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 …
Global Fiber Congress embraces sustainability and the entrepreneurial spirit
Under the backdrop of climate change and environmental pollution, the fiber industry has become a major focal point for the textile and nonwoven industries, as well as along the entire value chain, from sourcing of raw materials through to the manufacture of apparel and technical products. This year’s Global Fiber Congress held in September in …
Are natural fibers poised for a comeback?
It feels like synthetic fibers are under siege. The fabrics used to manufacture a major part of the world’s clothing have been shown to shed microfibers that, when laundered, end up polluting the marine environment. As much as 35 percent of microplastics in the world’s oceans are fibers from synthetic clothing – and this amount …