Materials & Manufacturing
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Tuesday, 24 December 2024Report raises leather disinformation concerns
NEW YORK – The Collective Fashion Justice NGO has released a report criticising the leather industry for what it describes as social-media-led disinformation campaigns. It also accuses the leather sector of using greenwashing tactics and lobbying… -
Monday, 23 December 2024Ecotextile Talks: a year in podcasts
YORK – The last 12 months have been a memorable time for the Ecotextile Talks team with our podcast hosts joined by a series of industry experts and key decision makers, all discussing the major issues around environmental stewardship in the fashion… -
Monday, 23 December 2024Used clothing traders challenge 'misinformation'
NAIROBI - The Mitumba Consortium Association of Kenya (MCAK) trade body is calling on global stakeholders to combat what it calls "misinformation" about the secondhand clothing industry in Africa. MCAK says that the industry employs and clothes… -
Friday, 20 December 2024AbTF optimistic for new standard in India
HAMBURG - The Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) has revealed that it expects that the first Indian cotton certified to its new Regenerative Cotton Standard (RCS) will soon be on the market. The nonprofit, which also runs the Cotton Made in Africa… -
Thursday, 19 December 2024Delay for Carbios biorecycling plant
CLERMONT-FERRAND - Biotech firm Carbios has postponed the construction of its PET biorecycling plant in Longlaville, France, for between six and nine months. The postponement has been attributed to “delayed funding pending completion of additional… -
Tuesday, 17 December 2024New test for microfibre release during washing
BALTIMORE / BÖNNIGHEIM - Sportswear brand Under Armour, textile testing company Hohenstein and measuring device provider PPT Group have teamed up to publish a standardised test method to determine microfibre release from textiles under simulated… -
Tuesday, 17 December 2024US agencies 'must collaborate on textile waste'
WASHINGTON DC - US government agencies need to work together to tackle the environmental impacts from the growing problem of textile waste, according to a new report from a watchdog. The US Government Accountability Office (GAO), US Congress's… -
Monday, 16 December 2024Fashion industry 'needs radical overhaul'
ZURICH - The fashion industry is facing a reckoning. A new report from Swiss watchdog Public Eye calls for a radical overhaul of the fashion system to create a just and sustainable industry within planetary boundaries. One-Earth Fashion outlines 33… -
Friday, 13 December 2024Loop Industries to build first European plant
MONTREAL – Loop Industries, which offers technology that can chemically recycle low-grade polyester, has received a €10 million investment boost with the sale of its first technology licence in Europe. The deal with Reed Societe Generale will also… -
Friday, 13 December 2024New bid to reduce impacts in eight countries
SIAM REAP - A new $45 million multi-agency initiative to reduce the environmental impacts of the fashion industry, and also construction, in eight countries has been launched in Cambodia. The six-year 'Eliminating Hazardous Chemicals from Supply… -
Thursday, 12 December 2024Brands criticised on costing practices
NEWARK - While some global brands and retailers are improving their costing practices, others continue to put financial pressures on suppliers - and could actually be making things worse, according to new research by the Better Buying Institute.… -
Thursday, 12 December 2024Inditex posts Q3 results, invests in UK start-up
ARTEIXO – Zara owner Inditex has announced positive financial results for its third quarter, and the company is now investing in UK biotech start-up Epoch Biodesign which uses enzymes to break down textile waste at room temperature. Inditex’s sales… -
Thursday, 12 December 2024ITMA Asia + CITME expands exhibition space
SINGAPORE – The organisers of next year’s ITMA Asia + CITME exhibition have confirmed the addition of a further 10,000 square metres of hall space, following an unexpected surge in applications. Scheduled to be held at the Singapore Expo from 28th… -
Wednesday, 11 December 2024Female participation dropping in Bangladesh garment sector
DHAKA - Increasing levels of automation in Bangladesh’s garment industry have led to 3% drop of female workers over the last 10 years, according to a new report. The report, ‘Technology Upgradation of the RMG Industries in Bangladesh’, says that… -
Tuesday, 10 December 2024Textile recycling plant uses hydrogen power
LONDON – A commercial-scale, post-consumer polyester recycling plant, billed as the first of its kind, is using zero-emission hydrogen power technology. Provided by sustainable energy solutions company GeoPura, the hydrogen will support the initial… -
Tuesday, 10 December 2024Puma signs multi-year deal for Spinnova fibre
HERZOGENAURACH / JYVÄSKYLÄ – Sportswear giant Puma has signed a multi-year letter of intent (LOI) to source sustainable wood-based fibre from a new production plant being developed by Finnish textile innovator Spinnova and Brazilian cellulosic pulp… -
Tuesday, 10 December 2024Samsara adds nylon 6 enzyme recycling capability
MITCHELL - Australian recycling company Samsara Eco, which works in partnership with athleticwear brand Lululemon, has developed enzymes capable of recycling nylon 6. Building on its existing capabilities to infinitely recycle nylon 6,6 and… -
Monday, 09 December 2024HKRITA competition backs ‘student innovation’
HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) has launched its inaugural Open Lab Global Challenge, an international competition to encourage 'young innovators' to develop sustainable solutions for the fashion and… -
Monday, 09 December 2024Organic cotton project extended in Benin
HAMBURG - A project aimed at supporting smallholder cotton farmers in transitioning to organic cultivation to avoid the use of synthetic pesticides in Benin has been extended. Launched three years ago, the €1 million ($1.06m) 'Growing Benin's… -
Monday, 09 December 2024Heat stress days surge across key garment hubs
NEW YORK - Five major production hubs from across the global apparel supply chain have experienced a 42% increase in high heat days over the last two decades, new research suggests. The analysis by the Global Labor Institute, part of Cornell… -
Monday, 09 December 2024Turkey 'to play key role in regenerative cotton'
AYDIN - Turkey could play a significant role in transitioning cotton growing to regenerative agriculture, according to a new report from the CottonConnect social enterprise. CottonConnect has been working on adapting its REEL Regenerative Cotton… -
Friday, 06 December 2024Eurofins launches clean air check for VOC testing
NORTHAMPTON - Chemical management testing company Eurofins has launched a new clean air check service that is designed to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and additional prohibited compounds in textile manufacturers’ emissions. The CleanAir… -
Friday, 06 December 2024Cirql launches compostable foam for footwear
HO CHI MINH CITY – Material science firm Cirql has developed a new compostable and biodegradable foam component for the footwear sector. Cirql Zero is made using a proprietary polymer compound and is manufactured using supercritical foaming (SCF)… -
Thursday, 05 December 2024Milliken awarded EcoVadis ‘gold’ rating
SPARTANBURG – Technical apparel manufacturer Milliken & Company has been awarded a gold rating for its corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance from global standard EcoVadis for the third consecutive year. The owner of the Polartec outdoor… -
Wednesday, 04 December 2024Land at risk from fashion industry growth, report
RIYADH - The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification has published a new report aimed at raising awareness of the impact of the fashion and textile industry on land and how fibre choices have a major impact on the environment. The… -
Wednesday, 04 December 2024Future Fibres Network to explore wetsuit recycling
LONDON - The Future Fibres Network+ (FFN+), a collaborative effort between UK universities and fashion industry trade bodies, is exploring the potential for the UK’s first wetsuit recycling facility. The neoprene recycling initiative is the latest… -
Wednesday, 04 December 2024Traditional compost methods 'boost soil health'
WASHINGTON DC - Traditional composting practices offer an inexpensive way to promote healthy soil and more productive cotton farming, according to research by the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC). An ICAC research project, carried out… -
Tuesday, 03 December 2024EU clothing material footprint lower than expected
BRUSSELS - A European Environment Agency analysis of the material footprint of goods and services consumed by European citizens found that clothing and footwear made up just 1% of the overall total. The European Environment Agency (EAA) released an… -
Tuesday, 03 December 2024Increased commitment to forest protection
VANCOUVER - Environmental non-profit Canopy has released its annual Hot Button report, revealing that 71% of rated man-made cellulosic fibre (MMCF) producers have achieved green shirt status or higher. Canopy says that for the first time in the… -
Tuesday, 03 December 2024Teijin invests in and adopts traceability software
TOKYO – Japanese fibre manufacturer Teijin has invested in blockchain traceability specialist Circularise and will adopt its platform. Teijin says the move enables the company to obtain raw materials with a lower environmental impact and will… -
Tuesday, 03 December 2024Recover to open textile recycling plant in Vietnam
ALICANTE - Spanish materials science company Recover has opened a new facility in Vietnam, part of its plan to globally roll-out its textile recycling technology. Scheduled to be operational by early 2025, the new facility will be located in the… -
Tuesday, 03 December 2024Textile growth 'threatens climate goals'
LONDON - The continuing growth of global textile production is incompatible with key climate goals, according to a new report from the Textile Exchange industry body. Entitled 'Reimagining Growth Landscape Analysis', it warns that environmental and… -
Tuesday, 03 December 2024Aditya Birla partners with GIZ on circularity drive
VARANASI - Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail (ABFRL) and German development agency GIZ have come together to launch a new set of circularity guidelines for the Indian textile and apparel industry. Entitled ‘Stitching the Circle: A Roadmap for Circular… -
Monday, 02 December 2024LifeLabs unveils ‘bio-based’ thermal control textile
SUNNYVALE - US sustainable textile start-up LifeLabs has developed an ultra-packable and breathable fabric that as well as being made from 97% recycled and bio-based content, uses a nano-metallic coating that uses less than one paper clip worth of… -
Monday, 02 December 2024Collaboration targets sustainable water management
GUIMARÃES - A joint initiative made up of members from Spain’s and Portugal’s textile industry has unveiled a new closed-loop system for treating and reusing textile wastewater. Developed by textile finishing specialist Jeanologia; AITEX, the Spanish… -
Friday, 29 November 2024Cotton Australia 'nightmare' drift warning
SYDNEY – Cotton Australia has issues a warning of a possible "nightmare" spray drift season with incidents already being reported as ongoing wet weather results in an explosion of weeds. Spray drift reports normally begin to filter through in… -
Thursday, 28 November 2024Report urges circular transition for textiles
AMSTERDAM – The Circle Economy Foundation has released a new report which claims to be the first ever in-depth analysis of the textiles sector's transition towards circularity. The Circularity Gap Report Textiles, in collaboration with the H&M… -
Thursday, 28 November 2024GFA unveils ‘blueprint’ for textile recycling at scale
COPENHAGEN - Global Fashion Agenda (GFA), in partnership with German development agency GIZ and the H&M Foundation, has launched a new ‘blueprint’ aimed at scaling up recycling operations in the textile and garment supply chain. The ‘Upstream… -
Thursday, 28 November 2024Circ gears up for commercial recycling
DANVILLE – The ongoing cooperation agreement between circular technology developer Circ and textile machinery specialist Andritz has taken a major step forward with the Austrian firm receiving an engineering order to design a manufacturing system… -
Wednesday, 27 November 2024AbTF links with TextileGenesis on traceability
HAMBURG – The Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) is linking up with blockchain technology specialist TextileGenesis to enhance traceability for fibre produced under its Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) programme. AbTF will use TextileGenesis' Fibercoins… -
Wednesday, 27 November 2024Denim giant updates on environmental progress
LOS ANGELES - Denim manufacturer Saitex, which claims to operate the “cleanest denim factories in the world”, has published its latest sustainability report in which it highlights its key environmental achievements. Highlights for the year include… -
Wednesday, 27 November 2024Report highlights Romania’s textile waste battles
BUCHAREST - Environmental authorities in Romania have warned the country is becoming a dumping ground for waste that enters the country labelled as used clothing. The warning follows an investigation by the global Organized Crime and Corruption… -
Tuesday, 26 November 2024Agrivoltaics help cotton combat climate risks
In early October, three organisations - the World Weather Attribution group, Climate Central and Covering Climate - held a seminar that asked: “How do we know climate change fuelled that storm?” The answer was clear - it is no longer true to say… -
Tuesday, 26 November 2024ACT launches tool to evaluate climate progress
ANGERS – The Accelerating Climate Transition (ACT) initiative has launched a new tool to help fashion and luxury brands, manufacturers and retailers evaluate their alignment with low-carbon goals. Based on a new methodology, led by Paris Good… -
Tuesday, 26 November 2024Avantium and SCGC partner on polyester
AMSTERDAM – Renewable chemistry specialist Avantium has reinforced its partnership with chemical giant SCG Chemicals to pilot the production of PLGA (polylactic-co-glycolic acid), a key raw material for polyester production. Avantium’s Volta… -
Monday, 25 November 2024Reju partners with NFT on textile recycling
PARIS - Textile recycling company Reju and French collector Nouvelles Fibres Textiles (NFT), which specialises in the recovery of end-of-life textiles, are to collaborate on building a circular ecosystem for textiles in France. NFT will supply… -
Monday, 25 November 2024Digital tools for a circular textile economy
A new report by Acatech, the German Academy of Science and Engineering, highlights the transformative potential of digital technologies in creating a sustainable, circular economy for the textile industry. Entitled Digital Enablers of the Circular… -
Friday, 22 November 2024Lab-grown leather pioneer raises $15.8 million
PARIS - French lab-grown leather startup Faircraft has raised $15.8 million in a fundraising round to scale its patented tissue engineering technology. The round was backed by international investment funds, including Kindred Ventures (USA), Cap… -
Friday, 22 November 2024Cities 'failing to deal with textile waste'
MELBOURNE - Researchers in Australia say most leading cities around the world are failing to deal with unwanted clothing with most textile waste going to landfill or being exported overseas. The study, by the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology… -
Thursday, 21 November 2024‘World-first’ grading system for microplastics
EDINBURGH – Researchers at Heriot-Watt University claim to have developed a world-first visual grading system for combatting microplastic pollution from clothing. The four-year project was led by textile experts aiming to make fashion labels and…
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