Raw Materials
A net zero vision
A hail of silver bullets required – getting plastics to net zero What if all plastics, including synthetic fibers and nonwovens, could become net zero in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) by 2050? This tantalizing possibility is raised in a new report, Reshaping Plastics by Munich-based Systemiq. The report was, in turn, cited as an example …
Shooting for the moon with new nylons in 2022
There can be no more potent a symbol of the golden age of synthetic fibers than the planting of the U.S. flag on the moon by Buzz Aldrin on July 21st, 1969. The flag was famously purchased by a NASA secretary from Sears for $5.50, and despite nylon’s unbeatable durability, cannot possibly have endured what …
Lenzing sees sustainability at the heart of its business strategy
Lenzing Group, a global company headquartered in Austria, is a leading player in the world of cellulose fibers. For its partners in the textile and nonwovens industries, Lenzing’s cellulose fibers are the starting point for value creation, and the company is particularly focused on sustainability these days. It’s a long way from the forest to …
Growing interest in cellulose fibers creates market opportunities
The challenge will be to achieve a balance between ongoing capacity expansion and rising demand The global fiber industry is facing unprecedented sustainability challenges. Issues such as a rising population, climate change, water scarcity, land use (food vs. fiber), deforestation and loss of biodiversity, plastic waste and marine pollution have combined to question the long-term …
Natural fiber composites – a practical guide for industrial utilization
Every year thousands of nonrecyclable/nondegradable composite parts end up in landfills, including gigantic parts like wind turbine blades, putting more pressure on composite manufacturers to reevaluate the sustainability of their products and their end-of-life options. This is why many of the industry players are interested in natural fiber composites (NFCs); however, a general unfamiliarity with …