From linearity to circularity – new technologies drive sustainable innovation
With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to hamper the fiber community with restrictions on travel and public gatherings, the 59th Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress was, for the first time, held virtually. Opening the congress, Austrian Minister for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology Leonore Gewessler stressed the importance of the circular economy. She noted …
Agrotextiles expand the landscape in the fight against food insecurity
The coronavirus pandemic could see around 265 million people suffering from acute hunger by the end of the year unless swift action is taken to ensure food supply chains keep running, according to the World Food Programme. This represents a doubling of the 130 million estimated to suffer from food shortages in 2019. The COVID-19 …
Sustainability should still be more than just a buzzword
Not so long ago, sustainability was the buzzword in the fiber industry with several companies announcing progress in terms of recycling or using bio-based alternatives. The hope is that the coronavirus crisis will provide the catalyst for developing more sustainable supply chains going forward. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced fashion retailers to drastically reduce costs …
Demand for sustainable packaging and materials is catching on
The use of technical textiles is quietly expanding in the US$850 billion global packaging market – an industry that is on the verge of a transformation with the arrival of new technologies and innovative and sustainable materials. The packaging industry involves goods or products that are contained, carried, stored and/or protected. The sector includes flexible …
Automotive textile producers prepare for total transformation
With the global automotive industry facing unprecedented change over the next few decades, suppliers of automotive textiles, including nonwovens and composites, are being challenged to realign their strategies as these major market transformations unfold. As well as advances in electrification, one of the key drivers is the effort to commercialize self-driving vehicles – it is …