Apparel Impact Institute Welcomes Senior Director Of Programs Tamara Wulf

Tamara Wulf

SAN FRANCISCO — January 20, 2022 — Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), an organization for driving scalable solutions for the apparel and footwear industry, welcomed Tamara Wulf as senior director of programs, effective January 16, 2022.

At Aii, Wulf will oversee deployment of initiatives that deliver impact reductions from apparel and footwear production. In particular, she will lead development of Aii’s chemicals management and wastewater treatment programs. Based in Germany, Wulf will be Aii’s European representative for programs and stakeholder engagement.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Tamara to the Aii team,” said Kurt Kipka, Aii vice president. “Her experience creating and managing global programs will instantly add to our capacity to deliver impact projects for the industry. Our partners will benefit greatly from the passion and leadership she brings in identifying solutions for highly complex challenges.”

Wulf comes to Aii with more than 15 years of experience in the sporting goods, fast fashion and consultancy industries. Her career has been dedicated to sustainability with particular emphasis on the areas of human rights issues in value chains and environmental impact reduction in the fashion industry, along with a strong focus on sustainable chemical management and zero discharge of hazardous chemicals.

Previously senior project officer at Sustainable Textile Solutions by BluWin Ltd., Wulf was responsible for driving growth by identifying and entering new business segments to position BluWin as the leading integrated service provider for environmental footprint reduction from textile, apparel, leather and footwear production. Prior to that, she was director DACH at Made-By and senior manager at Zalando SE. She began her career with nearly a decade at Adidas Group.

“There is scientific proof that the climate crisis is manmade with an apparel industry that has a tremendous opportunity to respond,” said Wulf. “Having worked with hundreds of factories, dozens of brands and consultants globally, I have noticed that it requires programs that are measurable and scalable, subject matter expertise, willingness to change and collaboration to scale positive impact.

“It excites me that the Apparel Impact Institute in their approach mirrors my personal experience. On a personal and professional level, there is no better time to dedicate my know-how, time and passion towards accelerating collective action and achieving measurable positive impact. I have kids, and it is important for me to help protect our planet for the future generations. At the same time, I see many industry peers ready to step up to play their part in making the apparel industry more sustainable. I am very excited to contribute to an ecosystem which drives measurable environmental impact reduction.”

Posted January 25, 2022

Source: Apparel Impact Institute

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Closes Additional Funding Agreement

ANN ARBOR, Mich. —  Jan. 20, 2022 — Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc. (Kraig Labs), the biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of spider silk, announces the completion of an additional $3 million funding agreement with Yorkville Advisors. These additional funds, together with those from the previously announced transactions, account for an $8 million total Yorkville investment into Kraig Labs.

As a result of this successful capitalization program, the company has elected not to renew the previously anticipated reverse stock split. The company is focused on advancing the commercialization of spider silk. Kraig Labs will increase its capital deployment into key priorities, including commercialization, advanced research and development, and expansion at the Prodigy Textiles factory.

“This funding allows us to advance our strategic plans and transform our resources into more robust operations. We will immediately invest these capital expenditures to accelerate commercialization at Prodigy Textiles production facilities,” stated company COO, Jon Rice.

Posted January 25, 2022

Source: Kraig Biocraft

Sateri Completes Higg Facility Social and Labor Module Assessment For Responsible Manufacturing

SHANGHAI, China — January 24,  2022 — All of Sateri’s five viscose mills in China have undergone independent evaluation of their social and labour practices, having completed the Higg Facility Social and Labour Module (FSLM) audit and achieved a consistent high score of above 80%.

A member of the RGE group of companies, Sateri is also one of the world’s first viscose producers to have completed the Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM) assessment, with the similar verified high score of over 80% for all its viscose mills.

Developed by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, a global, multi-stakeholder non-profit alliance for the fashion industry, the Higg Index is a suite of tools that enables brands, retailers and facilities of all sizes to accurately measure and score a company or product’s sustainability performance.

The FSLM tool of the Higg Index holistically assesses working conditions of the mills, including fair wages and compensation, health & safety, respectful treatment of employees etc; while the FEM tool focuses more on environmental performance, including energy consumption, greenhouse gas missions, water use, chemical and waste management.

Allen Zhang, president of Sateri, said: “In light of increasing scrutiny on working conditions in the textile industry, the FSLM tool enables us to identify gaps and opportunities to improve on social and labour practices. Our high score of over 80 percent is an affirmation of our ongoing efforts to uphold workers’ welfare and create a conducive work environment, especially during these difficult times brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Posted January 25, 2022

Source: Sateri

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

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