving technologies, with a special focus given to the R-TWO technology in terms of its sustainable credentials.

“In these innovations, we saw a great potential to advance our sustainable strategy even more, and in Itema the ideal partner with which to share a determined, long-term approach,” explained Fatih Konukoğlu, ISKO CEO. “Both our companies are leaders in their respective fields, fabric innovation and weaving technology, and this collaboration creates a common ground of excellence that will certainly benefit the whole denim world.”

Posted: June 10, 2022

Source: ISKO — part of SANKO TEKSTIL, the textile division of the SANKO Group

Techtextil Frankfurt 2022 Exhibitor Preview: Noble Biomaterials

SCRANTON, Pa.— June 9, 2022 — Noble Biomaterials, the manufacturer of antimicrobial and conductivity solutions for soft surface applications, will showcase Circuitex at Techtextil Frankfurt on June 21, 2022.

Circuitex technology is the company’s portfolio of conductive textiles engineered for multi-spectral energy management in lightweight products that exceed standard durability ratings without sacrificing performance. Its portfolio allows electrical energy to transmit through soft surface materials without wires and uses the same technology to shield the full spectrum of electromagnetic energy waves for security.

“The digital landscape has changed the world, and there is a significant increase in demand for products that manage energy,” said Joel Furey, Noble Biomaterials co-founder and chief commercial officer. “The market for our products is broad. We participate in very specialized military programs, directed energy solutions as well as ESD/EMI/RFI and biometric monitoring.”

Noble has a history of innovation, from its EPA-approved silver antimicrobial to silver technology in an FDA-approved medical device to antimicrobial on the International Space Station. The company is committed to pushing the barriers of material science with its proprietary silver-coating technology, a cornerstone for building its partner portfolio.

Noble Biomaterials is a registered FDA medical device facility, an essential sole-source technology supplier to the U.S. military and a U.S. EPA–registered antimicrobial manufacturer. Noble products are EPA, FIFRA, BPR, and CE conforming. Nobel Biomaterials is also an EPA compliant partner.

Noble Biomaterials will showcase Circuitex and its properties at its Booth at Techtextil Frankfurt in Hall 11.1.A99.

Posted: June 10, 2022

Source: Noble Biomaterials

The Trützschler TCO 21: Boost Your High-Speed Combing

MÖNCHENGLADBACH, Germany — June 9, 2022 — Life isn’t easy for yarn producers. They need to improve raw material utilization. They need to boost productivity while balancing between quality and economy. They need to increase yarn quality to fulfill customer requirements. And they need to do it in combed applications where high-quality standards are essential. Those are some big challenges. The TCO 21 combing machine from Trützschler offers an innovative solution.

Since it was first launched in 2021, the TCO 21 has been delighting customers around the globe with its innovative features and enormous optimization potential. The first large-scale installations are now up and running in the world’s most important combing markets. And the results are extremely positive!
The TCO 21 offers automatic optimization functions and is the first ever comber to feature 100 % Trützschler technology. That powerful combination is now improving efficiency, productivity and quality in yarn-producing markets worldwide.

Optimized for high-speed combing

The TCO 21 is unique because it features the PIECING OPTIMIZER technology, which reduces fiber stress, especially during high-speed combing. And it works at the push of a single button. This is valuable for yarn producers because the pilger step movement — and the overall acceleration behavior of the detaching rollers — often acts as a bottleneck when operating at high speeds of up to 600 nips/min. A simple comparison: A detaching roller (48 g) in a high-speed comber accelerates roughly 8 times faster than a formular one car (6 g).

Testing data: High-speed combing

Tests clearly show the potential value offered by the PIECING OPTIMIZER technology for high-speed combing. Technologists examined the level of performance that customers can achieve with a yarn count of Ne 30 made from US cotton. The number of yarn imperfections remained constant even when increasing the combing speed from 500 to 600 nips/min — which is a 20-percent higher production rate. Most important, the amount of noil also remained in the same range for all three trials. In fact, the total number of imperfections in the yarn (measured as IPI) was slightly lower because of fewer thick spots and neps.

Overall, the TCO 21 has demonstrated its capacity to deliver optimal yarn results even when increasing the production rate by up to 20 percent.

Testing data: Production increase with a yarn count of Ne 20

Trials have shown that the TCO 21 can achieve a 20 % increase in production output compared to the current combing machine from a competitor for yarn counts of Ne 20 – while also generating less noil. Operating at a rate of 600 nips/min instead of 500 increases yarn production per comber set by around two metric tons per day (depending on the specific settings). Importantly, the TCO 21 is able to provide this production increase while delivering similar yarn quality in terms of IPI and uniformity — and also reducing noil. The tests show that the TCO 21 can reduce the comber noil by 0.43 percent compared to the competitor’s machine.

Testing data: Production increase with a yarn count of Ne 40

The TCO 21 also demonstrated a 20-percemt production increase and similar yarn quality compared to a competitor’s machine for yarn counts of Ne 40. With a production increase of 10-percemt — e.g. producing 550 nips/min instead of 500 nips/min — the yarn results improved with the TCO 21. Furthermore, the number of faults per kilometer only very slightly worsened with a 20-percent increase in production. In addition, yarn uniformity remained at the same level in all trials, even when the production rate increased. The comber noils were at the same level too.

Testing data: Production increase with a yarn count of Ne 60

In the final trial, which involved a yarn count of Ne 60, the TCO 21 proved its capacity to achieve a 5- or 10-percent higher production rate with up to 26 percent better results for yarn quality. Of course, it is more difficult to improve production rates and maintain quality when working with finer yarns. But also in this comparison the TCO 21 demonstrated its excellent performance and advantage compared to the competitor product. Remarkably, yarn results improved in this test when the production rate for the TCO 21 was increased by 5 and 10 percent. The overall IPI was 21 percent and 26-percent lower compared to the competition. Despite higher production rates, yarn evenness also remained slightly better than the competitor machine’s level. And the noil was constant across all three production rates that were tested.

Tapping into the full potential of the TCO 21

The results from these tests are extremely positive and we are confident that the unique machine concept has additional potential. Trützschler’s experts are now working side-by-side with our customers to open up new ways of further optimizing the performance of this machine in various application areas. However, the TCO 21, our first comber with 100 percent Trützschler technology, will help our customers improve their competitive position in the global yarn market.

Posted: June 10, 2022

Source: Trützschler Group SE

Recycled Plastic Collected By Waste Pickers Now Featured On Garments Sold Worldwide – Catalysing Inclusive Circularity

BENGALURU, India — June 9, 2022 — Together with an ecosystem of partners the non-profit H&M Foundation launched a first of its kind $11 million initiative in 2020, to address the gaps in the system that keep Bengaluru waste pickers in poverty and exclusion. Now, plastic waste collected by informal waste pickers is becoming a valued resource in the fashion and textile industry, providing a higher income and recognition as an integral part of the circular value chain. Buttons partly made from the plastic waste are now featured on garments sold worldwide. The buttons are traceable down to the source of the waste along with names of the workers, social security, salaries and working conditions at the aggregation center.

In 2020, the H&M Foundation initiated Saamuhika Shakti, a collective impact initiative aiming to equip waste pickers to lift themselves out of poverty through a holistic ecosystem of organisations. Eight local partners are working together to support the waste picker community in various aspects — that the waste pickers themselves have identified — such as safe working conditions, access to social services and good quality education, water and sanitation, up-skilling or access to alternative jobs, innovations in waste management streams that are inclusive and provide livelihoods to the waste pickers, a shift in the way the population think about waste pickers, as well as increasing economic opportunities. The 4-year program (2020-2023) is funded by H&M Foundation with more than $11 million and aims to address the gaps in the system that keep waste pickers in poverty.

Two years in the making, Saamuhika Shakti is already impacting around 20,000 waste pickers including their families and has caught the attention of others. With the fashion and textile industry working to shift business models from linear to circular, sustainable materials are in demand, and recycled plastic plays a vital part in creating a regenerative industry. H&M Group has now become a business partner with the social enterprise Hasiru Dala Innovations, placing orders for millions of buttons partly made from recycled PET bottles (rPET) sourced by waste pickers in Bengaluru. This has extended the social impact of Saamuhika Shakti and will further benefit the waste picker community by creating jobs and income opportunities. It is a stand-alone business partnership which is not subsidised by the funds from the non-profit H&M Foundation.

The buttons are partly made from post-consumer PET waste collected primarily by informal waste pickers in Bengaluru, who segregate the waste and sell the PET to the social enterprise, Hasiru Dala Innovations who have received “Guaranteed Member Status” from World Fair Trade Organization. The PET waste is then flaked and washed and provided to two of H&M Group’s button suppliers in India. The buttons are traceable down to the source of the waste along with names of the workers, social security, salaries and working conditions at the aggregation center.

Posted: June 9, 2022

Source: H&M Foundation

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