Natural Fiber
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 …
BASF gets down to the business of sustainable cotton
BASF’s e3 Sustainable Cotton program is designed to directly connect members of the cotton fiber value chain, from cotton farmers to brands to retailers. e3 stands for equitable, economically viable and environmentally responsible, as BASF is aiming to align itself with a consumer base that is increasingly eco-conscious and is demanding traceability in the clothes …
Industry leaders engage on sustainable solutions and other hot topics in textile fiber applications and technology
For the second year running, the Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress (GFC), now in its 60th edition, was held as a virtual event. Besides the ongoing theme of sustainability, there was a strong emphasis on the circular economy and digitalization, as well as discussions on a wide range of topics from fiber innovation to fashion. Synthetic …
Considering cotton and natural fiber alternatives
Cotton was undoubtedly the fiber of the 19th and early 20th centuries and is still by far the world’s most widely used natural fiber. But while cotton is a biodegradable and renewable resource, the use of conventional cotton to produce clothing could decrease going forward as retailers and consumers seek more sustainable alternatives in the …
BastCore bets big on hemp
Hemp has a long history as a raw material for American industry. Jamestown settlers introduced hemp to colonial America in the early 1600s for rope, paper, and other fiber-based products; they even imposed fines on those who didn’t produce the crop themselves. U.S. presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew hemp. The U.S. Constitution and …