Asahi Kasei To Produce Acrylonitrile Using Biomass-Derived Raw Material; Subsidiary Tongsuh Petrochemical Becomes First Acrylonitrile Manufacturer In Asia To Acquire ISCC PLUS Certification

DÜSSELDORF, Germany — January 25, 2022 — Asahi Kasei has announced that on October 21, 2021, Tong-suh Petrochemical Corp. Ltd. (TSPC), a wholly owned subsidiary in South Korea, acquired the widely recognized international certification ISCC PLUS for its acrylonitrile (AN) as a sustainable product, and production of AN using biomass propylene is scheduled to begin in February 2022.

AN is used as a raw material to make ABS resin, acrylamide, acrylic fiber, and various other chemical products. Recent demand growth has been particularly robust in the applications of carbon fiber as a material to reduce the weight of wind turbine blades, etc., and nitrile rubber for medical gloves whose use is expanding due to heightened awareness for hygiene.

Propylene is one of the most important chemical intermediates in organic chemistry. It is generated during the thermal cracking of hydrocarbons and can be produced also by bioethanol from biomass fermentation processes. Biomass means plant or animal materials that can be used to produce bio-energy. These are usually wastes from agriculture, private households, industry or forestry. Food crops such as rapeseed, corn, wheat, sugar beet or sunflowers are also used as raw materials.

ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) is an international certification system that offers solutions for the implementation and certification of waste and residue raw materials, non-bio renewables and recycled carbon materials and fuels. ISCC PLUS is a certification system that covers mainly bio-based carbon materials which are produced outside the EU and supplied globally, and to manage and ensure sustainable raw materials in the supply chain.

In order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions throughout the product chain of fossil fuel-derivatives are gaining momentum, and AN customers are increasingly seeking to manufacture products using AN with low carbon dioxide emissions in order to contribute to GHG reduction. Under these circumstances, Asahi Kasei and TSPC sought to reduce carbon dioxide emissions across the AN supply chain, and in October 2021, TSPC became the first AN manufacturer in Asia to acquire ISCC PLUS certification.

The certification system enables TSPC to produce and sell AN using biomass raw material allocated by the mass-balance method. TSPC is scheduled to begin producing AN using biomass propylene in February 2022. In the case of a mixture of biomass raw materials, etc., and fossil fuel-derived raw materials in the production process, the portion of biomass product, etc., produced is assigned to certain products (biomass AN) based on ISCC PLUS System Documents and its recognized management methods.

In order to contribute to society’s carbon neutrality, the Asahi Kasei Group will continue efforts to further reduce CO2 emissions by improving the AN catalysts and processes based on original technologies as well as the procurement of biomass raw material, aiming to be a global sustainable partner for its customers.

Posted January 25, 2022

Source: Asahi Kasei Europe GmbH

Yamazaki Home Launches Brand New Website Redesign

NEW YORK CITY — January 25, 2022 — On Wednesday, January 19, 2022, Yamazaki Home launched a brand new, redesigned website. The new site elevates the user shopping experience. The refresh places particular emphasis on Yamazaki Home’s various collections, the breadth of its product assortment, customer reviews, and a blog, Yamazaki Stories, which has also been revamped and redesigned.

Shigeru Yamazaki, CEO of Yamazaki Home, commented: “This was an exciting and rewarding experience for our company, and we’re thrilled to announce the roll-out of our new website. We wanted our site to match the aesthetic of our products while also making our catalog of over 500 products easy to search and discover.”

Executive Vice President Takuya Sekiguchi elaborated on the vision of the project, stating: “We aspire to be the best housewares brand in the world. We set out to design a website that would be loved by all. Our new homepage really conveys the Yamazaki ethos to our customers, evoking warmth and friendliness.”

When asked about his favorite upgrade to the website, Sekiguchi responded: “One thing I’m especially excited about is our blog, Yamazaki Stories. It has grown over the past year and offers a new way to engage with our customers while also introducing the brand to a wider audience who may be unfamiliar with us.”

The new website features a modern, sophisticated design with improved functionality for the user shopping experience, such as a redesigned menu and an increased variety of ways to shop collections and categories. Shoppers can also parse through reviews, browse the newly rebuilt blog, and take product quizzes.

Posted January 25, 2022

Source: Yamazaki

Mannington Commercial Introduces New Director Of Sustainability

Shane Totten

CALHOUN, Ga. — January 24, 2022 — Mannington Commercial announces the hire of Shane Totten to the newly created role of director of sustainability.

Totten will work with industry partners on sustainability initiatives, product research and design, and sales and marketing by facilitating transformative thinking to shape the built environment and its impact on people and planet. In his new role Totten will report directly to Tom Pendley, president of Mannington Commercial.

Totten is a leader in the field of regenerative systems, focusing on developing and implementing outcomes that promote people, planet, and profit. He has a comprehensive understanding of the challenges businesses face as they strive to minimize adverse impacts within a changing climate. He joins Mannington after more than a decade of sustainability policy, research, and education leadership in both the private and public sectors. He is a licensed architect and member of the American Institute of Architects.

“I’m excited to add this type of talent to focus specifically on our commercial business,” said Pendley. “Shane brings more than 30 years of experience in sustainable design, urban planning, and architecture promoting regenerative principles throughout the design industry. We are thrilled to welcome him to Mannington Commercial, where his expertise and advocacy will align with our core values of Care and Do the Right Things.”

For more than 30 years, Mannington has been working to make a positive impact on the environment and the communities it serves. The company offers a range of unique programs and benefits to help customers achieve their sustainability goals. Mannington is an active and supporting member of the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE), dedicated to the recycling and resume of post-consumer carpet. The company is one of the 50 original Save Energy Now Leaders, now called Better Plants, working in conjunction with the Department of Energy.

Posted January 25, 2022

Source: Mannington

2022 Marine Fabricators Conference: Energy, Excitement And Relief

ROSEVILLE, Minn. — January 25, 2022 — After a year’s hiatus, the 2022 Marine Fabricators Conference that took place January 13-15, 2022, at Wild Dunes Resort on the Isle of Palms, S.C., came roaring back with laughter, learning and gratitude. With a total of 220 attendees, a record 90 first-time attendees and 46 exhibitors, conference-goers enjoyed a wide variety of education sessions, networking events, an over-the-top shop tour and a buzzing exhibitor show floor.

First-time attendee Brenda Smith, owner of Legacy Canvas Unlimited in Port Clinton, Ohio, said she attended this year to get ideas about improving efficiency at her shop; how to work smarter and not harder. “I found the discussions with other fabricators extremely helpful,” Smith said. “And the exhibitor showcase was really great. There was so much energy and a wealth of information. It’s so great to have it all in one spot. I would recommend this conference to anyone looking for collaboration and information.”

Another first-timer, Mike Boatman of Boatman Marine Canvas in Oklahoma City, Okla., who has been in marine fabricating for 28 years, said he thinks attending the MFA conference is likely to change the trajectory of growing their business. “My wife and I had a blast, we learned something at every session, and we met great, caring people willing to share their struggles, successes and ideas.”

In addition to the packed exhibitor show floor, the opening night costume party and the MFA Fabrication Awards Dinner, this year’s conference included a fascinating in-person shop tour of LaPorte’s Products Inc. in North Charleston, a virtual tour of three other shops, and education sessions about shade sails, tools, upholstery diamonds, a case study of a collaboration between fabricators and community college students, solar power, shop scheduling tips, digital patterning pros and cons and a showcase of enclosure window techniques.

The 2023 Marine Fabricators Conference will be held Jan. 26–28, 2023, at the Sheraton New Orleans in New Orleans, La.

Posed January 25, 2022

Source: IFAI

College Student Launches Better Place Brands — A Collection Of Coffee & Apparel Businesses Benefitting 130 Dog Rescue Organizations, Nationwide

CLEVELAND — January 25, 2022 — Oliver Carson, a 2018 graduate of Cleveland’s Villa Angela-Saint Joseph’s High School and a Religious Scholar at Chaminade University of Honolulu, has announced the formation of Better Place Brands, a collection of 12 businesses supporting 130 dog shelters and rescue organizations across the United States.

“Better Place Brands creates products people love to benefit causes our customers adore,” Carson explained. “Twenty percent of the profit margin in every product we sell benefits a specific group of dog rescue and foster care organizations. We’ll be adding new and different types of hyper-focused charities as we grow.”

“Better Place Brands combines our first dozen coffee and apparel companies aimed at supporting the dog rescue community, all under one roof,” Carson continued. “Last year, these twelve companies contributed more than $10,000 to dog shelters, foster organizations, service dog training charities, educational organizations, and even a bunny rescue.”

Each Better Place Brands company promises to donate “twenty percent” of its profit to a specific group of rescues, but the real percentage donated is much higher, according to Carson.

“Yes. It’s twenty percent of our margin… before payroll… before advertising… before taxes… before quite a few expenses, actually,” he added. “Plus, we donate products and merchandise to the fundraising efforts of the rescue organizations we support. The need is incredible. Every day we hear stories from the rescues we support about another dog. It feels good to support a cause so many others are working so hard to benefit. We’re grateful to our customers for the opportunity to collaborate with them.”

Slated to graduate in May with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Chaminade, Carson founded Better Place Brands as a member of the university’s Hogan Entrepreneurial Program.

“It’s not surprising one of our students would create a socially responsible company,” said Dr. Roy Panzarella, Director of Chaminade’s Hogan Entrepreneurial Program. “What’s impressive is how well Oliver balanced his full-time academic load with his diligent efforts to grow his business.”

The companies Carson created and consolidated under Better Place Brands include:

  • BoxyBrownsCoffeeCompany.com
  • CaneCorsoCoffeeCompany.com
  • DobermanCoffeeCompany.com
  • FrenchBulldogCoffeeCompany.com
  • GermanShepherdCoffeeCompany.com
  • GoldenRetrieverCoffeeCompany.com
  • GreatDaneCoffeeCompany.com
  • LabradorRetrieverCoffeeCompany.com
  • MalteseCoffeeCompany.com
  • PitbullCoffeeCompany.com
  • RottweilerCoffeeCompany.com
  • SaintBernardCoffeeCompany.com

Listed on the respective home page of each brand, visitors will encounter the precise rescues, shelters, and other organizations each brand supports.

“There are a number of organizations out there that advertise donations to charity,” Carson remarked, “but it’s often difficult to tell precisely where those funds are going. We’re very specific about it. And we have plans to grow each brand so we can include even more organizations in the very near future.”

On the horizon for Better Place Brands is a thirteenth company that supports Cat Rescue. In addition, Better Place Brands will be adding new products to its existing line-up coffee and apparel, soon, and Carson has plans to expand the number of hyper-focused businesses under the umbrella of Better Placed Brands from a dozen to at least 20, this year.

Through academic coursework, mentorships, and other learning opportunities, Chaminade University’s Hogan Entrepreneurial Program, students learn first-hand from experienced Hawaii business leaders and entrepreneurs about the process of getting a new idea up and running.

Better Place Brands believes in the power of authenticity to attract customers and the usefulness of collaboration to make the world a better place. Through an intense focus on customer satisfaction and by adding “affinity” to “quality,” “value,” and “service,” the company builds brands people trust and partners with customers to benefit causes they hold dear.

Better Place Brands will be headquartered in Carson’s hometown of Hudson, Ohio; although the company’s coffee is roasted at facilities located in Temecula, California and Chicago, Illinois.

Posted: January 25, 2022

Source: Better Place Brands

Retail Industry Legend Lisa Bougie Joins Makersights Board Of Directors

SAN FRANCISCO — January 25, 2022 — MakerSights, a retail technology company empowering consumer-obsessed brands to deliver products people love while dramatically reducing waste, announced today that Lisa Bougie has joined its board of directors as the first independent board member alongside the company’s founders, Dan Leahy and Matt Field, as well as Monica Varman, Zach Barasz, and Brian O’Malley. Bougie’s reputation as a high impact C-suite executive and trusted advisor is built on her success at industry-defining companies, including Gap, Patagonia, Nike, and Stitch Fix. Since leaving Stitch Fix in 2018, Lisa has been committed to only advising and investing in companies that support climate action, social equality, and wellness.

“I believe, to my core, that art and science are better together, which is what drew me to MakerSights,” Bougie said. “Fashion is the second highest polluting industry in the world, which is simply unacceptable, and is long overdue for a digital transformation. MakerSights modernizes the product-to-market process, while enabling creativity to flourish at consumer-obsessed brands and empowering product, merchandising, and go-to-market teams with the information they need to make assortment decisions that increase profits, minimize waste, and reduce overproduction.”

Lisa joined Stitch Fix in 2013 for the opportunity to create the future of retail as its chief merchandising officer. In 2016, she was promoted to general manager of Stitch Fix Women, which grew profitably from $10 million to more than $1 billion under Bougie’s leadership. Stitch Fix went public in 2017 and is recognized as a true disrupter of the industry. Prior to Stitch Fix, Lisa honed her merchandising expertise at Gap, Patagonia, and finally, Nike, where she started as the general manager for Nike Stores in America and ultimately, became vice president and general manager for Direct to Consumer in Emerging Markets.

“We are thrilled to have Lisa join our board of directors,” said MakerSights Co-founder and CEO Dan Leahy. “Her experience in retail, especially with brands at the intersection of technology and design, and her shared passion for the environment, made her an obvious choice for us. We are incredibly lucky to welcome Lisa to the team that will help guide us through this vital stage of growth and scale at MakerSights as we help brands create products people love with the goal of radically reducing waste.”

Over the last year, MakerSights has added Rothy’s, Madewell, and Luxottica Retail, among others to its already robust client roster, which includes New Balance, Champion, UGG, Bonobos, Faherty, and the majority of the top 50 percent of retail brands. In August 2021, the company raised $25.6 million in a Series B round of financing led by G2 Venture Partners, a venture capital firm that invests exclusively in companies supporting sustainable innovations that battle the climate crisis. MakerSights has raised $36.6 million to date with previous funding from Forerunner Ventures and Baseline Ventures. The company hired its first Chief Marketing Officer, Cristina Bravo Olmo, following the Series B. Cristina brings immense B2B SaaS experience having led marketing at Sigma Computing and Wrike after holding various roles in marketing at Zendesk, Marketo, and Trend Micro.

Posted: January 25, 2022

Source: MakerSights

E-Z UP Creates First Complete American Made Shelter Since Its Beginning In 1983

NORCO, Calif. — January 25, 2022 — E-Z UP, the brand globally recognized as the leader in instant shelter canopies, has created the Freedom83™ American Made Shelter, the company’s first premium canopy that is made in the USA.

After nearly four decades of designing and manufacturing instant shelters as a global supplier of pop-up canopies, E-Z UP created the Freedom83 American Made Shelter for customers who require a premium-quality instant shelter made from materials sourced in the U.S. for high-frequency use and demanding conditions.

A nod to the company’s roots from its start in a Southern California garage in 1983, E-Z UP leveraged years of innovation and their cornerstone of quality to develop the Freedom83 into a superior heavy-duty shelter and contribute to a nationally renewed spirit for domestically produced products. The entire canopy is proudly assembled, finished and packaged by dedicated employees in the company’s California production facility known for award-winning fabric printing.

The Freedom83 utilizes a technically engineered frame made from United States aircraft-grade aluminum combined with one of four domestically sourced top fabrics and is the best TAA (Trade Agreement Act) compliant or Berry Amendment certified solution for first responders, military, government, or industrial safety applications. The Freedom83 is the only canopy customers need for those serious about instant shelters.

Primary features include:

  • Designed, fabricated, machined and assembled by hand in the U.S.;
  • U.S. produced aircraft-grade aluminum and domestically sourced technical fabrics;
  • High-quality award-winning proprietary digital printing that provides clear identity during years of use;
  • Fire-resistant certified to meet multiple nationally recognized standards;
  • Fully assembled, inspected, and packaged by E-Z UP employees in California; and
  • Backed by the E-Z UP® Lifetime Warranty™ supported with nearly forty years in business.

“Our quality and innovation are a source of pride for the entire E-Z UP team, and we pledge to offer an American-made product that goes above and beyond the expectations of every customer, whether they’re new to instant shelters or coming back to the brand because of our proven, award-winning expertise,” said Leonardo Pais, E-Z UP CEO. “Our company remains focused on how and where our customers use our products and pushing new, fresh ideas to create even better ways for customers to experience enjoyment and protection while outdoors. The Freedom83 is an ideal example of that innovation.”

The 10’x10′ Freedom83 American Made Shelter is available at www.ezup.com.

Posted: January 25, 2022

Source: E-Z UP

Acteev® And Coalatree Launch Zinc-Powered Sun Shirt At 2022 Outdoor Retailer Winter Show

HOUSTON — January 24, 2022 — Acteev and Coalatree will launch the Suray Sun Shirt, a zinc-powered shirt designed to fight unwanted odors and the sun’s damaging rays, at the 2022 Outdoor Retailer Winter Show. It is the first of many new Acteev-based outdoor applications coming in 2022.

Using Acteev’s award-winning, natural zinc technology, these sustainably made sun shirts pack an odor-fighting punch combined with a 50+ UPF rating. Plus, since the technology is naturally embedded into the fabric vs. coated on, this is one sun shirt that’s built to last.

“Coalatree is about creating eco-minded apparel and gear for people who love the outdoors, and with its natural zinc and permanent protection, Acteev is a perfect complement for our brand,” said Coalatree founder Jacob Charlie Bessey. “We’re proud that the new Suray Sun Shirt not only protects the wearer from the sun but also stays fresh by fighting off odors. That means you can do more and wash less.”

Proud recipient of a 2021 Outdoor Retailer Innovation Award, Acteev locks in the environmentally safe antimicrobial protection of zinc ions within superior nylon 6,6, creating yarns and fabrics that naturally provide UPF 50+ protection and combat odor-causing bacteria, mold and fungi. The technology protects textiles — from base layers and outerwear to sleeping bags and more — using one of nature’s own elements.

Unlike chemical applications that are coated or sprayed on, Acteev does not rely on any post-production treatment or after-market process. Instead, Acteev’s zinc ions are embedded directly into the matrix of the molecules, providing protection that lasts the life of the product. This means Acteev performance textiles require less water in the manufacturing process while ensuring they remain as effective as day one.

“We are so proud to partner with Coalatree for the creation of the first activewear garment made with Acteev,” said Nikki Huffman, Acteev’s business development leader for textiles. “Since we met at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Show last year, they have operated with top speed and agility while never compromising on quality. I’m confident that with this new relationship, there’s even more to come.”

Posted: January 25, 2022

Source: Ascend Performance Materials

Hexcel Selected For High-Quality, Paint-Ready Parts For Sunseeker 90 Ocean Luxury Yacht

STAMFORD, Conn., — January 25, 2022 — Yacht builder Sunseeker has chosen Hexcel’s HexPly® XF surface technology to produce prepreg parts with high-quality, paint-ready surfaces quickly and efficiently for its 90 Ocean luxury yacht, one of its newest models.

The lightweight composite hardtop for the Sunseeker 90 Ocean yacht is manufactured from a combination of HexPly® XF and Hexcel’s HexPly® SuperFIT® semi-preg. The hardtop is lighter in weight than versions made using resin-infusion processes, and it de-molds with a pinhole-free surface that needs minimal preparation to be ready for paint. Sunseeker has recorded an overall reduction in process time of around 30 percent, saving three days of manufacturing time per hardtop.

The hardtop provides shade and protection for the yacht’s uppermost deck space. Its reduced weight helps to ensure the stability of the vessel, and the paint-ready finish with HexPly XF provides Sunseeker with more options for customizing its color to the individual needs of its clients.

HexPly XF is a lightweight, non-woven semi-preg that eliminates the need to use a traditional in-mold gel coat. The innovative surface technology significantly reduces the costly and time-consuming refinishing work typically required to impart a paint-ready finish to prepreg or semi-preg parts, and yields lightweight, consistent components in short cycle times.

Working with Sunseeker, Hexcel developed a material format, a laminate ply sequence, and a production process that satisfied the structural requirements for the hardtop and enabled the yacht builder’s production team to lay up and cure the part in a single shot — slashing cycle times.

Hexcel supplies Sunseeker with a HexPly XF product that comprises both the surface layer and the first structural reinforcement ply, eliminating the need for a cosmetic barrier coat. Neither the HexPly XF surface layer nor the following layers of HexPly SuperFIT require time-consuming debulking steps — significantly reducing lay-up time — and both are based on Hexcel’s rapid-curing M79 epoxy resin system. Adhesive resin films are not needed to bond the hardtop’s foam core, as the resin content of the SuperFIT plies has been adjusted to further reduce overall process time.

Once de-molded, the cured hardtops are inspected before they are passed to Sunseeker’s finishing and painting technicians for final preparation and painting. The HexPly XF resin surface allows the yacht builder’s quality technicians to inspect the laminate below quickly and easily, ensuring the quality and consistency of the structural reinforcement plies.

“Composite materials that improve our production processes, as well as great technical support, are what makes working with Hexcel such a success story,” said Stuart Vaughan-Jones, Composite Development manager, Sunseeker. “With the switch from gel coat and resin infusion to HexPly XF and SuperFIT in the new hardtops, we are now building lighter, more consistent parts, more quickly than before, with a higher quality surface finish. XF really has ticked all the boxes.”

Garth Thomas, Account Manager – Marine, Hexcel, said: “With the HexPly XF surface technology now well established, XF will soon be used in other large moldings where minimizing weight is critical, as well as additional hardtops across the Sunseeker model range.”

Posted: January 25, 2022

Source: Hexcel Corporation

Regina Miracle International Announces Partnership With Victoria’s Secret & Co. For Existing Business In China

HONG KONG — January 25, 2022 — Regina Miracle International (Holdings) Ltd. (Regina Miracle) today announced a partnership agreement with Victoria’s Secret & Co. (Victoria’s Secret) related to the latter’s existing company-owned business in China.

Regina Miracle and Victoria’s Secret have formed a joint venture (JV) to operate all Victoria’s Secret stores and the related online business in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Under the terms of the agreement, Regina Miracle will own 49 percent of the equity interest in the JV with a consideration of $45 million in cash while Victoria’s Secret will own the remaining 51-percent interest. The JV shall carry out the PRC business comprising designing, developing, manufacturing, marketing and sale of certain lingerie, intimate apparel as well as marketing and sale of personal care and beauty products under the agreed trademarks of Victoria’s Secret in the PRC through its subsidiaries.

YY Hung, Chairman, CEO and executive director of Regina Miracle, said: “We are honored and excited to be elevating our long-standing partnership with Victoria’s Secret through the formation of this joint venture in the promising China market. We are confident that our highly complementary strengths — Regina Miracle’s industry-leading innovation capabilities and market foresights as an Innovative Design Manufacturer, and Victoria’s Secret’s undisputed brand leadership, retailing and marketing expertise — will perfectly position this partnership in capturing the growth opportunities and creating value for consumers in China.”

Victoria’s Secret CEO Martin Waters commented: “I am delighted to announce this partnership with Regina Miracle, who has been a valued merchandise supplier partner for more than twenty years. Together with Regina Miracle, we aim to grow the China business through joint investment in product development, distribution, and marketing. We expect the partnership will positively impact the speed and agility of the business to benefit consumers and provide us with a platform for a strong future in this important market. This JV with Regina Miracle in China completes a multi-year repositioning of the International business of the Company and we believe establishes a platform for accelerated sales and earnings growth in the market over the next several years.”

Posted: January 25, 2022

Source: Regina Miracle International (Holdings) Ltd.

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