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Definitions, standards and specific industry knowledge…Uster Technologies covers the whole story of recycled textile materials in its application report Sustainability Bulletin No. 1. The publication is part of Uster’s commitment to support the use of recycled materials along the entire textile value chain. Many consumers today already expect recycled materials to be used in the clothing and home textiles they purchase – and this is clearly pushing innovation throughout the industry. However, there is a degree of uncertainty about what this trend means for yarn producers, both economically and technically. The first Uster Sustainability Bulletin outlines the challenges and presents the solutions. STARTING POSITIONS AND RESULTS Upstream in textile processing, spinners are often asked to produce yarns with recycled materials, with comparable quality to those from new fiber. “The use of mechanically recycled fibers in spinning has specific quality considerations. Such fibers have a higher short-fiber and nep content and may often be colored, particularly if post-consumer material is used,” says Gabriela Peters, Head of Product Management Laboratory Systems at Uster Technologies and one of the bulletin’s authors. It is also true that recycled yarns have limitations in terms of yarn fineness. But thermo-mechanically and chemically recycled fibers and filaments are thought to present fewer processing challenges, as they are expected to have similar processing behavior to new fibers and filaments from synthetic and viscose materials. The Sustainability Bulletin is focused on the more problematic recycled raw material. For example, it deals with the potential difficulties in the various process steps in spinning. The aim is to bring clarity and understanding about mechanically recycled materials and provide ideas on how they can be processed. Studies have shown that yarns and fabrics produced from recycled fibers may be better for applications where the strength of yarns and fabric is less critical, but where control of unevenness, imperfections, and handle properties is required. Consequently, recycled fibers are most suitable for manufacturing casual clothes such as T-shirts, sweatshirts, and sleepwear. In China, tons of denim jeans trousers are already made of mechanically recycled fibers. THE GUARDIAN OF QUALITY Uster Technologies sees its role as knowledge provider, setting definitions and standards, to accelerate this ongoing industry transformation. As a long-term trusted supplier of quality control systems to the textile manufacturing industry, Uster assists the industry by evaluating test results. This helps to guide spinners on the current possibilities for dealing with recycled material in its many forms. The Uster Statistics benchmarks will be helpful in the requirement to measure, control, and improve the quality. The new edition, launched at ITMA 2023, includes for the first time a section for recycled yarn. The Uster Statistics 2023 edition also features an extended range of fiber data, supporting sustainability goals. It’s a fact that an ideal fiber mix – with or without recycled content – must also meet quality requirements for minimal waste. Uster understands its function as a kind of neutral arbiter, reporting what quality can be expected when processing different recycled materials. Uster know-how on using recycled raw material is collected in the Sustainability Bulletin No. 1 and ready to download free of charge at www.uster.com/sustainabilitybulletin. COOPERATION FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE Using recycled materials effectively and efficiently will be a key to success in future years. To achieve acceptable results and profitability, all sections of the textile chain will need to cooperate and learn from each other, to avoid collective failure. “At Uster Technologies, we firmly believe it’s a great opportunity for textile manufacturers to lead this momentous industry transformation, as recycled fibers are the raw material of a sustainable future to be processed into new products,” says Peters.
Source: Tecoya Trend
In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of sustainable practices in the corporate world. One sector that has been making significant strides towards sustainability is the Indian textile industry. Amid concerns about energy consumption, carbon emissions, and environmental impact, several leading Indian textile companies have taken the initiative to invest in solar power as a means to reduce their carbon footprint and promote sustainable growth. Sharing some of the recent investments announced.
Welspun has taken significant strides towards renewable energy adoption. The company has allocated Rs. 571 million towards capital expenditure (Capex) for the establishment of a 30 MW Solar Power Plant at their Anjar facility. This sizeable investment underlines their commitment to sustainable practices and energy diversification, which will ultimately contribute to reducing their environmental impact.
Ambika Cotton Mills has set a remarkable example by entering into a definite proposal to install a Solar Power Plant with a capacity of 8.334 MW. This solar plant will be situated on the rooftops of their manufacturing plants located in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu. The project comes at an estimated cost of Rs. 39.08 crores and is designed for captive consumption. Once completed, it is projected to generate approximately 1.157 crores units of electricity annually. This not only reduces the company’s reliance on conventional energy sources but also contributes significantly to the reduction of their carbon emissions.
Sportking, a renowned name in the textile sector, has adopted a proactive approach to renewable energy integration. By bringing an additional 10 MW of rooftop solar power capacity online, their aggregate capacity now stands at an impressive 20 MW. This transition not only underscores their commitment to sustainable operations but also highlights the financial benefits that come with it. The remaining 5 MW, set to be operationalized by September, will further enhance their cost-saving initiatives and contribute to a greener energy profile.
Century Enka has adopted a strategic approach to harnessing renewable energy by entering into a power purchase agreement for hybrid (wind and solar) power. With a capacity of 10.5 MW, this initiative adheres to group captive norms and is centered around their Bharuch plant. By diversifying their energy sources, Century Enka is taking proactive steps towards sustainability and reducing their carbon footprint.
Indo Count, a significant player in the textile industry, has recognized the importance of energy management in its sustainability efforts. With a dual approach of reducing and recycling energy, the company has shifted a part of its energy source from thermal to renewable sources. Through the installation of solar panels, approximately 4.92 million units of electricity are generated annually. Moreover, Indo Count’s innovative practices include a biogas plant for internal energy consumption and various energy conservation measures aimed at reducing their carbon footprint.
Dollar Industries has embraced a commitment to sustainability by investing Rs. 35 crores in capital expenditure for solar power generation. This move is expected to yield 6 MW of power, not only reducing operational costs but also enhancing overall margins. As part of their responsible manufacturing processes, Dollar Industries continues to implement environmentally friendly practices, with a focus on reducing their carbon footprint. The Indian textile industry’s growing inclination towards renewable energy sources, particularly solar power, demonstrates a commendable commitment to sustainable growth. These companies’ investments in solar power plants and renewable energy sources are not only aligned with global environmental goals but also make strong business sense by improving operational efficiency and reducing long-term operational costs. As these companies lead the way, they inspire others within the industry to embrace similar practices, fostering a more sustainable and environmentally conscious textile sector in India.
Source: Indian Textile Magazine
Bangladesh and India agree to wrap up negotiations on a much-vaunted comprehensive partnership forum by 2026, trying to give their close cooperation a further fillip. The issue of striking the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) came into focus at the foreign-office consultation between the two countries held last Friday in Delhi, apart from other major issues of mutual interest, including Bangladesh’s polls. Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, who led the Bangladesh delegation at the meet, said Sunday that the Indian side wanted to know about "our preparation, and how we are negotiating with multilateral and international institutions to address the postgraduation challenges as Bangladesh will be deprived of many preferential trade facilities after the graduation". Then both sides observed that CEPA could be a mechanism to enhance Bangladesh’s ability to offset the post-graduation shocks and it was decided that the negotiations should be concluded before November 2026, he added. The proposed CEPA goes beyond the traditional free-trade agreements and also addresses trade in services, investment, intellectual-property rights and e-commerce. The proposed deal, which calls for withdrawal of duties, is expected to boost Bangladesh’s exports by 190.15 per cent and more if transaction costs were also reduced through improved connectivity, said a study by the Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute and the Indian Centre for Regional Trade. India’s exports to Bangladesh are expected to increase by 188 per cent. The CEPA will increase Bangladesh’s GDP by 1.72 per cent and India’s by 0.03 per cent, the study says, adding that due to being an LDC, save about 25 items (mainly tobacco and liquor) all goods from Bangladesh enjoy duty-free access to India. Upon graduation from the LDC category, Bangladesh will no longer be eligible to continue the high tariff line as it is now, therefore, in a way or another, Bangladesh will have to provide duty-free, quota-free market access to India once it graduates out of LDC under the existing South Asian Free Trade Area negotiations. "It is in this context, the role of CEPA becomes crucial, at least from the Bangladesh perspective," the study comments. However, the FS said the meeting stressed that apart from strengthening connectivity in different modes of transportation like rail, road and air, steps should be geared up to solidify connectivity of power grids and ICT. India suggested concentrating on construction of the cross-border power- transmission lines. As such, construction would require nearly two years, he added. The FS said that India assured of providing necessary assistance in power trade among Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. "Bangladesh is eager to import hydroelectricity from Nepal and Bhutan. And India has already given consent to use of its land for this purpose," he mentioned. Responding to a question he said the discussion on the Indo-Pacific issue highlighted the regional connectivity. In this regard, both the countries felt that the Big-B project undertaken by Japan centering the Matarbari Deep-sea Port will play a crucial role in promoting trade and investment in the region. About the pending water-sharing issues he said that Bangladesh reiterated its request for taking due measures to sign the deal on the water sharing of the Teesta River. The two countries also agreed to start technical discussions to extend the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, which will expire in 2026. Besides, the meeting reviewed the progress on the water sharing of the six other common rivers, he said. He said when the issue of the elections came up, the Indian side made it clear that it is the internal issue of Bangladesh and it is their policy to respect the will of the people of Bangladesh, and its constitution in this regard. "They have no concern about our election—they said that they have full confidence in our institutions and people." But both the countries feel that efforts should be stepped up to prevent arms smuggling through borders so that these cannot be used to carry out sabotage the elections by any vested quarter, he added. Bangladesh requested India to play more active role in Rohingya repatriation as a neighbour of both Myanmar and Bangladesh. "We have also seen the insurgency groups have become more active which is not conducive to the repatriation." Asked about his briefing to the foreign diplomats stationed in Delhi, he said that Bangladesh’s socioeconomic development was highlighted in the brief. "I told them that the real achievement made by Bangladesh could not be realized by sitting in Delhi and many of them said that they are interested in opening Missions of their countries in Dhaka. "I have briefed them about our upcoming elections and handed over them the guidelines of the EC for election observers.
Source: Bilaterals
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TMA 2023, Transforming the World of Textiles, provided insight to current and future issues facing the global textile complex. There were opportunities to learn about new and innovative technologies being developed and implemented to address these issues. There was a notable focus on sustainability and circularity throughout all sectors of the supply chain including new fiber development, processing, yarn production, fabric production, finishing, cut-and-sew operations, and recycling. In addition to numerous exhibitors showcasing their products, there were ITMA live sessions, Innovator Xchange panels and presentations, and ITMA Innovation Awards related to Sustainability and Circularity. During ITMA, Planet Textiles 2023, a two-day conference sponsored by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), explored trends and the latest thinking on circularity, sustainability, and identified drivers that will shape the industry of the future. With more than 111,000 visitors and 1,700-plus exhibitors, ITMA provided opportunities to network with all those involved and gain insights on technologies and trends shaping the future of textile recycling. Recycling & Environmental Sustainability In The Global Textile Complex Reclaiming and reusing postindustrial waste has been a common practice throughout many textile industry sectors for decades. Postconsumer recycling is an emerging area of interest that has unique challenges requiring the development and use of innovative technologies to reach the goal. This article focuses on the drivers, challenges and solutions to postconsumer waste collection, separation, and recycling; and many such solutions were highlighted at ITMA 2023. There were numerous new technologies introduced, as well as innovative uses of existing technology that allow for the steps in textile recycling to be mechanized, automated and combined. Legislation, both in development and soon to be implemented, was reviewed, and noted as a driver in moving toward fiber-to-fiber recycling and circularity in the global textile value chain. It is also noted that numerous partnerships among companies in various sectors of the supply chain have been formed and are contributing to the transformation of the industry. Textile production, from fibers to consumer products, often is resource intensive requiring large amounts of water, energy and chemicals depleting the world of natural resources. These processes can pollute the air, and water, and are known to produce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and impact the biodiversity of the environment. Recycling textile products at the end of life can reduce this depletion of natural resources, reduce pollution and help reduced the strain on the planet’s environment. In this article, recycling includes breaking the product down to the fiber level or its base molecules/monomers in support of the circular economy and closed-loop manufacturing is the interest and the focus. This level of recycling is completed using chemical or mechanical processes depending on the raw material being recycled and intended future use. Recycling will provide raw materials from which new products can be manufactured There is an overabundance of post-consumer textile waste. Carolyn Chun noted that according to McKinsey, roughly 97 percent of all clothing eventually ends up in a landfill and within 12 months of its manufacturing date, 60 percent of clothing is in the landfill. Media pressure, consumer demand, regulations and technology are driving forces behind the move toward fiber-to-fiber circularity. Textile Waste: Pre- & Post-Consumer Waste can be categorized as pre- or post-consumer. Pre-consumer waste is from the manufacturer and never makes it to the consumer or retailer. It can also be classified as post-industrial waste. Cutting room floor scraps, rejects, trimmings, threading or end of process waste are examples of post-industrial waste. For years, companies have found ways to reuse or sell this waste diverting it from landfills and sometimes it is used in other products. An advantage of pre-consumer versus post-consumer waste when considering reuse and recycling is there is a better understanding of the raw materials in the waste stream. Post-consumer waste includes items that have been used by the consumer, disposed of, and diverted from the landfill. Post-consumer waste contains mixed material that is difficult to recycle. Although not truly post-consumer, 30 percent of garments produced are not sold and are commonly landfilled or burned, which also are potential raw materials for fiber-tofiber recycling. Fiber-To-Fiber Recycling Of Post-Consumer Textile Waste Numerous challenges have been identified regarding textile and apparel recycling in general and specifically related to post-consumer waste. Some critical challenges for effective fiberto-fiber recycling include garment disassembly and fiber identification. As apparel and other textile products are commonly made of multiple components from various materials, a frequently identified challenge is the use of mixed materials within the products. These can include various fasteners and embellishments as well as various fabrics of different fibers within the garment. In many cases, the fabrics are made from unknown fiber blends, which is problematic in the recycling process. Remembering that the different materials are recycled differently, the presence of mixed materials has previously limited effective fiberto-fiber recycling. When post-consumer waste is collected, the first step is sorting. Sorting is most commonly a manual process and there are numerous criteria — sometimes up to 60 sorting categories are used. Initially, those products of “high value,” identified as designer goods vintage items, are removed for high-end resale. Then items suitable for resale through thrift shops are identified and removed. The remaining products may be identified as suitable to sell to rag dealers, and fiber content is of importance in determining how functional they will be in this application. To move the remaining goods to recycling so the fibers and/or raw materials can be reused, resulting in effective closed loop manufacturing, it is important to accurately identify the raw materials. This is critical in determining appropriate recycling techniques — chemical or mechanical — and potential end-uses. Fiber Content In 2021, polyester had a market share of 54 percent of total fiber global fiber production, followed by cotton and other natural cellulosic fibers with about a 28 percent market share, man-made cellulosics about 6.4 percent and nylon accounting for approximately 5-percent market share. The majority of products contain multiple fibers that have been intimately blended and therefore it is difficult to separate the fibers. Historically, determining the materials within the product was cumbersome and has been achieved using a specially trained workforce that can identify fiber content by touch or others who examine the labels for this information. Next, the products need to be disassembled to remove non-textile components as this would interfere with the recycling process. As these processes are completed manually, they are time consuming and create a bottleneck in the recycling process. Fiber Content Determination Technology was presented at ITMA 2023 that aids in the identification of fibers using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. NIR uses the unique signature based on the chemical composition of the fiber for sorting that may be completed incredibly quickly. Several companies at ITMA were promoting this technology including Belgium-based Valvan N.V. — a provider of high-tech sorting and baling systems — and Austria-based Andritz AG, among other companies. These two companies also have combined various technologies, partnering with others, to provide sorting and recycling systems. Valvan has developed a library of fiber signatures and when the NIR signature from the fiber is compared with those in the library, the fiber is identified in milliseconds. The identification system, Fibersort™, uses artificial intelligence (AI) to predict the concentration of fibers. Fibersort can also separate by colors using an RGB camera. The quick identification allows this technology to aid in fast automatic sorting of the product. Valvan has stated that there is 99 percent accuracy on single fiber materials and 95 percent accuracy on blends. Andritz recently announced a partnership with Pellenc ST and Nouvelles Fibres Textiles, both based in France, to establish the first combined industrial scale automatic textile sorting line in France. Technologies in Pellenc ST’s Mistrial machines use NIR, visible spectrometry, induction, and X-rays with NIR suitable for fiber identification. Product Disassembly & Separation Of Fibrous/Non-Fibrous Components Products must be disassembled by removing fasteners — such as buttons, snaps or zippers — and embellishments — including leather patches, studs and sequins — before moving to fiber recycling. The garment pieces are cut and innovative technology capable of identifying and removing the non-fibrous materials from the waste stream was demonstrated at ITMA. The technology pulls any garment components containing non-fibrous materials such button or zippers and removes them from the product stream while only fabric pieces move forward to the next step, which is shredding. Both Valvan and Andritz demonstrated technology at ITMA that effectively separated nontextile components from the base fabrics that are found in post-consumer textile waste. Both companies have combined new technology to develop systems that have the potential to transform the textile waste industry and help the move towards a circular economy. Valvan’s technology first determines the fiber content before clipping the garment into smaller pieces and then feeding them into the Trimclean™, a highly effective system for removing zippers, buttons, labels and other non-textile raw materials (See Figure 1). The undesirable components are pneumatically separated from the textile. This increases the purity of the feedstock resulting in both quality and reliable feedstock for fiber-to-fiber recycling. Valvan creates solutions for all steps in the recycling process including supply systems, bailing systems and sorting. Andritz also demonstrated technology that successfully separates non-textile components from the fabrics. Like Valvan, the Andritz system covers several segments in the textile industry from sorting, shredding and mechanical recycling. The equipment shreds the fabric while simultaneously removing heavy and metal parts including buttons zippers, rivets and other embellishments commonly found in apparel. Andritz is moving forward into both chemical and mechanical recycling through collaborations with international partners. Fiber Separation & Regeneration Technology that can instantly identify fiber content in the sorting process and then remove non-textile components from post-consumer textile waste has been described. However, until recently, it has not been possible to separate fibers in multifiber blended fabrics and therefore fiber-to-fiber recycling has been limited to those products of a single fiber. As the push for recycling continues, technology to separate garments containing blends of fibers is critical. Through various panels, presentations and various networking events, companies pioneering fiber separation from mixed textile materials were present at ITMA. Representatives from Circ, Ambercycle Inc., and Renewcell shared information about their technology that successfully separates the different fibers in fabric blends and the production of new fibers from the recycled raw materials. Circ, Danville, Va., has flexible technology that is capable of separating synthetic fibers from cellulosic content; capturing the majority of the raw materials so it can be remade into high-quality fibers to be used in future clothing. The company initially focused on biofuel production, but now is applying a technical solution to blended textile fabrics. In an interview with Elle magazine, Peter Majeranowski, Circ CEO, stated: “A key step in a fully circular fashion system is creating technology to break down textile waste and create new fibers from it [and then] creating garments that are using fibers made from recycled textile waste.” Circ uses a hydrothermal processing technology to treat and separate the fibers. Aksay Sethi and Moby Ahmed founded Los Angeles-based Ambercycle in 2015 as they developed a breakthrough technology using a biological recycling process that enables the molecular separation of different fibers, such as cotton and polyester. This process, known as Ambercycling, produces regenerated materials from post-consumer waste that has been separated and purified at the molecular level. In their process, a whole T-shirt goes into a reactor, and using their patented process, polyester is recovered and reformed into a yarn. These newly regenerated materials can then be made into fabrics for new garments. This not only reduces garments from going into landfills but also reduces the need to use new resources. Ambercycle introduced Cycora® which has been designed to serve as a direct replacement for polyester used in apparel. Cycora is a closed-loop circular yarn created using regenerated textile waste. Ambercycle also collaborated with Avery Dennison to create a unique, scannable QR code label, which allows for full traceability, transparency, and authenticity. Renewcell was formed in Sweden in 2017 and its technology trans-forms cellulose waste into pulp and allows for the efficient reuse of chemicals. Renewcell’s goal is to recycle more than 1.4 billion T-shirts every year by 2030. The process still has limitations when recycling blends, however Renewcell’s technology can recycle clothes that are made of cotton and up to 5 percent non-cotton material like polyester. Legislation Driving Textile Recycling There are numerous drivers moving industry and consumers to a circular economy. Increased awareness of the environmental impact of the global textile complex through scientific reporting, social awareness, and ease of access to information is one of these drivers. Another driver is legislation related to textile waste, both pre- and post-consumer waste, and in some cases the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibilities. Specifically, the European Union’s Waste Directive Framework requires countries to separate all textile waste by 2025, and the Circular Economy Action Plan ensures that circular economy principles are applied to all textile manufacturing products. These actions have pushed forward the technologies discussed here and support their implementation so companies throughout the supply chain will be in compliance with such legislation. The SAC-organized Planet Textiles conference that took place during ITMA 2023 highlighted upcoming legislation during a panel presentation titled “The Global Legislative Landscape: What to Expect for Fashion, Sport and Footwear.” The panel was moderated by Baptiste Carriere-Pradal, co-founder and director of 2BPolicy, and featured speakers ESG, Simple Approach General Manager Ilishio Lovejoy and New Standard Institute Director Maxine Bédat. Current and future legislation is expected to impact all sectors of the value chain. Carriere-Pradal began the session with an overview and noted that 10 years ago it was thought that consumers would be the drivers of a change to more environmentally and socially sustainable goods, and brands would change things to meet this demand by ensuring the choices they provide to consumers are made with a “fairly minimum impact.” However, Carriere-Pradal noted that is it now the citizens that are requiring change which has resulted in an increase in legislation addressing the way products are designed, sourced, manufactured, marketed and what happens at end of life. Chun1 noted that regulatory trends are also a factor influencing the landscape of sustainability within the global textile complex and regulation will factor into future innovation development and implementation. Many of the legislative acts mentioned during Planet Textiles relate to transparency and traceability of the product. Increased transparency will allow more accurate and easily accessible information regarding product raw material content and processing and will aid in the recyclability of post-consumer textile waste. Following are the pieces of legislation discussed and or mentioned during the Planet Textiles session. It is expected this legislation will drive the development and implementation of innovative technologies leading to a more sustainable industry. The Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act — also known as the New York Fashion Act — was a bill introduced in the New York Assembly in 2022. However, the bill did not move forward because of lack of support. A 2023 version of the bill was reintroduced, which stalled in the last session. The act has the four key elements of supply chain mapping, due diligence, adverse impact disclosures and targeted impact reduction. During the Planet Textiles panel presentation Bédat noted that this bill includes due diligence language incorporating what has other-wise been voluntary. The approach is requiring the fashion seller and/or brand to set and achieve science-based targets. “The idea is not to put the information on the consumer and have the consumer do decide and decipher any labeling,” Bédat said. The brand will set the goals and decide how they will structure their business to meet these goals. There is language within the New York Fashion Act, of not only what the fashion seller/brand has to do, but also what information regulators must provide and make available to prevent lack of clarity about what is the responsibility of the supply chain and seller. The aim of the Corporate Sustain-ability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) adopted by the European Commission in February 2022 is to “foster sustainable and responsible corporate behaviour throughout global supply chains …. requiring companies to identify, and where necessary, pre-vent, end or mitigate adverse impacts of their activities on …. the environment for example pollution and biodiversity loss,” as well as “anchor human rights and environmental consideration in companies’ operation and corporate governance.” When referring to the CSDDD during the Planet Textiles panel, Carriere-Pradal stated, “… even if this obligation will be for the people putting the product on the market, it’ll have definitely ripple effect for every-body in the value chain, so there will be changes throughout the industry.” The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive adopted by the European Parliament in November 2022, strengthens and expands sustainability reporting to move to a green and sustainable economy. This framework will be introduced in phases beginning in 2024. It includes reporting on environmental and social aspects and how related issues impact their business and how their operations affect people and the planet. Items related to environmental areas include science-based tar-gets, E.U. Taxonomy, and climate risk related reporting. On March 30, 2022, the proposal for a new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) was published by the European Commission, which will improve product circularity, energy performance and other environmental sustainability aspects. It allows performance and information requirements to be set for most categories of physical goods placed on the European Union market. The requirements cover a broad range including product durability, reusability, and reparability, recycled content, carbon, and environmental footprints, including Digital Product Passport. The ESPR proposal will apply to all products placed on the E.U. market whether they are produced inside or outside of the European Union. Transformational Change Is Coming ITMA 2023 provided the opportunity to learn about the trends impacting sustainability and circularity within the global textile complex. With increased media attention and consumer awareness on the environmental impacts of textile industry, technology, and legislation, there is a transformational change coming in the future. Innovations that allow the mechanization and automation of textile sorting, fiber identification, and the creation of new fibers from textile pre- and post-consumer waste are being developed and implemented as the textile industry moves to meet this change. Both start-ups and wellestablished companies are taking leadership roles through all sectors of the textile and apparel supply chain to meet the new criteria imposed on the industry. Increased collaboration among non-governmental organizations, industry and academia are tackling the complex issues facing the textile industry. New collaborations, innovative technologies, increased consumer awareness and legislation are driving this transformative change.
Source: Textile World
On the 29th of November, at the prestigious ISPO trade show, Polygiene launched a new innovation project, Polygiene ShedGuard™. Designed to minimize micro-fiber loss and improve resistance to fabric wear during washing, Polygiene ShedGuard extends textiles’ expected lifespans, ensuring customers benefit from longer-lasting products. By facilitating the production of more durable textiles, Polygiene is putting its Mindful Living® philosophy into practice by encouraging the transition from consumables to durables and a more sustainable approach to product design and delivery. The Polygiene ShedGuard™ innovation project is in the latter stages of development, with final testing and refinement due to take place in conjunction with selected Polygiene partners during 2024. An effective, long-lasting solution Polygiene Shedguard consists of a unique blend of polymers that form a film around the fiber bundles. The film prevent microfibrils from separating, splitting, and tearing away from the fabric structure. Our research shows that Polygiene Shedguard reduces micro-fiber loss by up to 70%. At the same time, it benefits manufacturers and consumers by: Reducing wear from fabric abrasion. Prevents the release of fiber fragments into the surrounding environment. Enhances the performance of other Polygiene technologies, such as Polygiene StayFresh™, Polygiene StayFreshBIO™ and Polygiene OdorCrunch™, by locking in their antimicrobial and odor-control properties for even longer. Polygiene’s ShedGuard voted Best Product Polygiene ShedGuard has been recognized as the Best Product at ISPO Textrends in the Performing Finishes category. This event showcases the latest and most innovative garments, accessories, fabrics, fibers, and components for the sports and outdoor industries. The award is given twice a year and highlights the upcoming trends in the textile and apparel sectors, predicted by industry experts two years in advance. Participants are evaluated by an international panel of judges, and the winners are presented at the ISPO Munich and OutDoor by ISPO Textrends exhibition. Polygiene ShedGuard and Polygiene StayFreshBIO at ISPO The Polygiene ShedGuard innovation project is launching on the 28th and 29th of November at the ISPO trade show. The Polygiene team is in attendance and able to answer questions concerning Polygiene ShedGuard, Polygiene StayFreshBIO or any of our other products.
Source: Textile World
It is now official – the baton of leadership of the Institute of Textile Technology Augsburg has been passed from Prof. Dr. Stefan Schlichter to Prof. Dr. Mesut Cetin. During the festive changeover colloquium, impulses were given, extensive discussions were held, and congratulations were offered. The event was opened by the Mayor of Augsburg, Eva Weber, and the President of Augsburg University of Applied Sciences, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Gordon Thomas Rohrmair. Ms. Weber, who as Head of Economic Development and Deputy Mayor encouraged and always constructively supported the founding of the company at the time, praised the innovations and investments of the “new player” ITA Augsburg, which has positioned itself perfectly in the ecosystem between the Innovation Park, Technology Center, University and Augsburg University of Applied Sciences (THA). Prof. Rohrmair emphasized the close cooperation between ITA and THA and referred to the showcase project “Recycling Atelier”, which makes a relevant contribution to the establishment of sustainable textile process chains in an industry-oriented manner. Prof. Schlichter outlined the historical development of the ITA, which has been dedicated to sustainability in the field of textile materials since 2014. He presented the three central research fields of ITA: Web Based Composites (sustainable fibre composite concepts), Recycling Atelier (recycling of apparel textiles) and Artificial Intelligence (AI to support textile production chains). The initial objective of the ITA was the reuse of carbon fibres and CFRP components produced with high energy consumption in new textile structures. The research work, which has been ongoing for almost 10 years, has been crowned with success and has led, among other things, to the establishment of this class of materials in industry and research. The increasing relevance of the textile circular economy led to the founding of the “Recycling Atelier” in 2022. The model workshop was presented as an important industrial research project that covers all process steps of textile recycling and is supported and used by industry-leading companies. The close interlinking of digitalization, artificial intelligence and sustainable process design plays an increasingly relevant role, which led to the establishment of the third research field “Artificial Intelligence”. As the new head of the institute, Prof. Cetin brought fresh impetus and presented innovative approaches in the field of mechanical recycling of used textiles. Against the backdrop of unstable international supply chains, he emphasized the need to make the German industrial landscape more resilient. He sees the circular economy as an opportunity to secure the supply of raw materials and revitalize the textile industry in Germany. In addition, current research projects at ITA were presented, including “Design-4-Recycling” for the component production of wind turbines and “AI-supported pile optimization” in nonwoven production. The cooperation with the ITA Group and Augsburg University of Applied Sciences as well as the integration of AI in the production of nonwovens were emphasized as decisive steps for the future. In addition, the development and research work is always carried out with the involvement of the know-how and infrastructure of the entire ITA Group, emphasized Professor h.c. (MGU) Dr.-Ing. Prof. Gries, head of the ITA Group during the concluding panel discussion. With a broad network of research and industry, we are taking big steps towards an environmentally friendly, cycle-oriented future. Interested parties, from SMEs to large corporations, are cordially invited to visit the ITA Augsburg at any time.
Source: Textile World
