INTERNATIONAL
NATIONAL
The mission of Accelerating Circularity is to create new supply chains and business models to turn textile waste into mainstream raw materials and its new working group aims to share the benefits of chemical textile recycling. “We formed this collective to move chemical recycling technology forward, share common definitions, and address policies in a collaborative way to maximise the elimination of textile waste to landfills and incineration,” explained Karla Magruder, Founder and President of Accelerating Circularity. “Chemical recycling technology has many benefits, including quality more similar to virgin fibre and the ability to recycle multiple times.”
Members of the Alliance include founding members Eastman, Lenzing, and The Lycra Company, as well as Circ, Sappi, Renewcell, Infinited fiber, Worn Again Technologies, Gr3n, CuRe Technology, and OnceMore from Sodra. As a first step, the ACTR (Alliance of Chemical Textile Recycling) is introducing a dictionary of common terms developed to educate the industry on the chemical recycling of textiles. Earlier this year, Accelerating Circularity launched a textile-to-textile recycling guide designed to help stakeholders implement circular systems within the fashion supply chain.
Source: The just-style.com
The much-awaited India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is set to be signed by both countries by month-end here, with all outstanding issues having been resolved, an official source told FE. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will travel to India late October to sign the ambitious agreement that is expected to spur two-way trade in goods and services between the two economies as well as increase capital flows in the form of foreign direct investment. Early last month, Sunak while being here for the G20 Leaders’ Summit had said he and prime minister Narendra Modi were keen to see a “comprehensive and ambitious trade deal” concluded, but said that there was “still some hard work to be done,” and that, the pact must “work for both the countries.”“All the contentious issues in the proposed FTA have been resolved,” an official aware of the negotiations told FE. However, the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) will be signed later as common ground has not been reached so far, he added. Till a BIT is signed, the India-UK Infrastructure Financing Bridge will address any bilateral issues in investments, the official added. BIT, the Rules of Origin and intellectual property rights (the latter two under the FTA) were some of the issues that were proving to be contentious in the negotiations. From the Indian side, the demand for easier visas for professionals was seeing some resistance from the UK. The differences in services have been sorted out on the lines of the UK’s FTA with Australia which came into force from May 2023, the source said. The FTA talks between India and the UK started in early 2021. In the services sector, the UK demanded national treatment for its services businesses and greater freedom for its professionals to operate in India. This has been agreed to. National treatment means treating foreigners and locals equally with regard to rules and regulations. It also means equal access to opportunities for overseas operators and not doing anything that puts them at a disadvantage. The areas of services that the UK was interested in are financial services, business and professional services, and transport services. It also wanted a liberalised visa regime for its business travellers to give them greater opportunities to operate in India. “In services, professionals moving from India to the UK or the other way round are most likely to be Indian nationals or of Indian origin, so the issues have been sorted out,” the source said. With the ongoing diplomatic spat with Canada likely to affect the flow of Indian professionals to Canada, the UK FTA could provide some succour to India. India has halted FTA negotiations with Canada. In FTA with the UK, Australia has secured ambitious commitments on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications and providing greater certainty for skilled professionals entering the UK labour market. Among the other issues, the duties on whiskey and automobiles were the two most sensitive issues in the FTA talks as far as India was concerned. In the auto sector, the reduction of tariffs on imports from the UK would be calibrated in a way that its impact on local manufacturing is minimal. In the spirits trade also both the countries have narrowed their positions on immediate duty cuts, speed of cuts in coming years and other conditions. In wines and other spirits India may reduce import duty from 150% to 100% and then bring it further down to 50% over the 10-year period. The UK had demanded a reduction of duty to 75% straight away and then bringing it down to 30% in the next three years. Notwithstanding the high duties, the import of scotch whiskey has grown to 7.5 million cases in the calendar year 2022 from 5.5 million cases in 2021 driven by Mumbai. Total bottled liquor imports in 2022 were 8 million cases. In traditional export sectors like textiles, leather UK has agreed to India’s demand for bringing down duties to zero. India’s merchandise exports to the UK increased 9.03% on year in FY23 to touch $ 11.4 billion while imports rose 27% to $8.9 billion. FDI from the UK stood at $1.7 billion in FY23 as against $1.6 billion in the previous year. India’s main exports to the UK are ready-made garments and textiles, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, petroleum and petrochemical products, transport equipment, spices, machinery and instruments, pharmaceuticals and marine products. The main imports from the UK include precious and semi-precious stones, ores and metal scraps, engineering goods, professional instruments other than electronics, chemicals and machinery.
Source: Financial Express
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry and GatiShakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) entered into collaboration today to advance India's infrastructure and logistics sectors. Under this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), GSV shall be the nodal agency across India to design, develop and deliver courses and curriculum related to PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and National Logistics Policy at various centres in different states. Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and Textiles, Sh. Piyush Goyal said that PM GatiShakti will become the planning tool for the entire world. He acknowledged the importance of GSV that offers skill development and capacity building of logistics professionals paving way for formalisation in the logistics sector. More than 16 Central Ministries, including NITI Aayog, CBC came together for the signing of MoU. This collaboration shall mark the great culmination of three visions, i.e., smarter planning and implementation; structured specialised development; and capacity building. Shri Goyal said that it will bring academic vigour to PM GatiShakti approach leading to reduced logistics cost, efficient logistics, and fostering a competitive business ecosystem. He said that this will lead to a virtuous cycle of growth and achievement of the vision of Amrit Kaal. This MoU is scripting a new chapter in Bharat logistics and infrastructure story. This shall give momentum to comprehensive logistics sector development and embarks Bharat’s journey to become a Vishwaguru. Union Minister for Railways, Communications and Electronics & Information Technology and also the Chancellor of the Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, Sh. Ashwini Vaishnaw, spoke about the importance of the industry focussed and innovation driven university offering courses on railway, metro and high-speed railways. He highlighted the development of focussed programs for specific industry/ sector. For instance five courses on railway have been developed, including with a focus on tracks technology, rail-wheel interaction, thermodynamics, signalling systems, etc. Focussed courses offered at GSV will make students ready for future workforce- 15000 students will be trained at GSV to get assured jobs in the aviation industry. GSV will ensure Indian skill development needs are aligned with global standards. The MoU was signed by the Vice-Chancellor, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, Prof. Manoj Choudhary, and Joint Secretary, Logistics Division, DPIIT, Sh. E. Srinivas in the august presence of the respective Ministers, Sh. Piyush Goyal and Sh. Ashwini Vaishnaw. Special Secretary, DPIIT, Ms. Sumita Dawra highlighted the importance of India improving its logistics performance ranking to global standards by 2030. The transformative reforms of Government of India for multimodal Infrastructure development to facilitate Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living, and also facilitate EXIM trade related logistics, Government’s flagship initiative namely PM GatiShakti National Master Plan was launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on 13th October 2021. This is for building Next Generation Infrastructure and developing a globally competitive logistics ecosystem. GatiShakti Vishwavidyalaya is the brainchild and vision of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. The idea was to utilise the existing infrastructure and resources, augment it suitably, so that it can be used for creating professional courses for logistics. It is India’s first Railway University and only third such in the whole world after Russia and China, which was dedicated to the nation in December 2018. PM Gati Shakti Master Plan is a critical tool that also integrates economic and infrastructural planning with socio-economic development. In the last two years, remarkable progress in terms of development of the digital platform (NMP) and individual portals, data and quality management on these portals, onboarding of Ministries and States, and training and capacity building, besides usage, has been made. As on date, 1463 data layers of Central Ministries and States/UTs have been uploaded on the GIS-data based National Master Plan portal. 39 individual portals for line Ministries and 36 States/UT portals have been developed and integrated. Twenty-two out of the above mentioned 39-line Ministries are Social Sector Ministries, which have also been onboarded onto the PM GatiShakti in last few months. This has paved way for enabling comprehensive socio-economic development in the spirit of Area Development Approach, across the country. To complement the PM GatiShakti NMP, the National Logistics Policy (NLP) was launched on 17th September 2022 by Hon’ble PM, to address the soft infrastructure and logistics sector development aspect, inter alia, including process reforms, improvement in logistics services, digitization, human resource development and skilling. The NLP is a step in the right direction to drive economic growth and business competitiveness of the country through an integrated, seamless, efficient, reliable, green, sustainable and cost-effective logistics network. This will reduce logistics cost and improve logistics performance. National Logistics Policy, under the Comprehensive Logistics Action Plan (CLAP) talks of creating a Logistics Human Resources Development & Capacity Building Strategy under which competency frameworks for formalization of logistics professionals are being developed, steps are being taken to mainstream logistics and supply chain in course curriculums in different institutions. Significant progress has been made across key action areas such as services improvement; development of indigenous data-based decision support systems, digital integration of processes; tracking and tracing of 100% EXIM containerized cargo; State engagement; human resource development; logistics cost reduction; improved EXIM logistics; etc. GSV shall co-work with the Logistics Division to conceptualize and establish “knowledge centres” of PM GatiShakti in different states and institutions which shall serve as repository of best practices of PM GatiShakti approach, best practices in logistics, centres of further research and innovation in logistics. Using the “hub and spoke” model, and leveraging infrastructure of Central Training Institutes and State Administrative Training Institutes, GSV shall co – work with the Logistics Division and build a repository of resource persons, both Public and Private Sector who have wide practical experience in logistics policy and sector. Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) Vadodara was established as a Central University through an Act of Parliament in 2022, for creating best in class manpower and talent for the entire transportation and logistics sectors. This Central University is sponsored by the Ministry of Railways, Govt. of India and is mandated to work across railways, shipping, ports, highways, roads, waterways, and aviation etc. Following a demand-driven curriculum and leveraging state of the art infrastructure of all the Centralized Training Institutes of Indian Railways, the GSV shall create a resource pool of professionals across technology, economics, management and policy comprising multidisciplinary teaching (bachelors/masters/doctoral), executive training and research. GSV shall also undertake training for Indian Railways probationers and serving officers. Being an Industry-driven and Innovation-led university, GSV has a very strong focus on collaborations with leading institutions and industries across the world. The outcomes of usage of PM GatiShakti NMP by Ministries and States/ UTs in the last 2 years, is demonstrating the variety and scale of NMP in planning infrastructure. It is important to share learnings of the benefits of using PM GatiShakti NMP among various stakeholders, for which an institution such as the GSV shall play a pivotal role. International interest that PM GatiShakti is generating can also be taken forward through the collaboration with GSV which can serve as a knowledge centre for GatiShakti and logistics infrastructure related planning.
Source: PIB
Ahead of the resumption of negotiations for a groundbreaking Free Trade Agreement (FTA), officials of India and Peru are set to meet virtually on October 10, to talk about the agreement. The negotiations of the FTA which is expected to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties between the two nations is scheduled to take place in the first week of December. During her visit to India in August the Vice Minister of Foreign Trade, Teresa Mera Gomez, had met with her counterpart and the two sides agreed to resume negotiations.
Background
During an interview with Financial Express Online on the sidelines of India-LAC Conclave in August, Peru’s Vice Minister of Trade, Teresa Mera Gomez, expressed optimism about the upcoming sixth round of negotiations, building on the progress made during the fifth round in Lima before the pandemic. The FTA seeks to enhance the economies of both nations without creating competition. Recent developments at the India-LAC Conclave in New Delhi have paved the way for the FTA revival. India’s Commerce Secretary, Sunil Barthwal, has also earlier confirmed the continuation of FTA talks, highlighting the identification of key collaboration areas. Both countries are keen to expand trade, especially in agricultural products and essential minerals like gold, zinc, and recently discovered lithium. The comprehensive FTA covers a wide range of aspects, including access to markets, trade in services, movement of professionals, and investment facilitation. Peru is India’s third-largest export destination in the Latin America and Caribbean region, making this pact strategically important. Key negotiation topics include trade remedies, rules for product origins, technical barriers, dispute resolution, and customs procedures.The groundwork for this agreement was laid in 2017 during official visits by Indian government representatives to Peru. With a diplomatic relationship spanning six decades, Peru is positioned as a gateway to the larger LAC region, providing Indian investors with opportunities for growth. Peru’s status as a leading global producer of minerals such as gold, silver, copper, tin, zinc, and lead has strengthened trade ties. Over the years, India has seen increased mineral imports from Peru, solidifying economic connections. Trade extends to agricultural products, including Red Globe table grapes, blueberries, avocados, and quinoa. Peru’s mangoes are also poised to enter the Indian market, further enhancing trade relations. A significant development is the Chancay Port Terminal, a multifaceted hub for various cargo types and a Special Economic Zone (ZEE). With a $3 billion investment, the port promises technological, industrial, and logistical advancements, aligning with Peru’s growth goals. Despite fluctuations, bilateral trade between India and Peru demonstrates resilience. In 2022-23, the trade value stood at $3.11 billion, with India exporting motor vehicles, iron and steel products, and cars, while Peru imports bulk minerals, gold, crude oil, and fertilizers. Peru is actively seeking investments in sectors such as hospitality, entertainment, healthcare, and more.
Source: Financial Express
The Director General of Foreign Trade and Engineering Export Promotion Council of India collaborated to organise an informative session for exporters in Srinagar. A statement said that session aimed to provide valuable insights into the new trade policy of exports and offer support to businesses seeking to benefit from the DGFT and EEPC India. During the session, Utpal Acharaya, Joint DGFT, shared valuable insights on the new trade policy of exports. He highlighted the benefits that businesses can avail through the DGFT and elaborated on the various schemes available to them. AK Bhushan, Dy DGFT J&K assured attendees that his team is always available to provide support and assistance. He encouraged participants to approach their office directly for any issues or queries related to scheme applications. As per the statement, Anju from DGFT made a brief presentation on the services of DGFT during the session. She also emphasised the importance of the IEC code and also showed how the IEC code can be applied at the site. She assured the members that anyone could call her in case they find any difficulty while applying for the IEC code. Rakesh Suraj, Regional Head of EEPC India, shed light on how the organization can contribute to the promotion of exports from the state, both for individual businesses and institutions. He provided an overview of the policies implemented by EEPC India and emphasized the support they can offer, the statement said.
Source: Greater Kashmir
On the basis of the export performances of the leading six competing countries (India, Bangladesh, China, Vietnam, South Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia) from January-June 2023, it becomes evident that both India and South Korea have displayed a negative growth rate in their exports during this period. In contrast, China, Malaysia, and Indonesia have shown positive growth rates in two out of the six months India's labour-intensive export sectors such as apparels, marine products, plastics, and gems and jewellery are showing a "troubling pattern" as the country has been experiencing a decline in global market share across these segments in the last five years, a FIEO report has said. Apex exporters body Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) also said that a note of caution is warranted regarding a distinct spike in export growth of roughly $ 40 billion as this particular surge is attributed to a rerouting of crude oil trade routes to Europe via India. This phenomenon may not be sustainable in the coming years, it said. It added that the most "pressing concern" regarding the negative export growth is the "poor" performance of labour-intensive sectors. On the other hand E-commerce giant Amazon India announced that it has cumulatively created more than 13 lakh direct and indirect jobs, facilitated around $8 on in cumulative exports, and digitised over 62 lakh MSMEs in India till date. In a country like India, E commerce holds immense significance not only for jobcreation potential but also for substantial contribution to net high-value addition. “Amazon is focused on creating a robust infrastructure to help Indian businesses reach customers in 200+ countries and territories, create global brands from India and grow exports through its Global Selling program,” the statement pointed out. There are more than 1.25 lakh exporters on the program are on track to cross $8 billion in cumulative exports by the end of 2023. "An analysis of sector-wise export performance for the last five years reveal the troubling pattern that India is experiencing a decline in global market share across labour-intensive sectors," the organisation said, adding that apparels, knitted garments, marine products, plastics, gems and jewellery sectors have raised concerns due to their modest growth rates ranging from one per cent to two per cent. While the global trade in knitted garments expanded by six per cent, its growth in India remained at a mere two per cent. In woven garments, despite a global trade growth rate of about two per cent, India's export growth has consistently been below one per cent for years, while nations like Bangladesh and Vietnam, growing at six per cent and four per cent, respectively, are cutting into India's share. "In the footwear sector the global trade expanded by five per cent, but India's exports have contracted. Bangladesh's brilliant growth from $ one billion to $ 1.7 billion over three years is in contrast with India's meagre growth from about $ 2.8 billion to $ three billion," it said. Similarly, India's aspiration to be a global pharmacy leader faces challenges, it said, adding, despite the ambition, India's growth has not matched demand, lagging at nine per cent while the global market grew by 12 per cent in the past four years. "Concerns arose due to criticism linked to cough syrup, underlining the need for an efficient trace and tracking system for quality assurance," it said. Further, it said that an analysis of technology-driven sectors indicates a significant surge in global demand for machinery, auto components, electrical and electronics goods "These sectors collectively contribute to about one-third of the global trade, amounting to over $ seven trillion. However, India's current market share in these sectors stands at a mere one per cent. Intriguingly, India's imports of these goods are substantial, hovering around $ 100-120 billion," it said. The report added that a more nuanced consideration is warranted when it comes to labour-intensive sectors. It is evident that a gradual erosion of market share has been occurring over time in these sectors and his decline raises concerns about India's competitiveness and sustained participation in these traditional jobs creating crucial segments, it said. Further, the report said that on the basis of the export performances of the leading six competing countries (India, Bangladesh, China, Vietnam, South Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia) from January-June 2023, it becomes evident that both India and South Korea have displayed a negative growth rate in their exports during this period. In contrast, China, Malaysia, and Indonesia have shown positive growth rates in two out of the six months. Amazon had earlier said that it aims to digitise one crore MSMEs, enable $20 billion in cumulative e-commerce exports and create 20 lakh jobs in India by 2025. Perhaps companies like Tata's, Reliance D Mart and Indian companies can take the cue to scale operations like Amazon has done.
Source: The Bizzbuzz.news
INTERNATIONAL
Since the rapid growth brought about by the pandemic, the technical textiles and nonwovens markets are stabilising towards a new normal – one in which technological innovation, sustainable development, and intelligent manufacturing are the most sought-after qualities. Held from 19 – 21 September 2023 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, the fair amplified this new industry direction, both through its fringe programme and across the booths of the 40,000 sqm show floor. With a nearly one-third increase from 2021, 467 exhibitors representing 13 countries and regions engaged a significantly international visitor flow, numbering 15,542 total visits from 52 countries and regions. Suppliers showcased up-to-date products for multiple application areas, with various equipment, technical textiles and nonwovens for agriculture, automotive, protective apparel, and medical and hygiene especially prevalent. Speaking at the fair’s close, Ms Wilmet Shea, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, had an optimistic outlook for the future of the sector: “Sustainability and innovation often go hand-in-hand, and walking through the various halls, zones, and pavilions these past few days the evidence for this was widespread. With environmental protection more important than ever, and buyers across application areas increasingly sourcing eco-friendly solutions, our exhibitors were well-placed to meet that demand. This fair is consistently at the leading edge of technological progress, and with the global and domestic markets showing signs of improving further, we are already looking forward to what we can offer at next year’s edition.” With many overseas exhibitors making a comeback, this year’s fair was marked by the return of the Taiwan Pavilion and the 40-exhibitor strong European Zone. Beyond the international areas, domestic pavilions were organised by Beijing Guanghua, China Hang Tang Group, Funing, Jiujing, Shenda, Tiantai, Xianto, and Xiqiao, showcasing nonwovens for various subsectors, including filtration and medical. Valuable insights were exchanged at multiple fringe events, including the 11th China International Nonwovens Conference, the Advanced Technical Textiles Industry Chain Synergistic Innovation Development Forum, various events covering marine textiles and rope netting, and the “Kingsafe Dangs” National University Students’ Nonwovens Development and Applications Showcase. Visitors, meanwhile, were pleased with the innovation on show across the entire platform. Exhibitors were eager to reconnect with domestic and global collaborators “At this edition we are showcasing our latest innovational textile tools for the nonwovens sector, and while we are focusing on the China market, we have also seen buyers from the Middle East, Europe, Korea, and North Asia. This is a more international fair – China is open to the world again, and we can see around us that everyone is here, and the quality and innovation of buyers has improved greatly in the past three to four years. E-mobility and sustainability are two very clear trends.” Mr Kabilen Sornum, Vice President Asia Pacific, Marketing & E-Commerce, Groz-Beckert East Asia “Cinte Techtextil China helps us quickly reach target customers and expand in the Chinese market, while being in the European Zone helps reinforce our branding. The new-energy vehicle industry’s rapid development means more opportunities for automotive interior accessories. Recycled and bio-based materials have become more important for sustainability and improved product performance. Technological advancement, customisation, and intelligent and high-end development are also future trends.” Ms Jenny Zheng, Strategic Sales, J.H. Ziegler Nonwovens and New Materials (Huzhou) “Itema manufactures weaving machines that can be fine-tuned to produce almost every kind of fabric, with our technical textiles division covering all of the different segments, from geotextiles to a variety of coatings. One recent innovation is carbon fibre paper, produced using a machine that can weave flat fabrics. At Cinte Techtextil China 2023 we have received more qualified leads than in previous years, and compared to 2018 there has been a big increase in demand for technical textiles from our customers, especially regarding coating, fibreglass, and carbon fibre.” Ms Sabrina Brignoli, Marketing & Communications Specialist, Itema S.p.A. “At this edition we have launched some innovative halogen-free flame retardant solutions, hoping to attract new customers. In addition, many of our downstream customers also attended the exhibition, so this platform also provides us with a convenient place for communication. We hope to contribute to the industry’s environmental development and reduce carbon emissions, and this platform can help us to convey the message to the industry.” Mr David Wang, Coated Fabric China Sales Manager, Stahl Coatings and Fine Chemicals (Suzhou) “This fair has played a positive role in our business and product promotion for many years. Our antimicrobial products are deeply related to sustainable development – end consumers have higher demands for safety, hygiene, functionality and sustainability of textile products, and this aligns with our company’s direction. This was our third time participating in the fringe programme, and every time we have been able to find new potential customers.” Mr Steven Liu, Sales Manager, Sanitized (China) Ltd Purpose-driven buyers sourced up-to-date products “This is my first time visiting Cinte Techtextil China, and I am here specifically looking for a high-strength polyethylene yarn for application in the aerospace industry. We export across Europe and everywhere around the world, from Finland, to China, Taiwan, Indonesia, India, and the US. The market is growing after the pandemic, for example the aerospace industry experienced a downturn but has since rebounded.” Mr Philip van Leersum, General Manager, DIT B.V “Our company mostly exports bags with functional characteristics to Europe, for military, firefighting, medical, and more, and this fair is our most important sourcing channel. The protective fabrics displayed by IBENA and other exhibitors are highly compatible with our needs, and we will continue to connect with these companies. This is a unique platform that brings together all aspects of different, highly-specialised technical textile products and technologies.” Mr Du du Lee, Purchas, Dongguan Ever Strong Bags & Caps Manufacturing Fringe programme inspired innovation and cooperation “Hohenstein is a leading textile research, testing and certification organisation from Germany and the founder of OEKO-TEX®. This highly specialised fair allows us to reach new upstream and downstream customers across the entire technical textiles industry, and it’s very helpful for us to target the non-manufacturing industry. Speaking at the Innovation Development Forum increases the audience’s awareness of our organisation, and is a big reason this fair is so attractive – it offers new insight, business exchange and knowledge sharing.” Mr Charles Nie, Business Director, Hohenstein Textile Testing (Shanghai) “I was glad to participate at the “Kingsafe Dangs” University Students’ Showcase, which has a great educational significance for students to apply textbook knowledge to real-life applications. At the same time, it allows us to better evaluate students’ learning, and we can adjust our talent training models to better suit their career paths. The participation of leading enterprises means they can establish closer relationships with the universities and support education development.” Mr Ni Yangsheng, President, China Textile and Apparel Education Society The fair’s product categories cover 12 application areas, which comprehensively span a full range of potential uses in modern technical textiles and nonwovens. These categories also cover the entire industry, from upstream technology and raw materials providers to finished fabrics, chemicals and other solutions. This scope of product groups and application areas ensures that the fair is an effective business platform for the entire industry. The fair is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; and the China Nonwovens & Industrial Textiles Association (CNITA). The next edition of Cinte Techtextil China will take place from 19 – 21 September 2024 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.
Source: Textile world
Kontoor Brands, Inc., a global lifestyle apparel company with a portfolio led by two of the world’s most iconic consumer brands, Wrangler® and Lee,® today announced that it has surpassed its 2025 water savings goal of saving over 10 billion liters of freshwater since 2008. The goal was reached under an accelerated timeline due to Kontoor’s focus on the implementation of the organization’s Indigood Program, a global initiative that initially focused on a foam-dyeing technology that reduced freshwater consumption in the dyeing process by up to 90% compared to conventional indigo dyeing. Since the expansion of the program in 2021 to include other technologies and water saving measures, Kontoor Brands has partnered with more than 30 mills across the globe to measure and validate their freshwater conversation claims. The Indigood Program is designed to set a global standard for water savings validation, a process that is disparate across the industry today. “It is no secret that our industry uses a lot of water. Globally we are seeing climate change put pressure on the earth’s diminishing freshwater resources, making it imperative that the entire industry act now,” said President, Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board, Scott Baxter. “The fact that Kontoor reached our water savings goal two years early is a testament to our commitment to sustainability and to the effectiveness of the Indigood Program, which is providing an important industry standard. I am proud of the work we are doing to save water and move towards a future where all jeans can be created using zero freshwater.” In addition to expanding the Indigood program with partner mills around the globe, Kontoor has also deployed advanced water-savings technologies at its owned manufacturing facilities, which produce more than 50 million units of apparel and accessories each year. The company’s Torreon, Mexico plant was third-party verified as using zero fresh water in its laundry process, saving an estimated 250 million liters of water each year. In a city surrounded by desert, the Torreon facility is not only limiting its freshwater use, but also using wells on its property to provide fresh water to the municipal government. “At Kontoor Brands, we are focused on advancing positive impacts by using resources wisely, driving sustainable innovations, and preserving and protecting the planet for future generations,” said Dhruv Agarwal, VP, Sustainability, Innovation, & Development, Kontoor Brands. “Our approach is focused on a process of continuous improvement, and while we have met our water goal early, there is still much work to be done. We will continue to raise the bar on the environmental performance of our operations and partner mills across the globe, with a focus on doing the right thing for the communities where we operate.” Kontoor’s freshwater conservation efforts are part of the company’s larger commitment to its people and the planet, which includes working with vendors that prioritize worker well-being, material selection, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing waste. Kontoor’s progress against other sustainability goals will be highlighted in the forthcoming 2021-2022 sustainability report.
Source: Textile world
SWEDISH designers, entrepreneurs, and academics are shaping a circular fashion sector started by the “Fashion Forever” exhibit last month, which presented leading pioneers in sustainable textiles and fashion. Being known for its massive use of water, energy, and chemicals, the fashion industry is Fashion Forever provided an overview of the Scandinavian country’s emerging fashion industry, and its novel approaches in fashion design, production, and distribution. In Sweden, said its embassy, the goal of responsible development is well established, with involvement from the government, academia, and private firms. Its government has put textiles high on its agenda. Becoming a world leader in sustainable fashion production and consumption is an integral part of the national drive to achieve the global Sustainable Development Goals Agenda 2030, and the Paris Agreement on climate change. One example from the exhibit was “Textile & Fashion 2030”—a government-supported initiative led by the University of Borås, in collaboration with the Swedish School of Textiles, SmartTextiles, Science Park Borås, and Research Institute of Sweden. This initiative aims to test and study different techniques of sustainable fashion advancements in small-scale settings, while identifying ways brands can bring these to the world stage. Circularity, said the embassy, was a key focus of Fashion Forever. In a circular economy, garment producers are responsible for resource efficiency and finding new ways to maximize value from products, residues, dead-stock, or textile waste. The exhibit gave examples of advancements in circularity led by Siptex and Renewcell. Siptex is a first-of-its-kind facility where textiles are sorted by color and fiber composition using near-infrared light. The facility can handle large flows of textiles and sorts them into different fractions for continuous recycling. Renewcell, on the other hand, is a textile-to-textile recycling company that produces Circulose®—a branded dissolving pulp made from 100-percent textile waste with high cellulose content such as worn-out cotton jeans and cotton production scraps. The pulp is then used to make viscose, lyocell, modal and other fabrics, then sewn to create other highquality textile products. “Through the integrated work of fashion retailers, design schools, and science parks in Sweden, supported by the Swedish government, the fashion industry can continue to be creative, exciting, and lucrative—all while being kinder to the planet and better for the consumer,” Ambassador Annika Thunborg noted. Swedish fashion retailer H&M, which aims to be 100-percent circular by 2030, showcases its “Innovation Stories”—a sustainability initiative focusing on forward-thinking ideas and innovative fabrications and design.
Source: Business mirror
Delta Apparel‘s board of directors has enlisted financials services company, Baird as its financial advisor to evaluate the Salt Life purchase offer. The company has not disclosed who made the offer or any financial details. The US apparel group states there can be no assurances as to the timing, terms or structure of any potential transaction or that a transaction will consummate. Delta Apparel chairman and CEO Bob Humphreys explains: “Our board of directors and management team are committed to maximising value for Delta Apparel shareholders, and we believe it is in their best interests to conduct a thorough review of strategic options for our Salt Life business given the widespread interest in it.” He points out the Salt Life team has done an excellent job in taking what was “essentially a small regional brand with a primarily wholesale business” when Delta Apparel acquired it in 2013 and growing it into a highly profitable business with over $60m in revenue. He explains it now has a consumer base stretching across the United States and internationally, and a variety of new go-to-market strategies, product categories and revenue channels. Humphreys continues: “Today, Salt Life products are offered in over 1,700 wholesale doors across 48 states and direct-to-consumer via a growing eCommerce site as well as 25 branded retail stores spanning the U.S. coastline from California to Florida to New York.” Delta Apparel says it does not intend to comment on the process or disclose additional developments until its board of directors approves a specific transaction or otherwise concludes its review of strategic alternatives.
Source: The Just-style.com
