Rieter: Challenging First Half Of 2022 Despite Exceptionally High Order Backlog

WINTERTHUR, Switzerland — May 25, 2022 — Despite an exceptionally high order backlog and sustained strong demand, Rieter’s business situation in the first half of 2022 is characterized by the well-known supply chain bottlenecks, the repercussions of the COVID lockdown in China and the significant increases in material and transportation costs.

Further costs are added in connection with the takeover of the automatic winding business as of April 1, 2022.

These factors are adversely impacting both sales and earnings.

Rieter expects significantly higher sales in the first half of 2022 compared to the prior-year period (first half of 2021: 400.5 million Swiss francs ($417.3 million)). Rieter anticipates a loss at the EBIT and net result level in the first half of 2022 (first half of 2021: EBIT 9.0 million Swiss francs ($9.4 million), net result: 5.3 million Swiss francs ($5.5 million)).

The company is working intensively on the implementation of measures to minimize the impact of the supply chain bottlenecks, the COVID lockdown in China and the cost increases. The implemented price increases have a delayed effect, particularly in the machinery business. The integration of the automatic winding business is proceeding according to plan.

As soon as the situation in the sourcing markets has normalized, Rieter will benefit from the exceptionally high order backlog and the considerably improved market position as a result of the takeover of the automatic winding business as well as Accotex and Temco.

Rieter will provide a detailed report on the business results of the first half of 2022 on July 19, 2022.

Posted: May 25, 2022

Source: Rieter

Innovative Solutions And Continuous Research: The Italian Technological Leadership In Textile Machinery

TW Special Report

The Italian textile sector historically represents a benchmark in the world: from production to the finished product, the high quality standard and innovative technologies applied are the basis of an excellence recognized and appreciated globally.

The resulting competitiveness confirms the leadership of Made in Italy and demonstrates, for some time now, a commitment that goes beyond the market and looks to the future of the planet. An evolution that is the result of a constant search for innovative solutions, both on the strictly production level and on that of the environmental needs of a changing world.

It is with these premises that a virtuous plot is created, in which excellence and sustainability come together to chart new paths and redesign modernity. Green Label, signed by ACIMIT, is part of this transformation, promoting technological solutions that support the environment.

The reduction of hazardous substances in production processes, greater water savings and improved energy efficiency of production processes, as well as the recycling of materials that have reached the end of their useful life: these are the benefits of Green Label.

RINA, an international certification body, is responsible for validating the Green Label issuance process and its testing measures. On the basis of a standardized and certified procedure, RINA verifies both the way in which are measured and the operating conditions of the machines being labelled. Certification makes the above aspects concrete and achievable, enabling a process that allows companies to grow, becoming even more competitive and continuing to confirm the Italian leadership of the entire textile machinery sector.

The technology innovations implemented by Italian manufacturers involved in the project within their machines translate, as well as benefits in terms of environmental impact (reduction of emissions of CO2 eq. of the sample machine in use phase), also in economic benefits for the customers of our companies. The saving for the users of green-labelled textile machines was calculated by RINA on the information provided by the database of the Green Labels and on the quantity of material processed by the sample machine defined by each manufacturers. As regards the energy consumption the reduction also reaches 30 percent. As for the water consumption in the finishing sector the reduction is on average 27 percent.

Therefore, the use of green-labelled Italian machinery makes possible a win-win situation with clear economic and environmental benefits for both Italian manufacturers and their textile customers.

For more information visit https://www.green-label.it/en/.

This sponsored content was provided by the Italian Trade Agency (ITA).

May 25, 2022

Brenntag Specialties Announces New Agreement With Archroma

READING, Pa. — May 17, 2022 — Brenntag, a chemicals and ingredients distributor, has become a distributor for Archroma products in the United States and Canada.

Archroma’s portfolio includes, but is not limited to, the products falling under the trade names below. These products can positively impact whiteness, coloration, and stain and soil release for home care and household, industrial & institutional (HI&I) cleaning laundry products and detergents.
• Leucophor®
• Nylosan®
• Drimaren®
• Printofix®
• Hydroperm®
• Ultraphor®
• Kieralon®

“We are extremely excited to add Archroma to our portfolio of suppliers in HI&I,” stated Dr, Jeffrey M. Carey, vice president HI&I Americas. “Their strong line of specialty products fit well with our existing product portfolio and will further enhance our ability to provide world class solutions to our customers.”

Leucophor has a range of optical brightening agents to brighten detergents and eliminate greyness. Nylosan, Drimaren, and Printofix are a palette of dyes and pigment dispersions designed to get the desired color for detergents and cleaners. Hydroperm stain and soil release agents are used for laundry detergents and softeners. They help improve the removal of oily or fatty stains from fabrics even without “pre-wash” of the fabric.

“Archroma has built decades of expertise in dyestuff and specialty chemical solutions bringing color and performance to textile, paper, packaging, coatings, etc. We are very excited for future collaboration with Brenntag and their customers to bring laundry and detergent expertise to North America,” said Bryan Dill, head of Sales, North America, Archroma.

Posted May 24, 2022

Source: Brenntag

DOMO Chemicals Launches NYLEO®, The New Brand For Its Innovative Performance Fibers Product Line

GHENT, Belgium — May 19, 2022 — NYLEO® is the new brand for DOMO’s Performance Fibers product line, bringing together a compelling combination of well-established performance fibers and groundbreaking new solutions. Based on nylon 6,6, NYLEO is used in numerous applications in the textile, flooring, flock and abrasive markets. Thanks to its unique properties, it offers a wide range of actions to enhance product performance.

“In a fast-changing world, markets and consumers demand innovative solutions to meet the daily requisites for health, safety and sustainability,” said Nicolas Forien, sales director PA66 & Fibers at DOMO. “At DOMO, because we are a key polyamide player equipped with the world’s most recent polymerization line for staple fiber, we are committed to achieving cutting-edge breakthroughs in PA 66 fibers. This is demonstrated in our innovative NYLEO line of nylon 66 value-added solutions. These include new products for flame retardancy, enhanced biodegradability, and inhibiting bacteria.”

NYLEO merges a rich heritage in the nylon 6,6-based fiber market with a new focus on innovation with three pioneering products: NYLEO PROTECT with improved flame retardancy, NYLEO 4EARTH® with enhanced biodegradability, and NYLEO SAFE with bacteriostatic properties.

DOMO’s legacy of innovation in nylon 6,6 fibers
Based at its Valence site in France, DOMO’s Performance Fibers teams work passionately to create unique fibers designed to meet key market needs. DOMO has been producing world-class PA66 fibers since 1955 for such industries as nonwovens for abrasives and aeronautics, flooring for carpets, high performance textiles, flock for upholstery, automotive interiors and flooring, and many other consumer products. The NYLEO brand will now be applied to the full portfolio of polyamide 6.6 (PA 66) fiber products, including staple fibers, crimped tow and tow for flock. These are well known for their superior resilience, outstanding wear and abrasion resistance, higher tenacity, excellent dyeability and color fastness, consistent quality, and soft feel.

And now, NYLEO also represents cutting-edge innovation with its new line of PA 66 fiber products:

NYLEO PROTECT — In order to contribute to higher levels of safety in the Personal Protective Equipment, clothing, furniture and transportation industries, DOMO has developed a new flame retardant PA 66 fiber. NYLEO PROTECT combines all the advantages of PA 66, such as mechanical performance, comfort, low specific weight and outstanding abrasion resistance, with improved flame retardancy performance. Indeed, the limiting oxygen index (LOI) of NYLEO PROTECT has been improved to 28 percent, which is the level of typical flame retardant fibers.

NYLEO 4EARTH — More and more manufacturers are concerned about sustainability and the circular economy, with the aim to reduce their impact on the environment through better waste management. Based on the observation that the textile value chain is a major contributor to landfills, where most clothing ends its life, DOMO has developed this new fiber, which demonstrates enhanced biodegradation when landfilled. A traditional nylon 66 fiber decomposes in about 50-100 years. NYLEO 4EARTH with enhanced biodegradability decomposes in under five years.

NYLEO SAFE — Bacteria propagation has become a health concern of increasing urgency. Therefore, DOMO has developed a new bacteriostatic fiber to fight this problem. A bacteriostatic agent is introduced into the polymeric matrix, creating a long-lasting effect to protect the fibers and inhibit the growth of bacteria.

“The NYLEO brand represents an important step in our quest to strengthen DOMO’s nylon-based performance fibers business,” added Nicolas Forien. “It’s also a key milestone in our sustainability journey, as we endeavor to support our customers through our enhanced offering of sustainable solutions.”

Posted May 24, 2022

Source: Domo Chemicals

Alpine Group Undertakes Future-Fit Business Benchmark

LONDON — May 17, 2022 — Alpine Group — a longstanding manufacturing partner for renowned fashion brands that include The North Face, American Eagle Outfitters, Under Armour and Sweaty Betty — becomes the first textile innovation and apparel manufacturing business globally to undertake the Future-Fit Business Benchmark. The science-based strategic management tool aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and clearly defines the destination for businesses wishing to evaluate how much more needs to be done in order to take credible action towards a future-fit society.

Announced on the occasion of Alpine Group’s 40th anniversary, the adoption of the benchmark marks a significant step forward in driving progress for an industry where consumers, investors, and employees alike are demanding more accountability, especially from brands. Alpine Group’s sustainability commitments as driven by the Benchmark highlight the critical role that textile innovation and apparel manufacturing play in driving systemic change throughout the fashion value chain.

“In the early years when I was visiting textile and dyeing mills, I had seen with my own eyes the damage the industry was doing, and no one seemed to care about sustainability then. Fixing that broken system requires collective effort,” said Ashok Mahtani, co-founder and chairman of Alpine Group. “At Alpine, we have spent the past 40 years researching and pioneering sustainable breakthroughs in materials science and manufacturing technology. Adopting the Future-Fit Business Benchmark now is our way of accelerating change by bringing the rest of the industry — brands and partners alike — on this journey with us. We do it so that our innovation and manufacturing can positively impact the entire value chain.”

In line with the Future-Fit Business Benchmark, Alpine Group is pursuing a comprehensive sustainability strategy dubbed ‘Threading the Future’ that will address three holistic areas of impact, namely Materials and Innovation; People Development and Empowerment; as well as Environmental Impact and Community Action.

Group-wide commitments across the three fronts include:
Every Thread Counts (Materials and Innovation)
• By 2023, greater than 60 percent of all polyester will come from recycled bottle or textile waste (Paradise is a signatory on the Textile Exchange rPET challenge, committing to >45% rPET by 2025)
• By 2023, 100 percent of all MMCF (man-made cellulose fiber) from wood pulp will be sourced from Canopy Green Shirt fiber manufacturers — leading global standard for sustainable MMCF manufacturers
• By 2025, 100 percent of all cotton will come from sustainable sources according to guidelines defined by the Textile Exchange’s Sustainable Cotton Challenge (Paradise is a signatory on the Textile Exchange Sustainable Cotton Challenge)
• By 2025, 25 percent of all garments will be produced with solution dyed materials to reduce overall water consumption
• By 2030, 75 percent of all man-made cellulosic fiber will be from tree-free sources — e.g., agricultural waste, bacterial cellulose

Every Action Counts (Environmental Impact and Community Action)
• All manufacturing facilities across the Group will pursue the use 100 percent renewable energy by 2030
• Set a Science-Based Target, to set a clearly defined path in reducing the Group’s scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions in line with the Paris Agreement goals

Every Person Counts (People Development and Empowerment)
• Support a minimum of 250,000 women, on top of the 50,000 per year in the next five years through our Dignity Kits program. This program uses textiles waste to create kits that alleviate period poverty
• In Egypt, drive a HERfinance partnership with HERproject, digitalizing wages within the apparel workforce and empowering production floor team members to take advantage of the benefits of digital wages and enhance financial literacy

Lewis Shuler, head of Innovation at Paradise Textiles, Alpine Group’s dedicated innovation hub, said: “The apparel industry has long been mired in debates about the sustainability problem, often sidestepping each other even as greenwashing continues unabated. What our industry needs to make fashion fit for the future is more collaboration on more solutions from all angles.” He added: “Our sustainability innovations include our work on textile-to-textile recycling technology and processes that help to minimize waste at scale, and thus, at an accessible price point. Beyond textile recycling, we are also continuing to research and push for the use of better bio-based alternatives that deliver on performance, such as corn and hemp, while also deploying advanced Physical Tracer technology that facilitates transparency and authenticity to all materials we use.”

Alpine Group’s announcement as the first textile innovation and apparel manufacturing business globally to adopt the Future-Fit Business Benchmark follows the recent launch of its ‘Factory of the Future’ as part of Alex Apparels’ state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Egypt. Set to open in late 2022, the factory is expected to provide an additional 2,000+ jobs for the local community. The Group is in the process of securing LEED Gold certification for the facility, a voluntary environmental certification system to recognize the sustainability attributes of design, construction, operation and maintenance of buildings.

Commenting on the significance of Alpine Group’s announcement for the industry at large, Dr. Geoff Kendall, co-founder and CEO of Future-Fit Foundation, said: “The transition to true sustainability is going to be long and hard for any business — and like any journey, you don’t get very far unless you know exactly where you’re going. The Future-Fit Business Benchmark defines the destination all companies need to aim for and offers guidance to steer toward it. Unfortunately, many businesses still find the idea of real transformation daunting, so settle for incremental improvement to the unsustainable status quo. That widespread lack of ambition only serves to underline the importance of Alpine Group’s commitment to Future-Fit. It’s a milestone development that stands to pave the way for the fashion industry as a whole. Hopefully other organizations will follow Alpine Group’s lead — to play their part in building a better world.”

Posted May 24, 2022

Source: Alpine Group

“Here We Go” — Beaulieu International Group Is Ready For A Sustainable Future

WAREGEM, Belgium — May 19, 2022 — With an annual report entitled “Here.We.Go” and a sustainability report “Shaping sustainable living, together,” B.I.G. is also publishing a strong ambition for a sustainable future.

Offering sustainable flooring and material solutions will be the number one priority for the coming years.

The Group’s first sustainability report is built around a self-designed sustainability model — Route 2030 — which is based on achievable commitments, covers the main priorities and reflects B.I.G.’s vision in a sincere way.

“We fully realize that the road ahead is still long and bumpy, but if there is one thing we have learned in recent years, it is this: the greatest threat to our planet is thinking that someone else will save it. Today, we feel ready and equipped to take on our responsibility” said Pol Deturck, CEO.

Our vision for the B.I.G. change is to actively build a better future by reducing our carbon footprint to zero, taking care of our people and those around us, and doing business in a transparent, integer way. In this sense, it is the perfect translation of the Group’s purpose defined in 2021: shaping sustainable living, together.

Deturck added: “By 2030, together with a broad group of suppliers, stakeholders and partners, we want to be the leader in sustainable flooring and material solutions. Specifically, our future value proposition is based on products and services that are environmentally & climate friendly, circular and offered by talented, innovative people with an emphasis on integrity and respect for values. This results more in a recurring value proposition for the future.”

Clear growth ambitions
As a 100-percent family-owned international Group with a clear long-term vision, we stayed true to our plans and kept on investing in all areas of our business. Just as our past investments allowed us to thrive in 2021, today’s investments will make us even stronger in the years to come.

“The ambition for 2021 was to invest over 100 mio euro. But we were held back by external, unforeseen factors: from delays on quotes and execution to the lack of availability and resources due to the pandemic. If all goes as planned, we’ll make up for it in 2022 with an investment budget well over 100 million euro. The main areas of interest will be sustainability, innovation and Industry 4.0,” said Pieter-Jan Sonck, CFO of B.I.G.

Our global transformation strategy ONE B.I.G. is gaining momentum across all business units and regions. Some of the more concrete initiatives that saw the light of day in 2021 were our new platform for customer relationship management, the acceleration of digital solutions into our operations and the launch of the B.I.G. University offering learning trajectories for our people.

A significant milestone in turnover
Adding to the gradual top-line growth of recent years, the Group can look back on an unprecedented financial boom. The driving forces: favorable market conditions, a revitalized growth strategy and a team of nearly 5,000 first-class employees.

B.I.G. reported a turnover of 2.5 billion euros, an increase of 45 percent compared to 2020. The Group EBITDA amounted to 451 million euros, an increase of 120 percent compared to 2020 and a net result of 274 million euros, a growth of 215 percent compared to 2020.

Since the pandemic shook various macro- and micro-economic systems to their foundations, our integrated business model has proven to be a great recipe for resilience. B.I.G. was able to mitigate major supply chain risks thanks to its strong vertical integration, while we also balanced out local market dynamics with our vast geographical presence.

Fruitful year for all Business Units
It was a fruitful year for all three business units, but our business unit Polymers stood out. Exceptionally strong demand in Europe and North America, combined with raw material shortages and unplanned shutdowns of competitors, pushed prices and margins up to historical highs. Well aware that this combination of market conditions puts our overall figures into perspective, B.I.G. has proven to be capable of going the extra mile. The Polymers facilities ran at full capacity to meet the customers’ needs and hit all-time profit records during several months.

Our business unit Flooring Solutions also fared well. Most divisions and regions outperformed amid surging energy prices, disrupted supply chains, cost volatility in transport and raw materials, and other challenges. Our sustained focus on innovation, design and product differentiation led to an improved operating result at the end of 2021, and we continue on the same track.

The achievements by Engineered Solutions echo those of the other two business units, from volume increases to budget increases. B.I.G. took big leaps forward in all its key markets, including the automotive sector, geotextiles and filtration.

Posted May 24, 2022

Source: B.I.G.

Wilson College Of Textiles, Baldwin Technology Partner To Make Textile Finishing More Sustainable

RALEIGH, N.C. — May 19, 2022 — Zeis Textiles Extension (ZTE) at North Carolina State University’s Wilson College of Textiles is pleased to announce its new working relationship with Baldwin Technology Co. Inc., utilizing its precision spray technology for chemical applications, TexCoat G4™, in the dyeing and finishing lab. This mutually beneficial relationship will enhance sustainability in the textile industry by reducing energy, water, chemicals and processing time with innovative spray technology.

In addition to equipment partnerships such as this, companies within the textile industry can partner with ZTE to utilize the pilot lab for the opportunity to test new processes and products at an industry scale, exposing them to new technologies and possibilities without interrupting their manufacturing timelines. The labs within ZTE employ student workers and are available for use in their capstone and research projects.

“We are excited to be teaming up with Zeis Textiles Extension with our precision spray technology for textile finishing,” Rick Stanford, Baldwin Technology’s vice president of global business development for textiles, said. “NC State is recognized as a global leader in research and education for the textile industry. This opportunity exposes future textile leaders to the benefits of Baldwin spray technology in finishing and serves as a test site where brands, mills, chemical providers and others in the textile supply chain are lining up to experience Baldwin’s TexCoat performance and sustainability capabilities firsthand.”

Baldwin Technologies is a global equipment manufacturer for a number of industries. With more than 100 years in innovation and 35 years of experience in spray valve technology for offset printing, Baldwin is revolutionizing textile finishing by employing non-contact precision spray technology such as in the TexCoatG4™, which allows for even application of a wide range of low-viscosity water-based chemicals to one or both sides of the fabric.

Compared to traditional pad applications, the system enhances productivity, efficiency and sustainability by:
● Reducing water use by up to 50 percent;
● Reducing drying time and energy up to 50 percent;
● Recycling 100-percemt of chemistry used;
● Reducing downtime for changing or cleaning baths between fabrics; and
● Reducing water and chemical waste.

This partnership promotes Baldwin Technology and keeps the Wilson College at the cutting
edge of advancements in the textile industry, allowing both students and companies to gain
access to this eco-friendly finishing equipment. It has the potential, therefore, to revolutionize the current industry as well as that of the future, as students graduate and take their knowledge around the world becoming the industry leaders of tomorrow.

“We consider ourselves to be the industry arm of the college, bridging the research and
innovation being done between industry and academia,” said Andre West, director of ZTE. “Our partnerships with machine manufacturers, like this one with Baldwin Tech or our partnership with Sheima Seiki, for example, help serve as a vehicle to innovation.”

Posted May 24, 2022

Jones Family Of Companies Welcomes Back Third Generation Jones Associate as New COO

Butler

HUMBOLDT, Tenn. — May 23, 2022 — The Jones Family of Companies continues to grow and improve its operations while strengthening its position as a nonwoven manufacturing leader. The most recent step in this mission is the re-hiring of West Tennessee native, Scott Butler as its new COO.

Butler was born in Jackson, Tenn., and raised in Humboldt. He earned his undergraduate degree at Union University in Organizational Leadership and his MBA at UT Knoxville.
Butler is a third generation Jones associate, following in the footsteps of his parents and grandparents where his father spent 43 years. Scott began his career at Jones in 1992 on the third shift running yarn equipment on the plant floor. After mastering all the equipment, he moved into maintenance, serving as Maintenance supervisor, ISO Lead auditor, plant management, Quality manager, Operations manager, and vice president of Operations.

Butler left Jones at the end of December 2018 to care for his family and wife, who was battling cancer. Following her recovery, he started a consulting and industrial maintenance services company where he was highly successful assisting companies across the U.S. to be more efficient and productive while building strong and supportive teams.

“Scott works to develop a team of associates that maximize efforts to make the highest quality of product on time, every time. He believes in highly disciplined operations and lean standards,” said Ralph Jones, executive chairman. “Scott’s passion is assisting associates and teams to maximize their potential and add value to the associate, the team, and the company, as well as our customer and suppliers.”

“I am honored to have the opportunity to return to The Jones Family of Companies. I already have a relationship with many team members and am eager to work with them again. Also, I am looking forward to earning the trust of the new Jones team members that I will soon get to know,” Butler said. “Maintaining the integrity of Jones in the industry is especially important to me. I look forward to working with our customers and suppliers to assure them that Jones is a key partner for their success.Jones is full of dedicated people that make up The Family!”

Posted May 24, 2022

SDCE Introduces PVC Sensor Film

HOLMFIRTH, England — May 19, 2022 — SDCE has introduced PVC Sensor Film into its extensive offer of consumables, widening its industry appeal to the protective clothing sector. The sensor film — which is an essential consumable for testing to BS EN ISO Standard 9185:2007 — will enable testing professionals to assess the resistance of their materials to molten metal splash in line with international safety standards.

PVC Sensor Film acts as a skin simulant, sitting underneath the testing sample during an application of molten metal. The resulting damage to the PVC mimics the potential damage to human skin, providing a vital insight for the niche protective clothing sector into the effectiveness of their protective materials.

The launch comes after SDCE was approached by industry professionals seeking a new supplier for PVC film. Recognizing the synergy between the skin simulant and its existing range of testing consumables, the industry’s leading supplier of textile testing consumables was well-placed to fulfill industry demand for the product. The move into safety and protective textile testing does however represent a diversification for SDCE, whose existing consumables focus primarily on the quality control of textiles through physical, color fastness and light fastness test procedures.

Testing professionals in the sector have welcomed the launch, which fills a very real gap in the testing market. “I would like to stress that the skin simulant is critical for the test method, but also for notified bodies (in the EU) and other labs (outside the EU) to certify compliance for heat and flame industrial garments,” said chair of the ISO/TC 94/SC13 “Protective clothing” Eric van Wely, who is also global regulatory affairs and standards manager at DuPont Personal Protection. “I have been made aware of the issues since 2019, and it has been difficult to find a supplier and then a potential distributor for the labs.”

For those carrying out the tests, SDCE’s position as a trusted and established supplier of testing consumables provides reassurance that the product will be consistent and reliable.

“It was important to find a supplier capable of supplying all the laboratories with an identical PVC heat sensor in order to limit the dispersion of results between laboratories,” says Cédric Rossard, responsable laboratoire for the Institut Français du Textile et de l’Habillement, whose facility tests to ISO 9185. “Although we do still have some PVC from our previous supplier, this is an essential element of the test.”

Other professionals meanwhile praised SDCE’s fast response in getting the product to market, despite its niche nature.

“There was some misconception in the non-urgent nature of this material — in reality, some labs really needed this material very urgently,” says Inge de Witte PhD, certification manager at Centexbel, Belgium. “Although the amount of material needed worldwide is not that large, the importance of the material is all the more. SDCE’s PVC Sensor film will become the essential  reference material in in all molten metal testing labs, and we can only emphasize again how important it was that this product was launched.”

SDCE’s PVC film is available in multiples of 10 meters and, in line with the supplier’s entire range of consumables, will be supported by certificates of conformity which can be downloaded here. For sales enquiries, contact entsales@sdcenterprises.co.uk

Posted May 24, 2022

Source: SDC Enterprises

Garments Capturing Carbon Dioxide From The Air And Releasing It As Nutrition For Plants – The Carbon Looper Is Now Live At Fotografiska Stockholm

STOCKHOLM — May 23, 2022 — The Planet First program initiated by the H&M Foundation and world-renowned The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) has recently resulted in an innovation that could potentially be a game-changer when it comes to fighting global CO2 emissions. The Carbon Looper project — clothing that captures CO2 from the air and then releases it as nutrition for plants — is now being tested by the restaurant staff at Fotografiska Stockholm.

Finding ways to lower carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere is an urgent planet-wide priority. It is crucial to initiate and accelerate change, and all research in this area is of the highest interest and deserves our full attention. With the Planet First program, the H&M Foundation and HKRITA aim to push the entire fashion industry toward becoming planet positive instead of depleting its resources.

“We want to find new solutions that can enable the fashion industry to become planet positive,” said Christiane Dolva, Strategy Lead at H&M Foundation. “And since change needs to happen now, we focus on impatient research to innovate at speed, with rapid iterations to identify disruptive and scalable solutions. Our Planet First program with HKRITA is a perfect example of how we inspire industry-wide change by openly sharing proof of concepts. We don’t have time for the traditional and the slow, therefore we are not aiming for perfect but to get the solutions out of the lab as quickly as possible to be tested and improved, and to inspire others and spur collaborations that can ultimately lead to scale and adoption.”

With the Carbon Looper project, cotton garments are treated with amine-containing solution that makes the surface of the fabric captures carbon dioxide from the surrounding air. The carbon dioxide can then be released from the fabric by being heated to 30-40°C, in a greenhouse for example, where it can naturally be taken up by the plants during photosynthesis. The amount of CO2 that is captured by a garment per day, is approximately equivalent to 1/3 of the amount that a tree absorbs per day. And after only three ‘loop-cycles’, the garment has effectively climate-neutralized itself – and instead starts to have a climate positive effect. Improving and scaling this technology up is being intensely researched in parallel.

“Anything we do in the lab is only useful once it gets out of the lab,” said Edwin Keh, CEO at HKRITA. “The Carbon Looper is one of a series of projects we have been working on to see if we can achieve carbon neutrality for the textile, apparel and fashion industry. We will be monitoring this test at Fotografiska to see how we can improve the technology and develop more uses for it.”

The current research phase involves live testing in collaboration with Fotografiska Stockholm, where the restaurant staff will wear Carbon Loopers in the form of aprons. The restaurant’s famous hydroponic garden in the basement serves as an excellent CO2 release facility.

“This innovation is a perfect match with Fotografiska’s overall philosophy and the ideal add-on to our circular kitchen with a focus on organic and locally grown dishes,” said Martin Wall, executive chef and Planet Keeper at Fotografiska. “The project not only contributes to spiking our guests’ awareness around the climate crisis but is also inspiring evidence of the jaw-dropping research being done at the moment.”

Posted: May 24, 2022

Source: H&M Foundation

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