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Environmental cost of a T-shirt: US $3.75
M&S updates on mobile technology
More brands commit to responsible down
Materials Specialist Timberland - UK
Resource consumption tool for brands
Mixed response to sustainable textile alliance
PFCs: Here to stay?, Phil Patterson discusses the complexity of Restricted Substance Lists, Two Minutes with: Peter Untersperger, CEO, Lenzing Group, BCI cotton gets new boost, Global Recycling Standard update, Tone Tobiasson discusses whether paying more for clothing will help address manufacturing environmental issues, Textiles targeted in China crack down on polluters, Bayer progress on sustainable PU range, Italian firms in Greenpeace detox pledge, The Bigger Picture – Fantastic plastic?, and all the latest news, insight, analysis.
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Report questions eco-gains of take-back schemes
German Minister slates adidas
Bangladesh Accord completes initial inspections
Dystar releases 2013 sustainability report
Milan stages sustainable textile event
Marvel tour welcomes Repreve recycled yarns
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Made-By has officially launched its new benchmarking tool, which enables apparel brands and retailers to accurately measure and communicate their sustainability activities. Brett Mathews reports from the launch in Holland.
International clothing retailer Esprit has once again partnered with Hong Kong based NGO Redress for its recycled textiles collection, developed using the company’s pre-consumer textile waste. 
The Sustainable Clothing Action Plan which aims to improve clothing and apparel sustainability throughout the supply chain, has announced a new textile design awards programme for fashion students and designers who can develop solutions for extending clothing life cycles.
A new report from KEMI, the Swedish Chemicals Agency has called for more research into the presence of potentially hazardous chemical substances in textiles, and broader, more far-reaching regulation of chemicals by REACH.
Canada hosts sustainable fashion conference
Imagine a new mobile phone app that could be used by consumers to scan barcodes on clothing labels to flag up details of any potentially hazardous textile chemicals which may have been used in its production.
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Restrictions on PFAS sub-group in textile use
Enzyme textile recycling pioneer raises £2.5m
M&H Innovation
UK textile recyclers call for government help
Cambodian garment workers granted pay rise
Lycra updates on sustainability gains
Next-gen materials champion to close
TrusTrace to lead product claims pilot scheme
OVS turns focus to locally produced cotton
AAFA and FLA urge action on Bangladesh workers’ rights
Sponsored Content
SPONSORED CONTENT - In our fast-paced world, typified by its burgeoning consumerism and its use and discard mentality, fashion is a fickle mistress and responsible textile production is fraught with challenges. With landfill sites choking up with yesterday’s fast fashion fads, and dubious manufacturing, environmental and labour practices rife in the industry, it’s good to know that there are organisations and companies that are not only taking heed, but leading the way in better, more responsible and ethical textile production practices.
Welcome to the fashion stage Sappi’s Verve – dissolving pulp (DP) made entirely from an abundant natural renewable and biodegradable resource. The wonder of trees and the countless uses for woodfibre and its contribution to the circular economy are well known, and Sappi can vouch for its product thanks to fastidious management of its supply chain from the forest to the fashion rail.
Starting at source, the wood that is used for Verve all stems from sustainably managed plantations, certified under internationally recognised forestry certification schemes - notably, FSC™, PEFC and SFI. These rigorous certification schemes ensure that plantations adhere to stringent regulations in a way which balances social, environmental, and economic considerations to the benefit of all.
In South Africa, where most of Sappi’s DP is produced (1,140,000 tons per annum vs 300,000 tpa in USA) the wood is sourced from its own plantations, and very importantly, also provides entry to the forestry value chain for more than 4,000 small growers participating in the 40 year old Sappi Khulisa Enterprise Development programme.
Sappi produces more than 50% of the DP used in the production of lyocell staple fibre in the world, and that’s why it is so important to know that besides the more eco-friendly processes used in the manufacture of its DP, with the co-generation of steam and electricity making its mills energy efficient, Sappi’s plantations in South Africa are also doing an excellent job in contributing to the responsible management of the country’s biodiversity.
With almost a third of the 399,000 hectares owned left unplanted and protected for conservation, Sappi’s land also houses 7 amazing nature reserves and 156 Important Conservation Areas (ICAs). Sappi actively participates in business-led initiatives that call for the mandatory assessment and disclosure on nature such as the Business for Nature #MakeitMandatory campaign and Textile Exchange’s Climate+ strategy, with its goal to reduce GHG emissions in the textile value chain by 45% by 2030.
Water is another crucial consideration for Sappi, and its powerful Water Stewardship project with WWF-SA works towards improving water security and biodiversity in the Umkhomazi catchment area, whilst also helping to provide sustainable income for the communities through the creation of jobs and skills transfer.
Sappi’s has set a science based target which showcases its commitment to mitigating the effects of climate change. And this commitment extends to transparency of the entire value chain, with Sappi also applying the Higg FEM and FSLM tools and ‘Green Track’ blockchain technology to ensure the traceability of the products derived from Verve.
So, besides the natural woodfibre characters of Verve which lends it the whisper-soft silk-like qualities of breathability, beautiful flow and drape, its impressive credentials on all fronts, make it the undoubted fibre of choice for the future.
www.sappi.com/the-spirit-of-verve
SPONSORED CONTENT - The garment and textile industry is known for its high water consumption, which annually uses 79 trillion litres of water1 – enough to meet the needs of 27% of the world’s population under WHO standards. It’s estimated that fashion also contributes significantly to global industrial wastewater, posing risks to both human health and aquatic life if untreated. While leading brands are currently driving water stewardship across the textile value chain today, the future will likely see all brands and their mill partners coming under pressure to do more.
Against this backdrop, it is imperative that mills find ways to reduce water use from production to consumption, thereby saving resources, and eliminating toxins and contaminants from their production processes, making wastewater easier to treat and safely discharge.
As a partner to textile and fashion brands and mills worldwide, Archroma develops water-saving innovations to help move the industry towards a greater focus on sustainability and a better understanding of consumer aspirations.
Archroma’s DENIM HALO is a newly launched concept for denim production that is both eco-friendly and simple. This innovative approach results in a combination of an exclusive chemical with a resource saving pre-treatment and dyeing processes. This unique and disruptive approach which dyes the yarn superficially, enables significant reduction in environmental footprint of denim garment finishing processes while achieving the desired look. The result – one of the industry’s most sustainable laser friendly and easy to wash denim, that avoids the use of harmful and hazardous processes like manual hand scraping or potassium permanganate spraying.
For classic blue denim jeans, water savings of up to 40% compared to conventional dyeing and laundry finishing processes can be achieved with the aniline-free2 DENISOL® PURE INDIGO 30 LIQ dyes, while savings up to 70% are possible with the DIRESUL® SMARTDENIM BLUE pre-reduced sulfur dye for a unique blue denim look. For black denim jeans, DIRESUL® EVOLUTION BLACK uses up to 56% less water during dyeing and laundry processes. It can be used to create unique shade and wash-down effects with an overall impact reduction of up to 57% compared to standard Sulfur Black 1 liquid in synthesis3.
Beyond denim, Archroma has resource-saving innovations including the award-winning AVITERA® SE reactive dyes for cellulosic fibers and blends, ERIOPON® E3-SAVE, a next-generation auxiliary for polyester and its blends and EarthColors®, our range of bio waste-based dyes derived from natural waste products of the agriculture and herbal industries for cellulosic fibers.
These innovations not only reduce the impact on our environment but also meet the growing demand for sustainable fashion, helping the fashion and textile industry become more planet conscious.
For more on Archroma’s innovations, visit:
https://www.archroma.com/innovations
1 Source: Nature Reviews | www.nature.com/articles/s43017-020-0039-9
2 Below limits of detection according to industry standard test methods
3 Life Cycle Analysis by Ecoterrae
SPONSORED CONTENT - ERCA TCS, an independent company that’s part of the larger ERCA Group based in Bergamo, Italy, is a global reference point in the supply of responsible certified chemical products entirely dedicated to the textile industry. ERCA TCS aims to advance ethical and responsible circular innovation in the new emerging area of green chemistry that is rapidly growing in demand driven by ever tighter regulations.
At the heart of ERCA TCS’s innovative portfolio lies REVECOL®, a new generation of innovative, responsible, competitive, certified, and high performing textile chemical auxiliaries and at the same time aiming to reduce the use of palm oil, castor oil and vegetable oleins . These are 100% made in Italy, using a pioneering and end-to-end certified production process that transforms critical and abundant waste materials such as exhausted vegetable oil into an impressive range of textile auxiliaries that can be used to process any kind of textile fibres, both virgin and recycled.
The current REVECOL® by ERCA TCS product range is already extensive and is readily applicable and a drop-in solution for solution in the textile pre-treatment, dyeing and finishing processes.
Certified excellence
REVECOL® has already been tested and certified to some of the industry’s most well-known and stringent standards. This includes important certifications: GRS, RCS, ZDHC Chemical Gateway, bluesign and GOTS. In addition ERCA TCS is the first company in the world to offer GRS certified chemical products, opening the door for mills to use the responsible chemical auxiliaries demanded by their retail customers. With the support and analysis of the bluesign Academy, ERCA TCS is creating a Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) for some REVECOL® branded chemical products, certifying the reduction of CO2 emissions compared to the use of conventional chemistry. First results of this work, have shown a CO2 reductions in the range of 28% – 72%.
REVECOL® by ERCA TCS was first launched at the giant ITMA textile machinery show in Milan, where it was also announced the synergy between ERCA TCS’ s REVECOL®, YKK and Patagonia that lead to a successful implementation. This approach not only addresses the pressing need for sustainable production practices but also sets new standards for the industry, proving that environmental responsibility and economic success can go hand in hand.
Evidence of REVECOL® by ERCA TCS value came also from awards they received such as:
- November 2022 Responsible Care® Award by Federchimica, the Italian federation of the chemical industry.
- It has been included in the BAT (Best Available Techniques) by the European Community
- November 2023 European Responsible Care® Award by the European Chemical Industry – CEFIC.
“ERCA TCS is poised to become an international benchmark for sustainable innovation, contributing to the reduction of the textile industry's environmental impact,” noted Fabio Locatelli, CEO of ERCA TCS and Associate of ERCA Group. “Our focus on R&D and our commitment to the well-being of people and the planet are at the core of our mission.”
More available and to come, so please stay tuned with our website www.ercatcs.com and on https://www.linkedin.com/company/erca-tcs/
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