BASF Offers Range Of Chemical Intermediates With Product Carbon Footprint Significantly Below Global Market Average

LUDWIGSHAFEN, Germany — June 7, 2022 — BASF has calculated the individual product carbon footprints (PCF) of a large part of its portfolio of chemical intermediates.* The results were compared with assessments of market-wide average carbon footprints of the corresponding products of third parties.** The outcome of the analysis shows that due to the production set-up the PCF of a range of BASF’s chemical intermediates is significantly below the global average PCF of the corresponding third-party chemicals, all produced from fossil-based raw materials.

BASF now offers these products as “LowPCF” intermediates:

  • Tert-Butylamine (tBA) LowPCF
  • Formic Acid (FA) LowPCF
  • Propionic Acid (PA) LowPCF
  • 1,6-Hexanediol (HDO®) LowPCF
  • Neopentyl Glycol (NPG) LowPCF

The PCF comprises the total greenhouse gas emissions that occur until the BASF product leaves the factory gate for the customer: from the extraction of resources through manufacturing of precursors to the making of the final chemical product

itself. On its journey to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050, BASF is the first large chemical company to make the individual carbon footprints of all its sales products available to its customers.

Various factors contributing to low product carbon footprint

The PCF is determined by various factors. For example, energy generation in BASF’s own gas-fired combined heat and power plants generates significantly less greenhouse gas emissions compared to other conventional energy generation. In addition, production processes of LowPCF intermediates are characterized by high production efficiency in terms of energy and raw material consumption due to BASF’s integrated Verbund system and continuous efforts in operational excellence. Finally, LowPCF intermediates generally use oil, natural gas or Verbund by-products, but not coal, as primary raw materials. Due to its chemical properties, the use of coal generally results in a higher carbon footprint of downstream products compared to natural gas or oil.

“Company CO2 emission reduction targets are playing an increasingly important role in the value chains we serve. With our LowPCF intermediates, we are supporting our customers in achieving their targets: they now have the option to consciously choose a product with a carbon footprint significantly below the global market average,” says Stephan Kothrade, head of BASF’s Intermediates division. “By making CO2 emission data at the individual product level available to our customers, we also offer a level of transparency that is unique in the chemical industry.”

The intermediates tert-Butylamine (tBA), formic acid (FA), propionic acid (PA), 1,6-hexanediol (HDO) and neopentyl glycol (NPG) are versatile chemicals* that are used as ingredients for numerous everyday products. Examples include plastics, car tires, deicing agents, pharmaceuticals, crop protection products, paints and coatings. BASF customers use these products in the textile, automotive, agricultural, pharmaceutical and furniture industries, among others.

1 BASF’s product carbon footprint (PCF) calculations follow the requirements and guidance given by ISO 14067:2018. In a methodology review, TÜV Rheinland has certified that the PCF methodology SCOTT developed and used by BASF SE for calculating the PCFs of BASF products is scientifically-based, is in accordance with ISO 14067:2018, and reflects the state of the art (ID-Nr. 0000080389: BASF SE – Certipedia).

2 BASF has made these assessments of corresponding third-party products using publicly available information and fee-based, proprietary market survey data on production routes and deployed raw materials, to the extent available, as well as BASF’s own market and technology know-how. The data assumptions and allocation factors for third-party PCFs are the same as for the calculation of the PCF of the BASF product, as applicable. BASF’s assessments of the PCFs of the corresponding third-party products have not been subject to an LCA critical review by an independent third party.

Posted June 7, 2022

Source: BASF

Vice President Harris Announces More Than $1.9 Billion In New Private Sector Commitments As Part Of Call To Action For Northern Central America

WASHINGTON — June 7, 2022 — The Vice President, U.S. Department of State, and the Partnership for Central America (PCA), come together to announce private sector commitments now total more than $3.2 billion

Vice President Kamala Harris today announced more than $1.9 billion in new private sector commitments to create economic opportunity in northern Central America, more than doubling the value of initial private sector investments in response to her Call to Action. As part of her role addressing the root causes of migration from Central America, in May 2021, the Vice President launched the Call to Action for businesses and social enterprises to make significant commitments to promote economic opportunity for people in the region. This is in support for the U.S. Strategy to Address the Root Causes of Migration which the Vice President launched in July 2021. A summary of progress in implementation of the Root Causes Strategy can be found here.

The announcement today builds on the announcement the Vice President made in December 2021 of $1.2 billion in private sector commitments. Aggregate commitments under this initiative now total more than $3.2 billion. Taken together, these investments are creating an ecosystem of opportunity and helping to provide hope for people in the region to build safe and prosperous lives at home.

The Biden-Harris Administration recognizes that long-term development in northern Central America requires more than just the resources of the U.S. Government. For this reason, Vice President Harris called upon the private sector to draw upon its resources and expertise to support inclusive economic growth in northern Central America. Over the course of the past year, the Vice President has convened CEOs and philanthropic leaders to advance this effort, and will do so again on the margins of the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles at events hosted by the Partnership for Central America and Chamber of Commerce.

New Commitments

The following 10 companies and organizations announced major new commitments today, joining 30 companies that have already invested since the launch of the Call to Action in May 2021:

Agroamerica:  Agroamerica, a family-owned sustainable food and ingredients corporation, will invest more than $100 million in six new projects that will generate 1,000 permanent, living-wage jobs in northern Central America over the next 5 years.  Future projects include a food ingredients refinery, a 600-hectares banana plantation, a large avocado plantation and processing plant, and the expansion of a Natural Ingredients Processing Plant.  Agroamerica expects to drastically reduce food waste in the region while presenting an innovative business line for small and independent producers of raw ingredients and tropical fruits produced in Central America.

COATL: COATL, a digital service firm, will invest $35 million in El Salvador to expand rural access to high-speed internet over the next 5 years by expanding and operating a highly reliable rural broadband network over existing high-power electricity lines. This work will allow equal access to a digital ecosystem in rural areas, enabling online education, financial inclusion, and e-services.

Fundación Terra:  Fundación Terra, an independent foundation funded by contributions from Terra Inversiones, which works in the energy, petroleum, retail, and real-estate sectors, will invest $24.5 million in new programs over 5 years.  These programs will support secondary education, digital access, entrepreneurship, and environmental conservation, including scholarships to tutor 40,000 students in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras in Math and Spanish, which will promote financial inclusion.

Gap Inc.: Gap Inc. is committed to sourcing in Central America, and their current production in Central America supports an estimated 8,200 manufacturing jobs in the region held primarily by women. Gap Inc. plans to increase its sourcing in Central America by approximately $50 million per year, for a total growth commitment of $150 million by 2025, as part of its strategy to increase supply chain resilience by nearshoring more production to the Western Hemisphere. These increased purchases from the region will support an estimated 5,000 additional jobs in Central America.

Millicom: Millicom, a telecommunications company, will invest $700 million to expand and maintain its mobile and broadband networks in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador over the next two years.  This investment will advance Millicom’s efforts to accelerate economic growth in the region via increased connectivity as penetration rates for broadband in these markets are well below regional averages.  In addition, Millicom’s investments will be made in line with the Race to Zero, the UN-backed campaign aimed at promoting a healthy, resilient, zero-carbon recovery.

Pantaleon: Pantaleon, a conglomerate including investments in agroindustry and real-estate, will invest $9.4 million to fund the initial phase of a 1,200-acre industrial park on Guatemala´s Southern Coast. Once completed, the park is expected to house a mix of manufacturing, logistics, and distribution businesses, among others.

SanMar: SanMar, a U.S.-based apparel wholesaler, will increase its purchases of products manufactured in northern Central America by $500 million by 2025. These purchases will support the supply of products to SanMar’s over 60,000 customers, the overwhelming majority of which are American small businesses engaged in domestic light manufacturing.  The increased capacity required for this growth will lead to the creation of 4,000 additional full-time jobs at Elcatex, a Honduras-based apparel manufacturer owned in part by SanMar.

Unifi: Unifi, a company that produces recycled and synthetic yarns, established its manufacturing and sales operation in El Salvador (Unifi Central America) in 2010 and has been invested in El Salvador and the region since then. Unifi is making significant investments in the footprint capacity and innovation of its El Salvadoran operation and has committed to investing $15 million over the next five years to expand capacity, improve efficiency, and reduce energy use. The investment includes new innovative texturing technology that will increase the company’s polyester yarn production in El Salvador by 40% and support continuous training and job growth in the region.

Visa: Visa will invest more than $270 million over the next five years to expand financial inclusion and digital infrastructure, with the goal of adding 6.5 million people and 1 million small and medium enterprises (SMEs) into the formal financial system in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. Visa will focus on helping the local financial sector deploy innovative payment technology, improving citizens’ financial capabilities while driving efficiencies in key areas of the economy including: agriculture, digital disbursement of government subsidies, and remittances, while also expanding financial education for citizens and SMEs, thus increasing acceptance of digital payments and bringing more people into the formal economy.

Yazaki: Yazaki North America, an automotive components producer, will invest an additional $110 million to hire over 14,000 new employees in Guatemala and El Salvador by the end of 2026.  This builds upon a recent announcement to invest $10 million in a new factory in Guatemala, which is scheduled to start production with its first 1,000 employees in January 2023.  Yazaki NA provides electrical wire harnesses for General Motors, Ford, Stellantis, and other global automakers.

Updates on Previously Announced Commitments

Starting with just 12 companies and organizations, the Call to Action now includes 40 companies and organizations that have made commitments to invest in the region, representing financial services, textiles and apparel, agriculture, technology and telecommunications, and nonprofits. In addition, the Call to Action has generated new collaboration across participating companies, further boosting the initiative’s impact.

Highlights of progress to date include:

Microsoft announced in December that they have expanded broadband internet access to nearly 2 million people. The company anticipates reaching 3 million individuals across the region by July 2022. Additionally, Microsoft expanded on its initial commitment and will provide digital skills training for 1 million individuals by 2025.

Nespresso committed in May 2021 to support regional economies with a minimum of $150 million in investment by 2025. To date, Nespresso has signed over $100 million in contracts for coffee procurement, including the first-ever Nespresso coffee shipments from Honduras and El Salvador, which will increase incomes for thousands of farmers.

Accion through its work with partners in northern Central America, has brought over 140,000 people living in Guatemala — including 90,000 women — into the formal financial sector.

Davivienda has brought over 201,000 individuals into the formal financial sector through expansion of digital services, signed a new Loan Portfolio Guarantee Agreement with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and extended over $100 million in low-cost loans for housing and small businesses.

How to Respond to the Call

The Call to Action is facilitated through a public-private partnership between the State Department and the independent organization the Partnership for Central America, in close coordination with USAID. The Call to Action’s six focus areas are intended to support long-term development of the region, including: promoting a reform agenda; digital and financial inclusion; food security and climate-smart agriculture; climate adaptation and clean energy; education and workforce development; and public health access. It serves as one component of the Biden-Harris Administration’s comprehensive Strategy to Address the Root Causes of Migration, which involves significant commitments of U.S. government resources to support the long-term development of the region — including by fostering economic opportunity, strengthening democratic governance, combatting corruption, and improving security. This approach will leverage commitments and resources from the governments in the region, as well as partnerships with multilateral development banks, international financial institutions, and other partner countries.

The Biden-Harris Administration looks forward to increased collaboration with private companies from around the world to build upon this Call to Action in the months and years to come. The Administration welcomes additional commitments to participate in this initiative and promote economic opportunity in northern Central America. Vice President Harris invites interested parties to visit the State Department’s website at www.state.gov/jointhecall, or contact the State Department at jointhecall@state.gov.

More information can also be found in the initial Fact Sheet announcing the Call to Action on May 27. More information about the Partnership for Central America can be found at www.centampartnership.org. The Partnership can be contacted at support@centampartnership.org.

Posted June 7, 2022

Source: The White House

Unifi Inc. Demonstrates Traceability, Transparency At The Next Level

GREENSBORO, N.C. — June 7, 2022 — Unifi Inc., maker of REPREVE®, is featuring U TRUST® Product Certification, an enhanced supply chain certification, and REPREVE SmartDye™ technology at the Summer Outdoor Retailer Show taking place June 9-11, 2022, in Denver. The company will also host visitors at its popular Repreve mobile tour, which will serve as the company’s booth located at 50041-UL.

U TRUST Product Certification is one more way that Unifi builds trust and transparency around sustainability. From any point in the supply chain, and throughout the life of a product or fiber, Unifi can test and verify that Repreve is present at expected content levels.

“Trust and transparency are at the core of everything we do, and we strongly believe that sustainability claims should be independently verifiable,” said Eddie Ingle, CEO of Unifi. “Our U Trust Product Certification gives customers additional assurance that the products they purchase are working for the good of tomorrow.”

Unifi is also featuring its new Repreve SmartDye™ recycled polyester, which is designed to be dyed at lower temperatures. Repreve SmartDye delivers energy savings of up to 30 percent and has a lower carbon footprint than standard polyester dyeing, all without compromising a fabric’s integrity. This product meets performance requirements for an easy drop-in replacement of conventional polyester. Repreve SmartDye is available in both polyester staple fiber and filament fiber.

“Repreve is the global leader in recycled fiber innovation, and we continue to develop new products such as Repreve SmartDye to help our customers achieve their sustainability goals,” said Bev Sylvester, vice president of Marketing and Communications at Unifi.

Posted June 7, 2022

Source: Unifi

Novozymes Extends The Lifetime Of Textiles With Sustainable Innovation

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — June 7, 2022 — Man-made cellulosic fibers (MMCF) are the third most used textile fiber in the world after polyester and cotton. Yet it lags behind polyester and cotton with a market share of around 6 percent, mainly caused by quality issues such as the fabrics developing fuzz and pills after only a few washes. This makes the garments look worn and impact consumers’ perception of quality and sustainability.

With Fiberlife®, Novozymes offers a world-first family of biopolishing that minimizes fuzz and pilling in viscose, modal and lyocell. Biopolishing uses enzymes to remove loose fiber ends, leaving a clean, new-looking surface, which lasts for at least 60 washes. It can also improve print quality in daily wash and wear.

“Alongside the choice of material, the garment’s active life is a key factor of its climate impact. With Fiberlife, MMCF fabrics are given the wash and wear durability that consumers demand, prolonging the time the garments look and feel new. This is a better solution for the fashion and broader textile industry, consumers, and the planet,” said Dina Lipp, Global Marketing Manager at Novozymes.

Biopolishing for increased circularity

Circular fashion starts with sustainable production, free from waste, water pollution, emissions, and chemicals. Novozymes’ biodegradable enzymes support this by reducing the use of water and chemicals in the production.

“At Novozymes, we want to create forward-thinking solutions for the textile and fashion industry. That is why we have been working intensively on making MMCF biopolishing possible for viscose, modal and lyocell. We see a big potential for textile manufacturers to extend the longevity of MMCF fabrics, ultimately offering consumers longer lasting garments made of fibers from nature,” said Pedro E. G. Loureiro, Global Business Development manager at Novozymes.

Buying clothes that last longer is central to minimizing the environmental impact of the fashion industry. Fiberlife®can help textile producers improve on quality and sustainability while strengthening the connection towards a growing number of eco-conscious consumers.

The global nonprofit Textile Exchange is the driving force behind climate action on textile fiber and materials in the textile industry. Its new Climate+ Strategy aims to guide the fashion and textile industry towards CO2 reductions of 45% by 2030 while reducing water consumption.

MMCF fibers are sourced and produced mainly from renewable wood and can support the shift from oil-derived synthetic fibers. By extending the quality and lifespan of MMFC textiles, Fiberlife can help the fashion industry to further reduce its environmental footprint.

How biopolishing works:

  • Biopolishing is an environmentally friendly process that uses enzymes to extend the lifetime of cotton, viscose, modal and lyocell.
  • Biopolishing uses enzymes to remove excess fibers from the fabric, leaving a clean surface. This improves dyeability and creates longer lasting textiles.
  • The microfibrils that protrude from cellulose-based fibers are microscopic hairs from the fibers of these fabrics. They lead to fuzz and pilling, which makes the fabric surface feel rough and trap dirt to reduce cleanness. Both the trapped dirt and the microfibrils themselves make colors and whites look less bright.
  • Textile mills polish cellulose-based fabrics before, during or after dyeing.

Posted June 7, 2022

Source: Novozymes

DEDAGROUP Stealth Announced Agreement To Acquire Start-Up Company BSAMPLY

TRENTO, Italy — May 30, 2022 — Building an extended and even more digitalized supply chain based on the principles of transparency, sustainability, and traceability to support the development of the fashion industry: with this outlook, Dedagroup Stealth — a Dedagroup subsidiary that for 30 years has been committed to supporting the growth of the main fashion and luxury brands with its expertise and software platform (ERP) — announces an agreement to acquire 100 percent of the business unit that controls the innovative platform of the start-up Bsamply. The platform — which promotes the digitalization of the fashion raw material sector, and was born to connect raw material suppliers (from fabrics to yarns, to leathers and accessories) and fashion and interior design companies— will become a part of Dedagroup Stealth, strengthening the new division that will be established. This internationally oriented deal comes just over two years after the acquisition of the English Zedonk, which has allowed Dedagroup Stealth to serve the start-up and young designers segment as well.

Today, Dedagroup Stealth is among the very few companies in the world and the only one in Italy to have developed a technological platform dedicated to the fashion and accessories sector. In Italy, Dedagroup Stealth is a market leader with a 60-percent share, and its software solutions and expertise are also recognized abroad and chosen by major brands, as well as by independent designers and start-ups, as they satisfy and simplify the needs of an extremely complex, varied sector, enabling integration with the entire production chain — artisans, SMEs and small businesses — distributive and increasingly omnichannel based.
With Bsamply, Dedagroup Stealth provides the fashion and luxury market — during a particularly difficult time in the procurement of materials and as a result increased prices, — with a platform for searching, sampling and ordering raw materials from qualified suppliers, contacting the garment makers best suited for manufacturing collections, but also for managing the sales process of their products and consolidating orders from retailers. This is in addition to the possibility for companies to choose the entities that best reflect their needs for transparency and sustainability and are in line with their ESG strategies. This is an area already well-served by Dedagroup Stealth, which has developed its Stealth®Sustainability Solution module to support companies in developing greener business models making it possible to monitor the entire product life cycle and certify its level of sustainability.

The over 8,000 current users of Bsamply’s platform — major fashion brands, suppliers and start-ups — will have the opportunity to showcase their products in accordance with the highest standards of transparency, to the most important fashion companies, thereby accelerating their growth and the innovation scope that their products may offer the entire sector.

Cosimo Solida, CEO of Dedagroup Stealth, commented: “Like every sector, the fashion industry has also been influenced by two fundamental macro-trends in recent years: the need and desire to raise the level of sustainability of its products, extending the control and the traceability over all materials accordingly, and the need to innovate, identifying, for example the best opportunities offered by research and technology on material development. Bsamply meets both these needs in perfect harmony with a mission that inspires the development of our solutions each day. It is through these solutions that we aim to support the entire industry, which is increasingly oriented towards thorough control of the supply chain, and where attention to the environment has become strategic and can no longer be neglected.”

“Alongside Dedagroup Stealth, we dedicate further energy and constancy to our growth process,” explained Andrea Fiume, Founder of Bsamply. “From 2017 we have made enormous progress, including the re-platforming we have launched, and we are certain that our partnership with a company like Dedagroup Stealth will become a strength for us, both in the near future and looking further ahead. While staying true to our defining DNA and business model, we aim to further expand our customer portfolio and provide services that increasingly meet brands’ needs: the ultimate goal is to give additional visibility to our technology, and in particular to the services offered in the eyes of consistently more prestigious brands in Italy and abroad; this is just the beginning.”

This full-fledged strategic partnership is part of a process of gradual and consistent growth for Bsamply: founded in Los Angeles and opening the LAB company in 2018, followed by the launch of its innovative platform the following year. During the pandemic, the company also offered its services free of charge to textile companies. But that is not all: in 2021, the company expanded its business to include the interior design sector and held a replatforming that has now garnered over 8,000 users, including some of the fashion world’s most important brands and suppliers. Bsamply is now looking to the future with ambition as it transfers its expertise to Dedagroup Stealth with the goal of enhancing its services available to brands.

Formal closing of the acquisition is contingent on satisfaction of all conditions set in the agreement and is expected to occur in the coming weeks.

Posted June 7, 2022

Source: Bsamply

Datatex Announces New Customer In China — DB Socks

MILAN — June 7, 2022 — Datatex is proud to announce a new customer: DB Socks in China. DB Socks is located in a national sock standard setting and testing base and a large industrial park specializing in the production of cotton socks.

The company produces textile socks, cotton fabrics, silks, spinning yarns, knitted yarns, and other products.

Since DB Socks cares about the accurate management of its complex supply chain, and in order to assure the compliance with all the safety protocols, the company decided to adopt Datatex ERP NOW.

Among other modules they will implement MQM for optimizing machine schedules, and the MCM module for the accurate and fast coordination and planning of production.

Thanks to this collaboration, Datatex will be able to consolidate its presence in the socks manufacturer field and further expand in the Chinese market.

Northeast hosiery textile industrial park was inaugurated in August 2005. It has built 1.45 million square meters of workshops and auxiliary facilities, 1210 enterprises of various types have settled in the park, with 40000 sets of socks machines, an annual production capacity of 3.2 billion pairs, using 180 million KWH of electricity. It employs 45,000 people directly or indirectly in the park. Among them, more than 3000 college students — from 181 colleges and universities across the country — started businesses and found jobs in the park, and 135 sock factories and tertiary industry enterprises were established, driving the employment of nearly 10000 people.

The park has obtained 125 intellectual property rights, including 10 invention patents, 69 utility model patents, 46 software copyright patents and 30 pending patents. It has obtained more than 130 national and provincial qualifications and honors. It is a national sock standard setting and testing base and a large industrial park specializing in the production of cotton socks with the most complete chain in the world.

Posted June 7, 2022

Source: Datatex

Australia Releases New National Flushability Standard That Draws On Test Methods And Criteria Established By INDA And EDANA

CARY, N.C., June 7, 2022 – Standards Australia released on May 23 a new national standard that builds on the test methods and criteria of the INDA/EDANA Flushability Guidance Document, Fourth Edition (GD4). It also includes a new user-friendly labeling approach to indicate what products can be flushed down the toilet.

INDA and EDANA — two nonwoven trade associations representing consumer wipes manufacturers and supply chains — issued a copyright license for the testing method under a collaborative agreement with Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA). Australia and New Zealand manufacturers will now follow the same rigorous seven-test process established by INDA and EDANA, with minor modifications, to determine which wipes can be safely flushed in Australia and New Zealand.

WSAA worked with Standards Australia — the country’s leading independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit standards organization — to develop the new standard in response to increasing blockages experienced by water utilities and customers across Australia.

The standard specifies test methods and criteria for determining if products are suitable for disposal by flushing them down a toilet and also provides guidance on labeling and marking of these products. Toilet paper, liquids and soluble products are excluded.

“It is exciting to see the release of this Australian and New Zealand Standard which has been many years in the making. One of the first-of-its-kind internationally, this standard is the result of ground-breaking collaboration between manufacturers, water utilities, peak bodies and consumer groups,” said Adam Lovell, Executive Director, WSAA.

“While the standard is voluntary, it provides manufacturers with clear pass/fail criteria for products suitable for toilet flushing,” he said. “Importantly, it includes requirements for clearer labeling so customers know for certain whether a product is safe for flushing.”

GD4 Guidelines Help Set Direction 

Established in 2018, the GD4 test methods were the result of collaboration between INDA and EDANA based on the pooled technical expertise of individual companies, academia, consultants and the wastewater industry.

“We are pleased to receive this validation of our GD4 test methods and evaluation approach,” said Dave Rousse, INDA president emeritus.  “This collaborative copyright licensing agreement has expanded the use of the technical approach and test methodologies that have been successfully used by manufacturers for the past four years and continue to help consumers and communities reduce the burden on wastewater infrastructure from the flushing of products not designed to be flushed.”

“I’m pleased to echo Dave Rousse”, said Marines Lagemaat, technical director EDANA. “We welcome Standards Australia to adopt the GD4 approach in their new national standard and look forward to expanding the use of the INDA/EDANA proven technology even further.”

New Labeling Approach 

The Australia standard adopts a new, positive approach to the labeling of flushable wipes and other products with a symbol indicating “OK to Flush” with no further labeling requirements for non-flushable wipes. The INDA/EDANA approach calls for labeling all non-flushable wipes with a “Do Not Flush” symbol and enabling GD4-compliant wipes to use the claim “Flushable.”

Posted June 7, 2022

Source: INDA

Seismic Announces Powered Clothing For Worker Safety

MENLO PARK, Calif. — June 6, 2022 — Seismic, an apparel company that designs powered clothing has launched its newest line in powered clothing.

Seismic Suit for Worker Safety

This is the first Seismic Powered Clothing designed specifically for the Worker Safety market, an over-the-clothes “vest-style” garment inspired by traditional workwear, with a tool belt form-factor hardware “carrier” at the waist. The Seismic Suit has been deigned in line with OSHA standards and developed in conjunction with teacher customers to protect workers’ core, upper and lower back in repetitive, awkward and hazardous postures. These powered postures include standing, forward lean, backward lean, squatting, stooping, and kneeling.

The suit automatically senses and responds to the workers movements and delivers powered strength from its seven twisted string actuators when needed. The suit has a battery life of up to 10 hours to ensure the worker can complete their shift uninterrupted.

Seismic Suit can deliver 100-percent sustained powered support, essentially suspending the worker without any muscle engagement.

Seismic Suit is lightweight, breathable, and comfortable with a vest style upper that utilizes the latest materials for cooling and comfort, and a removable belt which houses the battery and drive components so that they can be easily swapped out. Flex-Drive™ muscles are routed within the garment and are aligned with the wearer’s anatomical muscles, with quick release connections if they need to be removed. The suit features an integrated lumbar mechanism, external controls, with haptic and LED feedback. Purpose-built for manufacturing and logistics workplace, the suit doesn’t interfere with existing personal protective equipment and can be put on, taken off in less than 60s, laundered for over 50 industrial cycles and serviced quickly to minimize time and associated labor cost. Special design details in the Suits garment pattern, lightweight technical components and low-profile form factor prevent damage when in contact with external products, increase range of motion, and workers agility while performing tasks.

The Seismic Suit for Worker Safety will start shipping in Q1 2023

Posted: June 6, 2022

Source: Seismic™

Victor Capital Partners Announces Sale Of PrimaLoft Inc. To Compass Diversified

NEW YORK CITY — June 6, 2022 — Victor Capital Partners, a leading middle market private equity firm investing in branded, mission-driven companies in specialty consumer, industrial technology, and business service industries, today announced that an affiliate has entered into a definitive agreement to sell PrimaLoft Inc. to Compass Diversified. PrimaLoft is a   developer of advanced insulations and fabrics that global brands use to deliver high performance and comfort while also reducing impact on the environment.

Based in Latham, N.Y., PrimaLoft technologies are integral components that balance innovation, performance, and sustainability, and have been widely adopted in the finished products of over 950 brand partners — the most forward-thinking technical providers of outdoor and lifestyle apparel, footwear, equipment, accessories, and home goods.

Victor Capital acquired a majority interest in PrimaLoft in 2017 in partnership with the management team, which maintained a significant investment in the business. Victor Capital and management collaborated to execute a successful growth plan that dramatically expanded the reach, size, and value of the company. PrimaLoft employees across the globe will receive some proceeds from the sale thanks to the “PrimaLoft Prosperity Plan” which Victor Capital and management put in place to ensure all employees would benefit financially from the growth and success of the business.

“We are thrilled with the remarkable progress and value creation delivered by Mike Joyce and the entire PrimaLoft team during our partnership,” said Douglas Korn, founder and managing partner of Victor Capital. “PrimaLoft has introduced industry-leading innovations, including the successful launch of proprietary, high-performance materials that reduce environmental impact, and we are proud to have contributed our experience and resources to this tremendous success story.”

“We love working with talented management teams to grow branded, mission-driven businesses that have out-sized impact on their industry and the world,” added Dave Affinito, a partner at Victor Capital. “It has been a privilege to help PrimaLoft realize its commitment to using advanced material technology to create innovative alternatives to animal-derived down and generic synthetic insulations.”

“We are extremely grateful to Victor Capital, who has been a supportive, valued, and trusted partner to the PrimaLoft team,” said Mike Joyce, president and CEO, PrimaLoft. “Their partnership has been a driving force behind the ability of our team to develop, advance and amplify our mission to deliver high performance products that reduce impact on the environment. The power of the PrimaLoft brand has grown exponentially during our time together, and our suite of products now includes technologies and sustainability platforms that have further established our position as a leader within our global industries. Our entire team is stronger, and our brand partners now offer higher-quality, more sustainable, differentiated products to consumers around the world.”

The more than 950 global brand partners of PrimaLoft include outdoor brands Patagonia, Helly Hanson, LL Bean, and Arc’teryx; athletic brands Nike, Adidas, lululemon and Athleta; fashion/lifestyle brands Polo Ralph Lauren, Stone Island, J.Crew and Prada; and home goods brands The Company Store and Boll & Branch. PrimaLoft also offers a licensing program, providing its technologies and branding to an expanded set of nonwoven and other textile markets.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in early July 2022. William Blair & Company is serving as lead financial advisor to PrimaLoft along with Baird. Legal advisors to PrimaLoft are Blank Rome LLP.

Posted: June 6, 2022

Source: Victor Capital Partners/PrimaLoft Inc.

Thermore EVOdown – Half Fibers, Half Insulation, Fully Recycled

MILAN — June 6, 2022 — The Thermore Group was founded in Milan in 1972. Fifty years later, the company is still defending its title as the global insulation specialist for apparel. Thermore’s team includes young talents under the age of 30, which is what allows Thermore to stay ahead of the curve in the traditional environment of the textile industry. Established by Lucio Siniscalchi, Thermore now welcomes the third generation of the Siniscalchi family into the business, projecting the company into the future.

This year, Thermore launches EVOdown®, made of 100-percent recycled fibers from PET bottles. Thermore EVOdown bridges the gap between free fibers and traditional padding, delivering the ultra-soft hand and luxurious drape of blow-in fibers in a rolled form. This hybrid technology — as consumers like to refer to it — allows to boost productivity and ease of manufacturing.

In fact, EVOdown consists of millions of free fibers encapsulated by two containing outer layers, making it the world’s only product of this type. Consumers will enjoy the light-weight and silky touch of EVOdown-made garments, as well as its unbeatable easy care.

EVOdown Recycled is another step towards sustainability for the Milan-based company, which has now converted over 97 percent of its turnover into insulations made of either fully or partially recycled fibers (based on actual sales figures). This brings Thermore closer than ever to an exclusively sustainable product offer; and while the industry talks about future projects and roadmaps, Thermore is already at the finish line being almost completely sustainable. This doesn’t come as a surprise: sustainability has always been part of Thermore’s DNA, as the Group pioneered the use of recycled fibers in the early 80s and mastered it thereafter.

Posted: June 6, 2022

Source: The Thermore Group

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