EUROJERSEY Presents “Symbiotic” — The New Active World Of Sensitive® Fabrics

CARONNO PERTUSELLA, Italy — November 17, 2020 — With the launch of “Symbiotic”, EUROJERSEY deploys all the successful performing features of Sensitive® Fabrics which are able to adapt to the body shape and interact kindly with the skin. Perfect for training and muscle toning in all sports, even the most extreme, they combine unique characteristics with flexibility and protection.

Sensitive Fabrics act in perfect symbiosis with the body at all times, facilitating any movement in any context, thanks to the built-in elasticity of the patented textile construction. They sculpt the silhouette, provide the most adequate support and enable great freedom of movement, as well as regaling lightness and graduated compression.

Sensitive Fabrics invite you to unfetter your full potential, whatever your favorite sport, and to feel at ease wearing fabrics that innovatively combine functionality with good looks by flanking quality and relief textures that are fruit of a special Embossing technology.

Thanks to their ultra flat surface and excellent elastic memory, Sensitive Fabrics are perfect for this innovative technique, which enables the creation of images and relief patterns directly on the fabric surface by applying heat and pressure.  The fabric takes on a three-dimensional effect without compromising any of its high-performing technical features.

Posted November 17, 2020

Source: EUROJERSEY

Redesigning Our Future: Loepfe’s New WeftMaster SFB

WETZIKON, Switzerland — November 17, 2020 — Have you ever wondered how your parcels arrive safely? We know the answer.

E-commerce has gained ground worldwide — and it’s here to stay. Warehouses and trucks are working hard to ensure that a whole variety of goods are not only available for customers, but also that they are shipped in the fastest possible way. In this hectic online shopping world, tarpaulins are all around us.

Protecting goods from adverse weather and other factors helps to ensure satisfied end-customers. Loepfe’s WeftMaster SFB-L yarn brake is the perfect system for producing these coated technical fabrics on projectile and rapier looms in the most economical way.

The WeftMaster SFB weft brake has been in use on projectile and rapier weaving machines worldwide for many years. Since its foundation in 1955, Loepfe has been a reliable, expert partner to the weaving industry. Still today Loepfe remains totally committed to the further development of its various weaving products. For instance, the control electronics for the SFB weft brake were recently redesigned for the future. The new electronics can now control four brakes instead of the previous three, which saves space and simplifies the brake deceleration setting. In addition, the inputs are now also galvanically isolated.

Projectile looms are designed for the production of a wide variety of fabrics and are considered to be space-saving, especially when producing heavy fabrics. Thus the applications are almost endless, especially in the field of technical textiles. The focus is always on the high-quality requirements of the various end-products. Especially when yarns with a low tensile strength are used, weft tension is a decisive parameter. Too much stretching can lead to uneven fabric or – in the worst case – to weft thread breaks, which lead to expensive machine stoppages. Therefore, a constant, even weft thread tension is essential for all yarn types.

By using the WeftMaster SFB electronic weft thread brake, the number of weft breaks can be reduced by at least 50 percent. Its use pays off for the weaving mills within a very short time and significantly improves the quality of the fabric. Every weft break is a potential source of error — including start-up faults, the formation of stripes, etc.

The WeftMaster SFB weft brake is in use for the production of:

  • Tarpaulin fabrics for trucks, advertisements, agriculture and architecture;
  • Filter fabric, e.g. for water filtration or also paper production;
  • Geotextiles;
  • Screen prints;
  • Canvas;
  • Conveyor belts, straps;
  • Blood filters;
  • Microphone filters for mobile phones;
  • Speaker filters for mobile phones;
  • Carbon fiber fabrics for auto parts;
  • Carpet backing;
  • Bigbags;
  • Potato bag fabrics;
  • Silk fabrics for underwear; and
  • Wool fabrics for suits.

The requirements of the different fabrics are highly varied and weaving mills often depend on individual solutions. In this awareness, Loepfe offers its customers suitable solutions for all types of projectile and rapier weaving machines. Furthermore, weaving mills can always count on the straight-forward and quick assistance of Loepfe experts.

Posted November 17, 2020

Source: Loepfe Brothers Ltd.

Indorama Ventures Included In The Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) For The Fourth Consecutive Year

BANGKOK, Thailand — November 18, 2020 — Indorama Ventures Public Co. Ltd. (IVL), a global chemical producer, is honored to be listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) for the second consecutive year and in the Dow Jones Sustainability Emerging Markets Index (DJSI Emerging Markets) for fourth consecutive year. The 2020 results put IVL in the top three among the world’s leading sustainable chemical companies.

The Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) are a global benchmark for sustainability-driven companies, evaluating material governance & economic, environmental and social factors. Listed companies are considered best-in-class in their industries for sustainability achievements at a global level. This year, IVL achieved maximum scores in seven categories including climate strategy, environmental and social reporting, water related risks and innovation management.

Yash Lohia, chief sustainability officer, IVL, said: “We are honored to be included in the DJSI World and DJSI Emerging Markets; it is an important journey for us. Our commitment to sustainability remained steadfast through the challenges of the global pandemic. The DJSI results are testament to the teamwork that helped deliver during these uncertain times. We see sustainability as a transformative journey that demands constant improvement. We will not rest on our laurels and will keep pursuing ambitious sustainability targets. We would like to thank our employees, customers, shareholders, business partners and all stakeholders for collectively creating a sustainable value chain, as well.”

Manjit Jus, global head of ESG Research and Data, S&P Global said: “We congratulate Indorama Ventures for being included in the DJSI World and the DJSI Emerging Markets. A DJSI distinction is a reflection of being a sustainability leader in your industry. With a record number of companies participating in the 2020 Corporate Sustainability Assessment and more stringent rules for inclusion this year, this sets your company apart and rewards your continued commitment to people and planet.”

Among approximately 10,000 companies listed in the S&P Global BMI, 4,500 companies had been invited to participate in the annual SAM Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA). Total sustainability scores of the companies are ranked, in which only the best 10 percent of the global companies analyzed in each industry are selected for inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices.

Posted November 17, 2020

Source: Indorama Ventures

MycoWorks Raises $45M In Series B Financing: Prepares For Consumer Launch Of Proprietary Biomaterial, Reishi™

SAN FRANCISCO — November 17, 2020 — MycoWorks announced today the closing of a $45 million Series B financing to scale up and meet demand for Reishi™, a natural, non-animal leather material. WTT Investment Ltd., Taipei, Taiwan, and DCVC Bio co-led the round, with major participation from new investors Valor Equity Partners, Humboldt Fund, Gruss & Co., and others, and existing investors Novo Holdings, 8VC, SOSV, AgFunder, Wireframe Ventures, Tony Fadell, and others.

Natalie Portman, John Legend, and several major fashion brands additionally participated in the investment round.

The announcement coincides with the company’s opening of a major new Reishi production plant in Emeryville, California. This facility will be used to meet the extraordinary demand for Reishi materials, and introduces proprietary systems to enhance productivity and to allow for further scaling of the business. The new plant increases production capacity for the company by over 10 times and, together with this new funding, will pave the way for additional plants which are currently being designed and sited.

“At MycoWorks, we’ve created a biotech platform for the fashion and luxury industries that delivers the highest quality, most versatile natural materials on Earth. Our vision is to grow the future of materials. We have found partners in these investors who see the long-term potential for MycoWorks to transform many industries with our patented Fine Mycelium™ technology. Furthermore, we’re delighted to welcome Natalie Portman and John Legend, whose support for sustainable options in the fashion industry will only further our traction,” said Matt Scullin, MycoWorks CEO. “Our customers — major global luxury and footwear brands — require the utmost quality and performance in their finished goods. They recognize that Fine Mycelium is the key to achieving this along with unmatched product sustainability and versatility.”

The Fine Mycelium breakthrough capabilities are behind Reishi, a new class of sustainable material that performs like cowhide leather — the only non-animal, non-plastic material that can do so — offering unparalleled performance. As such, it is the first and currently only material to offer a sustainable solution for the fashion and footwear industries that does not compromise on performance, quality, or aesthetics.

MycoWorks is uniquely positioned to meet the consumer demand for more sustainable, high performing materials. This is a result of close collaboration with fashion brands and their world-class fashion designers, and the company’s holistic approach that blends art, science, and design to yield the first natural, non-animal materials that fully perform to the standards of the fashion industry. Reishi, in comparison to mushroom leathers, evokes the same confidence and emotion that animal leathers do, and is a world ahead in strength, durability, and hand feel in comparison to other similar materials in the marketplace.

Sheets of Reishi’s interwoven Fine Mycelium cells are grown to size and can be finely-tuned as it’s cultivated. This allows brands to think from material construction up, offering new design possibilities. The Reishi sheets are then finished by traditional tanneries with green, chrome-free chemistry, showcasing how MycoWorks brings technological innovation to the traditional craftsmanship that is essential to luxury fashion brands.

Consumers will see the first products made with Reishi in the coming months as MycoWorks announces its partnerships with leading global luxury fashion and footwear brands over that period. MycoWorks has seen accelerating demand for its products through 2020 despite the global downturn due to COVID-19.

Posted November 17, 2020

Source: MycoWorks

Global Fiber Technologies Issues Management Update: Looks To 2021 As Its Breakthrough Year

PRINCETON, NJ — November 16, 2020 — Global Fiber Technologies Inc., updated its shareholders on the company’s operations and its future plans.

  1. Fully Reporting Status

We have been getting several inquiries addressing the concern of Global Fiber becoming a fully reporting company again. Global has always been a fully reporting company up until the pandemic hit and at that time we needed to make a decision as to whether or not to put the money into a few valuable licenses or a very expensive audit.

We chose the former and we feel Global is much better off since it is now positioned to generate significant revenue for 2021

We are also pleased to let you know that we are in the process of tabulating our recent financials for 2019 and will be taking a very measured but achievable approach in becoming “current” in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The company is currently in the process of compiling the financial statements for the entire 2019 filing period which should be done in the coming weeks. Once completed they will then be sent to our auditor for subsequent review, certification, and then Global Fiber will proceed with the filing of the 2019 10-K.

Subsequent to the filing of the 2019 10-K, we will begin the process of filing the 10-Q for first quarter 2020, and the balance of the quarterly reports due for 2020.

During this time, we would expect to come to a mutually acceptable arrangement with our convertible noteholders on favorable terms.

When all of the 10-Qs are filed for the three reporting periods for 2020, the company will turn its efforts to completing the audit and filing of the 10-K for 2020 and any of the 10-Qs that may be due for the 2021.

Once completed we will then be current in our reporting requirements and then we will proceed to have the STOP designation removed at OTC MARKETS.

The company has discussed its approach with both the regulators and OTC MARKETS and we are confident that our approach is both achievable and acceptable. Ultimately, Global Fiber is looking to become a fully reporting company in the not too distant future.

  1. Subsidiary Operations

A. Authentic Heroes

To date, Authentic Heroes has secured 4 licenses with Brett Favre, Warren Sapp, Run DMC, and Yungblud.

Each license has a different nuance so sales efforts are guided by these distinctions.

  1. Yungblud: We expect to start our push into the world of music merchandise soon, which will be triggered by our relationship with Bravado/Universal Music and Yungblud.
    • We just received via DHL the concert tour wear from Yungblud’s 2019 sold out “Underrated Youth” Tour.
    • We now will begin the process of creating a special series of Yungblud collectables for his millions of fans and expect to start pre-sales as soon as we have our samples approved by the Yungblud team in early first quarter 2021. Our expectations to create potentially substantial sales has never been higher. The Yungblud team is extremely committed to making this series of highly unique merchandise a resounding success.
    • To augment our combined marketing efforts, Yungblud has made a video speaking about: The articles of clothing that he is giving to Authentic Heroes from his 2019 sold out tour, the War Child charity, and his relationship with Authentic Heroes.
    • The video will soon be distributed to his millions of followers on YouTube, Instagram and Twitter, making them aware that there is something special coming. It is our opinion that this unique approach of addressing your fan base will drive significant traffic for the sale of these “one of a kind” collectables.
  1. Brett Favre: One of the most important parts of our value proposition is the credibility factor. The ability to create a one of a kind jersey, while also getting the approval of the player, speaks volumes.
    • In the case of Brett Favre, we will be delivering 51 jerseys in early December. The significance of the first 50 is that they will be signed by Brett Favre and used for marketing and building relationships with sports bloggers, influencers, charitable giveaways, and contests.
    •  Brett will keep the 4th jersey in the series, which is the number he wore on the field. Next, he will make a video of himself putting on the Authentic jersey while speaking about the significance of the original jersey he gave Authentic. He will discuss the jerseys that we created from his original game worn jersey, the Greater Good Fund charity, and how Authentic Heroes ties it all together.
    • Brett will disseminate that video to his 1.5 million followers on Facebook which will be followed up by a social media marketing effort launched by Authentic Heroes as well.
  1. Warren Sapp: In December, Warren Sapp will be giving Authentic Heroes his Pro Bowl Jersey from the 1999 season when he was defensive player of the year. Authentic Heroes will then proceed to make a limited series of jerseys. We have already finished the artwork for that jersey through a commissioned artist and are waiting approvals from Warren’s management, which we should have shortly.
    • Warren, like Brett Favre and Yungblud, will be making a video speaking about the 1999 season, the War Child charity and how Authentic Heroes ties players, fans, and charitable contributions together for the greater good of all the parties. Warren will post that video to his 1.1MM followers on Twitter and will also be followed up by a social media marketing effort by Authentic Heroes
  1. Run DMC: We are working with Bravado, the merchandising arm of Universal Music, to find “photo-matched” articles of clothing from prior concerts that we can create authenticated merchandise from. We expect to be updated shortly by Bravado so we can bring the Authentic Heroes experience and collectable merchandise to the massive fan base of RUN DMC.

Lastly the Company is also in the process of negotiating several other major licenses in the areas of social media influencers, sports, and music.  We will continue to develop a portfolio of significant commercial opportunities that will add significantly to shareholder value now and into the future.

B. ECOTEK 360

ECOTEK 360 is working diligently towards reaching the critical point where it can fully commercialize its proprietary technologies for the rejuvenation of corporate uniforms, products for hospital and healthcare industry, as well as products for the hospitality markets.

Our pilot line has produced excellent results to date and we are now getting closer to the point of being able to create game changing products that can help ameliorate the need for dumping or incinerating end of life textile waste.

Our sample fibers have been examined by a potential manufacturing partner, which has brought us to a point where ECOTEK 360 is now actively exploring the potential for a joint venture with them overseas as well as here in the United States. The nature of the relationship is one where we bring our core technologies and trade secrets as part of a brand new joint venture and manufacturing facility to create products for the retail market.

We are in the earlier part of these negotiations but we feel that there is a very strong interest on the part of the potential joint venture partner and we are very confident in our ability to deliver the type of fiber that can truly augment their current business model and the typical business model of the 100’s of companies in the textile recycling business.

In the last few days we have also run fiber for a hospital system on our pilot line and got back excellent results. We expect to move the needle on this potential relationship over the coming months as we create final end user products for them. We feel confident in the potential for orders of our rejuvenated products to follow.

C. Maximizing Shareholder Value

We realize that shareholder value is tantamount to everyone. To date, we feel that the most recent market for our common equity does not at all reflect the potential that both Authentic Heroes and ECOTEK 360 have. We have made significant progress and major breakthroughs in both subsidiaries and unfortunately the value proposition for each is mired and buried under the Global Fiber Technologies umbrella.

Global Fiber Technologies, the parent to both companies, is exploring several options to optimize the value of Global Fiber’s common stock price.

Once fully reporting, and as the stop sign is lifted, we will hopefully see a marked improvement of Global Fiber’s common share price. There will be significant opportunities coming to both Authentic and ECOTEK and they need to be financed at some point in the not too distant future.

The company is looking to keep dilution to GFTX shareholders to a minimum while attaining the financing necessary to monetize the upcoming opportunities. The value of GFTX shares will weigh heavily in our decision on how to finance those opportunities.

Given the fact that sometimes share price does not respond to performance, creating the need for alternative financing is something we need to consider.

We are currently exploring the option of taking both the ECOTEK 360 and Authentic Heroes subsidiaries public through the advent of a REG A+ offering or other options if they become available.

Both of these valuable subsidiaries are currently sequestered under Global’s holding company umbrella and devoid of any value whatsoever.

Separating them from the parent organization could yield multiple benefits by monetizing the “value producing assets” in both Authentic and ECOTEK 360

  1. In the event we take one or both subsidiaries public in 2021, there will be a separate trading market for each subsidiary on OTCQB or possibly OTCQX depending on the size of the offering.
  2. Global Fiber will still maintain the “controlling interest” in both companies, allowing Global Fiber to consolidate the financial performance of each subsidiary on its own balance sheet and profit and loss statements
  3. If one or both of the subsidiaries were to be public companies, the value of Global’s investments in both subsidiaries would be recorded not at the “lower of cost or market” as they are currently, but potentially at “fair market” value creating a substantial increase in “shareholder equity”
  4. Coupled with the potential increase in shareholder value we would also be avoiding the inherent dilution that could go along by trying to capitalize both Authentic and ECOTEK 360 by selling equity in an undervalued GFTX.

There are several smart and potentially deliverable options on the table and we will keep deductively exploring which option works best for Global Fiber shareholders

We already have a relationship with an investment banking firm to start to exploring the option of maximizing shareholder value thru creating separate public markets for the Global Fiber subsidiaries and will continue down that path as we move into 2021.

There is a lot of workload in front of us and we want to let our shareholders know that the management and board of directors is fully committed to making Global Fiber Technologies Inc., a game-changing company in its areas of endeavor.

We continue to work very long hours and continue to invest out own monies where needed. We do not take salaries or loans and are “all in” on making 2021 and beyond great years for Global and its shareholders.

We hope this sheds light on where we are where we are headed and we look forward to communicating our progress to you in the not too distant future.

Posted November 16, 2020

Source: Global Fiber Technologies Inc.

Tailored Brands Announces Confirmation Of Plan Of Reorganization

FREMONT, Calif. — November 13, 2020 — Tailored Brands Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries today announced that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas has confirmed the company’s Plan of Reorganization. As a result, Tailored Brands expects to successfully emerge from Chapter 11 protection by the end of November, after it has satisfied the customary conditions to the effectiveness of the Plan.

“We are extremely pleased to have reached this milestone,” said Tailored Brands President and CEO Dinesh Lathi. “Over the past three months, we have not only continued to advance steadily through this financial restructuring but also implemented new buy online, pick up in store and contactless payment technology to better serve our customers during the pandemic; further curated our assortments to make them more shoppable and relevant; opened our first next generation store in Shenandoah, Texas; developed new partnerships; and continued to advance important diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, consistent with our corporate values. These and other actions taken while in Chapter 11 are the continuation of a strategic transformation that started well before COVID-19 and will position us to compete and succeed for the long term.”

“Our deep appreciation goes out to our employees, customers, vendors, landlords and lenders for the ongoing support they have shown us. We look forward to entering the peak holiday season with this process behind us and to being positioned to grow our business by providing customers with selection, convenience, service and value across all our brands,” Lathi continued.

Under the terms of the Plan, Tailored Brands will emerge with a strengthened capital structure having eliminated $686 million of funded debt from its balance sheet. The capital structure of the reorganized company is expected to consist of a $430 million ABL facility, a $365 million exit term loan and $75 million of cash from a new debt facility to support ongoing operations and strategic initiatives.

Additional resources for customers and other stakeholders can be accessed by visiting the company’s restructuring website at TailoredStronger.com. Court filings and other documents related to the Chapter 11 process are available at http://cases.primeclerk.com/TailoredBrands, by calling the Company’s claims agent at (877) 461-5690 (Toll-Free) or (347) 817-4089 (Local/International) or by sending an email to TailoredBrandsInfo@PrimeClerk.com.

Tailored Brands is advised in this process by Kirkland & Ellis LLP as legal advisor, PJT Partners as financial advisor and AlixPartners as restructuring advisor.

Tailored Brands’ brands include Men’s Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank, Moores Clothing for Men and K&G.

Posted November 16, 2020

Source: Tailored Brands Inc.

United Sewing Automation Producing USA-Sourced And Manufactured PPE Face Masks In North Carolina Visited By U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry

MOUNT AIRY, N.C. — November 16, 2020 — United Sewing Automation Inc. (USA) recently welcomed Congressman Patrick McHenry to tour its Mt. Airy, N.C., face mask production factory, one of the only such facilities in the United States making American-sourced, surgical grade face masks. McHenry spent nearly two hours meeting with USA’s co-owners Ben Webb and Rob Roach to discuss the factory’s operations, which support the continued demand for reliable and safe PPE face masks for both children and adults.

The automated facility, opened in August in response to the growing need for safety-verified PPE amid the coronavirus pandemic’s nationwide spread, produces high-quality ASTM Level III face masks. The materials for the three-ply, disposable masks are sourced in Georgia, Connecticut and Indiana. USA’s factory is proud to support 48 local jobs.

“It’s always impressive to come to Surry County to see the ingenuity and the inventiveness. We’ve got great entrepreneurs that are making American-made PPE to protect our front-line workers,” said McHenry. “We really need to highlight how quickly they’ve gotten this put up and how intent they’ve been on making sure it’s American sourced. I’m really impressed.”

The factory visit is timely for McHenry, who is working to support American PPE companies like USA on the federal policy level. The Congressman recently introduced The American PPE Supply Chain Integrity Act, which if passed would require the federal government to purchase American-sourced medical supplies and personal protective equipment. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Veterans Affairs to purchase specified medical supplies (including disinfecting wipes and natural fiber products) and personal protective equipment (including surgical masks, face shields, and foot coverings) from products that are 100% grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced in the United States.

McHenry’s bill would help to answer a pervasive supply-and-demand gap for reliable PPE in the United States. Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, America’s reliance on imported PPE has caused supply chain issues. In addition, the United States has been flooded with cheap, inferior-quality face masks imported from China that do not provide the protection needed to fight the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In response, USA’s ownership team invested in automated equipment to manufacture American-made, medical grade masks that provide proper protection for Americans.

In September, the company reported excellent safety results from its ASTM International tests, rendering the products in compliance with the Berry Amendment and qualifying them for Department of Defense contracts. The face masks were evaluated in several critical areas: Bacterial Filtration, Particulate Filtration, Liquid Barrier Protection, Breathability, and Flammability.

“We are nearly nine months into this pandemic, and the need for reliable, surgical-grade PPE masks is still high,” said Rob Roach, USA’s cofounder. “We’re driven by the goal to provide every man, woman, and child in this country with access to the same protective masks that first responders use on a daily basis. Our factory isn’t slowing down any time soon, and we hope to continue bringing these masks to those who need them, in every corner of the country.”

USA’s ownership team has many years of experience in the textile and apparel industry and had the vision in 2017 to bring apparel manufacturing back to Mount Airy, N.C. through automation. USA’s high-tech Ultrasonic welding machines and automated production equipment are capable of producing 1 million face masks per week.

Posted November 16, 2020

Source: United Sewing Automation (USA)

International Federation of Knitting (IFKT) Announces Hitesh Kumar Sharma As New President For North America And Expansion In Mexico

WEGBERG, Germany — November 16, 2020 — International Federation of Knitting Technologists (IFKT) organized an online General Assembly October 29, 2020, and decided to expand IFKT activities in Mexico now. IFKT has proposed Hitesh Kumar Sharma (HKS) as its new president for North America.

In future, HKS will be responsible for IFKT national section in Mexico country. He is already handling United States and Canadian national sections.

HKS has recently innovated knitted fabric called H97 Loop Cluster for Covid-19. His contribution in the association and knitting Industry is remarkable.

HKS has taken an active role in cultivating and representing IFKT while providing timely fashion information to its national members. His long-term vision, technical expertise and industry are relations fueling the federation for further expansion in other countries around the globe.

Posted November 16, 2020

Source: IFKT – International Federation of Knitting

Asia Pacific Rayon Has Released Its Inaugural Sustainability Progress Report: Creating Sustainable Value, From Plantation To Fashion

JAKARTA — November 16, 2020 — Asia Pacific Rayon (APR) has released its inaugural Sustainability Progress Report covering the first 18 months of its operations from January 2019 to June 2020. Formally inaugurated by Indonesia President Joko Widodo in February 2020, APR is a vertically integrated operation from renewable fibre plantations to high-value textile manufacturing facilities, located in in Riau, Sumatra.

APR’s effort to report on its sustainability performance underscores the company’s commitment to responsible viscose production. The report, themed “Creating Sustainable Value, From Plantation to Fashion,” details APR’s sustainability efforts which are focussed on clean manufacturing, sustainable sourcing, and initiatives in support of employees and communities.

Basrie Kamba, APR director, said: “In our first 18 months of business, we focused on laying a strong foundation by embedding sustainability in the way we operate — whether as a manufacturer, an employer, a member of the local community or a global corporate citizen. Our operations are guided by our sustainability policy. We sought to actively monitor our performance so as to develop a baseline from which to improve on, and to benchmark ourselves against industry peers, with the aim to be a top quartile viscose producer.”

Manufacturing Excellence

Notably, APR has attained a string of certifications relating to manufacturing, sourcing and product. It is the first viscose manufacturer in Indonesia to receive the internationally recognised STeP by OEKO-TEX certification. APR’s products carries the labels of OEKO-TEX Standard 100, USDA Biobased, MADE in GREEN by OEKO-TEX, Medically “Tested-Tested for Toxins” by FKT. It obtained ISO 9001 for quality management and 14001 for environmental management systems, and OHSAS 18001 for occupational health and safety management systems. Its PEFC Chain of Custody certification confirms sourcing from 100% certified dissolving wood pulp.

Further, in September 2020, APR updated its sustainability policy, strengthening its clean manufacturing commitment to the ZDHC Roadmap and adopting a time-bound roadmap to meet the emissions and consumption levels set out in EU BAT.

Contributing to Indonesia & Local Communities

As Indonesia’s leading integrated viscose producer, APR contributes to the transformation of the country’s textile industry, supporting the realisation of Indonesia’s Industry 4.0 vision. APR actively partners local fashion stakeholders to promote viscose as an enabler for sustainable fashion and launched “Everything Indonesia” as a catalyst to revitalize Indonesia as a global center for textile manufacturing. The company’s block chain-based “Follow Our Fibre” platform provides transparency and traceability of its viscose from seed to bale.

APR has also been in active engagement with its community stakeholders with programs aimed at improving rural education standards and empowering livelihoods of women. In response to the COVID- 19 health pandemic, the company provided 15,000 PPE gowns, 150,000 medical face masks and pairs of surgical gloves to Riau’s COVID-19 taskforce. It distributed 11,000 household packages to impacted communities in 176 villages across Pelalawan and 165 hygiene kits to maternal and child health centers. APR produced 88,000 fabric masks and distributed them to employees, their families and households in surrounding communities.

“It has been our great pleasure to work with APR on its first sustainability report. As a new player in the man-made cellulosic fiber industry, APR has an opportunity to bring innovation and solutions that can help shape a more sustainable textile and apparel industry. The transparency and accountability that sustainability reporting brings is incredibly important for APR to build trust and engage stakeholders in its sustainability efforts, as well as to continuously improve on its sustainability performance,” said Thomas Milburn, Corporate Citizenship director.

Posted November 16, 2020

Source: Asia Pacific Rayon (APR)

Durst RSC Label Masters Inaugural Winners Announced

BRIXEN, Italy — November 16, 2020 — Selected entries from the RSC Label Masters Awards program organized by Durst, manufacturer of advanced digital printing and production technologies, will become an integral part of the Customer Experience Center at its headquarters in Brixen, Italy. The winners were announced as part of Durst’s Label & Packaging first Virtual Digital Day that provided unique insights on the new Tau RSC platform, its printing solutions, ink systems, software and important developments.

Australia’s R. Wagner Prestige Labels captured the RSC COMBINATION PRINT category for its TRUCE Wine of Australia label, while China’s Shandong Golden Realm Industrial Company was runner-up and LabelPrint OÜ,of  Estonia, third. The 100-percent RSC PRINT category was won by Shanghai Yingcai Printing Co Ltd, of China, for its Qing Ping Yue entry. Runner-up was LabelPrint OÜ, with Pyrotec of South Africa in third place.

Together with partners and customers, experts from Durst’s Label & Flexible Packaging Segment provided updates on latest developments and an experience of the new Tau RSC platform, its printing solutions and ink systems. Topics covered progress on the Tau RSCi beta test, Durst RSC Low Migration Solutions and hybrid label production with the new OMET XJet — powered by Durst. The event also included Digital Embellishment and mid-web finishing — with an ABG solution, which is also going into operation in Durst’s Customer Experience Center.

Helmuth Munter, Durst’s segment manager, Label & Flexible Packaging, said: “The Tau RSC is a true gamechanger for us as a company and for all our customers. With that in mind, we challenged them to take part in the Durst RSC Label Masters awards. There were an impressive number of entries. They were all truly inspiring, making it a difficult task for the judges to choose the winners.”

He added: “Since the Durst Tau RSC platform was launched just over three years ago, we have achieved over 100 installations worldwide in less than 3 years. This demonstrates that our printing solutions have been very well received by the market. We are looking forward to the future despite these uncertain times for everybody.”

In conjunction with Durst US, a recording of the broadcast stream will be shown again on Wednesday, November 18, at 11.00 Eastern Time in the US (19.00 CET). Participants on menti.com will be able to ask questions again in a live Q&A session. Register directly on the US webpage https://durstus.com/ or via this direct link https://mailer.durst-group.com/acton/media/42983/durst-digital-day-2020.

Posted November 16, 2020

Source: DURST PHOTOTECHNIK AG

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