RESETTING
This year’s Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress featured around 125 presentations on fiber innovation, recycling, circular economy, sustainability, nonwovens, technical textiles, sports and apparel.
THE
Global Supply Chain Fundamental Changes are Required to Support Circular Ideas By Geoff Fisher, European Editor, IFJ
For three days each year in September, Dornbirn in western Austria – one of the smartest cities in Europe – is the center of the textile world, with networking and cross-industry partnerships beginning to bear fruit.
T
he fibers sector faces tough challenges in the years leading up to 2030 and beyond. Difficult – and critical choices – will have to be made about raw materials, energy sources, products and processes, a major international conference was told. While the circular economy and recycling continue to be the main issues facing the fiber and textile industry, legislation appears to be the key agent that will drive circularity and force major change in global supply chains. In the European Union (EU), for example, a strategy on textiles is being translated into regulations as a new initiative on recycling textile waste is launched. For synthetic fibers the message is clear – the industry needs to move away from petroleum-based raw materials toward renewable and recyclable material inputs. But while fibers, and therefore textiles, re-
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and new business models. Dornbirn GFC shows once again that it is the perfect place for such new partnerships.”
Healthy Growth Potential main an environmental problem, they are here to stay; polyester, in particular, will not disappear any time soon.
Fundamental Change Required Despite the difficult economic and geopolitical climate, more than 550 participants from over 30 countries attended the 62nd Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress (GFC), which featured around 125 presentations on fiber innovation, recycling, circular economy, sustainability, nonwovens, technical textiles, sports and apparel. Opening the congress, Robert van de Kerkhof, chief sustainability officer of Austria-based cellulosic fibers producer Lenzing and president of the Dornbirn GFC, said: “The challenges currently facing the fiber industry require fundamental changes in the value chains. We see new strategic partnerships being formed to take advantage of new opportunities around innovation, the circular economy
Stephan Sielaff, chief executive officer of Lenzing, noted that while the global fiber market has seen many challenges since the 1960s, it has always recovered. It continues to show a healthy growth potential, with an average annual increase of 2.4% predicted by 2030, which means an additional demand of 27 million tonnes a year of fibers. The key drivers of this growth are an increase in the global population, a rise in the middle class, especially in Asia, and more “conscious” consumers, said Sielaff. He noted that of the total man-made fibers market, synthetic fibers currently account for 92% with a forecast growth rate of 2.7% per annum to 2030, which translates to an additional 20 million tonnes a year. Cellulosic fibers currently account for 8% with a forecast growth rate of 5.6% per annum to 2030 – an additional four million tonnes a year. However, growth in natural fibers is expected to remain flat
Photos courtesy of Dornbirn GFC
DORNBIRN GFC
