Companies Prove with Marketable Products That Hemp is a Viable Sustainable Fiber. Can Hemp Jump the Chasm to Global Mainstream Commodity?
REGULATORY Plastics Treaty Outcomes for Nonwovens AUTOMOTIVE
Bio-Based Innovations for Sound Insulation, Molded Parts, EV Safety and More COMPOSITES
Glass Fiber Is the Star with Flax, Hemp and Jute on Its Heels
Omni Orlando ChampionsGate Resort, Florida
Where Absorbent Hygiene Innovation Meets Market Momentum
If you are in the absorbent hygiene industry—whether supplying raw materials, developing technologies, or manufacturing finished products like diapers, pull-up pants, adult incontinence products, or menstrual care solutions—Hygienix™ is your event. This is where the entire supply chain gathers to set the pace for what’s next in product performance, sustainability, and consumer care.
At Hygienix, you’ll gain unmatched insights into the forces shaping our industry. From biobased materials, circular solutions to natural fibers, product testing advances, and packaging innovations, Hygienix is where big ideas become practical strategies. The 2025 program spotlights the topics that matter most:
• Sustainability & Circularity: Discover new approaches in biobased materials, Safe Operating Limits, and end-of-life solutions.
• Consumer & Market Insights: Understand private label growth, regional market dynamics, and how skin health and the microbiome are influencing design.
• Regulations & Standards: Stay ahead with critical updates on Extended Producer Responsibility and modern testing methods.
• Workshops: Get hands-on knowledge in absorption systems, menstrual care, and baby and infant care markets.
Beyond the sessions, Hygienix delivers the connections that help you do business…better. From Exhibitor Lightning Talks to a Lunch Around with start-ups and entrepreneurs and the first ever edition of the Women in Nonwovens luncheon, you’ll meet partners, innovators, and mentors who can help you move faster, smarter, and further.
Absorbent hygiene is advancing at a rapid pace. To stay competitive, compliant, and connected, you need to be part of this conversation. Don’t miss the event where innovation, market insights, and strategic networking converge.
Register today to be where the future of absorbent hygiene takes shape—Hygienix™ 2025.
Exhibit
Sponsor
NOV 17-20, 2025 Learn more at hygienix.org
Hemp – Emerging Star
Climate-Smart Bast Fiber By Caryn Smith, Publisher and Chief Content Officer, IFJ
How Innovation and Adaptation Are Shaping the Textile Industry’s Future By Nina Cohen
Driving Forward with Nonwovens –Innovation on the Open Road By Geoff Fisher, European Editor, IFJ
Keeping Watch on Composites By Marie O’Mahony, Smart & Advanced Textiles Correspondent, IFJ
FOCUS ON NONWOVENS
Elevating Standards: A Deep Dive into EDANA’s Quality and Audit Programme By Marines Lagemaat, Scientific & Technical Affairs Director, EDANA
The UN Plastics Treaty Negotiations: What Geneva Means for Nonwovens By Wes Fisher, Director of Government Affairs, INDA
Rise, Hygenix, Sustainability & Policy Forum By Adrian Wilson,International Correspondent, IFJ
Textile Institute World Conference By Caryn Smith, Publisher and Chief Content Officer, IFJ
Textiles in Fashion and Function By Caryn Smith, Chief Content Officer & Publisher, IFJ
Tech Spotlight
Redefining Sustainable Textiles: How Eastman
Naia™ is Shaping the Future of Fiber Innovation
Tech Notes
Latest Technology Briefs Emergent Textiles
Trending University & Institutional Research Compiled By Ken Norberg, Editorial & Production Manager, IFJ
Movers & Shakers
Industry News and Notes
Cover: Top Material: Courtesy of Greg Gnecco/IMP HEMP. Bottom Hemp: Courtesy of Cretes.
CONTENT | EDITORIAL
CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER & PUBLISHER
Caryn Smith
Driven By Design LLC
csmith@inda.org
+1 239.225.6137
EDITORIAL & PRODUCTION MANAGER
Ken Norberg ken@ifj.com
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ART DIRECTOR
Caryn Smith
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Julie Flynn
EUROPEAN EDITOR
Geoff Fisher
INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, EUROPE
Adrian Wilson
SMART & ADVANCED TEXTILES CORRESPONDENT
Marie O’Mahony
INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CHINA
Jason Chen
INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, INDIA
Arun Rao
ADVERTISING | SALES
See Sales Representative Contact Details in Movers & Shakers Section
For Inquiries to Your Sales Representative, e-mail advertising@inda.media
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AUDIENCE | CIRCULATION
CIRCULATION MANAGER
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International Fiber Journal is published by INDA Media, the b2b publishing arm of INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry.
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Growing a Fiber Marketplace
“Imagine people growing hemp and making everything from food to fuel without petroleum!” — Josh Tickell, environmental activist, filmmaker, and bestselling author
emp is no longer a “curiosity crop.” In Common Ground (2023), the documentary’s filmmaker Josh Tickell makes a bold case for hemp as an environmental savior. One farmer claims to save $2 million a year by eliminating insecticides, pesticides, and herbicides, thanks to hemp’s natural resistance. Beyond economics, hemp restores soil, sequesters carbon, and requires minimal resources – earning its reputation as a “miracle fiber.”
HMISSION
As a textile, hemp offers much potential. However, challenges remain: Can manufacturers overcome production hurdles, will consumers support natural fibers in terms of color, texture, and shape, and can plastics stakeholders make room for hemp’s widespread adoption?
On page 16, Hemp – Emerging Star Climate-Smart Bast Fiber explores how stakeholders across various industry sectors are advancing processing technologies, product innovation, and supplychain collaboration.
Companies such as IND HEMP, Cretes, Harper Hygienics, and Zylotex are global leading the charge, and U.S.-based advocacy groups and industry leaders aim to scale hemp into a mainstream, sustainable commodity in the problem-laden country.
In another eco-textile story, on page 24, Nina Cohen, Application Engineer II at Microban International, highlights How Innovation and Adaptation Are Reshaping the Future of Textiles from Microban’s perspective. Sustainability pressures, consumer demand, and regulatory changes are driving new technologies from odor control to enhanced durability. In 2023, an eco-conscious outdoor gear company partnered with Microban to integrate Scentry Revive. This innovation permeates fabrics during the manufacturing process to neutralize odors in its apparel line.
It helps the garments stay fresher longer, with odor-neutralizing properties that last for up to 50 home laundering cycles. Preventing the growth of odor-causing and degrading microbes helps maintain the appearance, freshness, and integrity of textiles, ultimately extending their lifespan.
Nonwovens are accelerating in automotive applications, fueled by EV growth, sustainability goals, and lightweight performance. Geoff Fisher reports in Driving Forward with Nonwovens – Innovation on the Open Road (p. 27) that these materials, already used in over 40 vehicle components, enhance insulation, filtration, and acoustics while boosting efficiency.
Meanwhile, composites are expanding globally. “Several of the reasons for composites’ growing popularity is the acknowledgement of their ability to reduce environmental impacts, offer a good strength-to-weight ratio, and increasingly incorporate more natural fibers to produce biocomposites and hybrid biocomposites,” notes Marie O’Mahony in Keeping Watch on Composites (p. 31). Lightweight, high-performance, and recycled materials are revolutionizing the automotive, aerospace, sports, and luxury sectors, with a focus on circularity and efficiency.
Do you have an innovation to share?
See page 4. We are accepting submissions for editorial content on your company’s new and improved products or technology in our 2025 FIBER INNOVATIONS ISSUE printed in the November/December edition. Deadline is Oct. 17! No late submissions will be accepted. Email me at csmith@inda.org for details!
Caryn Smith Chief Content Officer & Publisher, INDA Media, IFJ
Caryn Smith
Chief Content Officer & Publisher, INDA Media csmith@inda.org +1 239.225.6137
Geoff Fisher European Editor gfisher@textilemedia.com +44 1603.308158
Adrian Wilson International Correspondent adawilson@gmail.com +44 7897.913134
Nina Cohen Application Engineer II, Microban International Nina.Cohen@microban.com 704.766.1062
Marines Lagemaat Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Director, EDANA marines.lagemaat@edana.org
Wes Fisher Director of Government Affairs, INDA wfisher@inda.org +1 919 459 3726
ANNOUNCEMENTS
to partner & collaborate with you to advance your reach! To see exciting & new opportunities available to your company, visit www.fiberjournal.com/advertise
We Want to Hear From Your Company! Share Your Fiber, Textiles, Nonwovens, Equipment, Process and Technology (and other) Innovations in IFJ Nov/Dec 2025!
HURRY! Deadline is October 17, 2025. Ask About Advertising Specials, too!
Innovations Submissions Guidelines:
• Share 300-600 words in a Word Document on your company’s innovation.
• Must be a compelling, informational article about your innovation and its value to the industry.
• Include a URL and contact email to find more information.
*No sales contact information, please.
• Send one high-resolution logo + photo with your submission.
• Your company URL must be included.
• If you have an idea for a full feature of up to 1200 words, please send your story idea to csmith@inda.org.
Send Your Submission to csmith@inda.org.
Submissions are subject to editorial approval and are not guaranteed to print. Annual “Round-up” of
Precision Cutting for Technical Textiles –How Laser Technology Optimizes Efficiency
High-precision, contactless, and fully automatable – laser cutting technology is revolutionizing the processing of technical textiles. From personal protective equipment and high-performance filters to advanced composites and architectural textiles, German laser specialist eurolaser offers scalable solutions that enable manufacturers to meet the modern demands for precision, flexibility, and sustainable productivity.
Advanced Laser Systems for a Diverse Textile Sector
As the textile industry expands into ever more specialized fields – such as geotextiles for infrastructure, interior components in the automotive industry, or filter media in medical and industrial settings – cutting requirements are becoming increasingly complex. Conventional mechanical methods often reach their limits, particularly with synthetic fibers and tension-sensitive materials.
Laser technology offers a compelling alternative: consistent cutting quality with-
out tool wear, clean sealed edges, minimal material distortion, and seamless integration into automated workflows. For synthetic textiles, the laser’s thermal process can simultaneously cut and seal, significantly reducing post-processing steps.
Large-Format CO₂ Laser Systems
Designed for Industry
eurolaser, headquartered in Lüneburg, Germany, has been a partner to the textile sector for over 30 years. The company specializes in modular, large-format CO₂ laser systems tailored specifically to non-metal materials. System widths up to 3,200 mm allow the processing of standard industrial roll formats, ideal for continuous operations and integration into digital production environments.
With its modular system architecture, eurolaser offers extensive customization: from laser power and automation levels to add-ons such as camera-based pattern recognition, mechanical tools, or labelling modules. The goal is clear – maximum efficiency and flexibility for every production setup.
Applications: From PPE to Automotive Interiors
eurolaser systems are used globally across a wide range of applications:
Protective apparel: Consistently highquality cutting of hard-to-process materials – no blade wear, no loss in precision.
Filtration media: Accurate, repeatable cuts even in high-volume runs, ensuring filter integrity and throughput.
Composites: Contactless and deformation-free cutting, suitable for 24/7 operations.
Automotive textiles: Fast, precise contour cuts, including pattern-matching functionality – ideal for interiors, upholstery, and technical linings.
Home textiles: From detailed cutouts to rapid throughput – suitable for curtains, cushions, blinds, and upholstery.
Soft signage: High-precision cutting of large format printed textiles, fully automated using QR-code recognition for print-on-demand workflows.
Integrated Automation for Scalable Efficiency
One of eurolaser’s core advantages lies in its holistic automation strategy.
The Conveyor System supports continuous feeding of roll materials, while the POSITIONplus camera system detects printed graphics or fabric structures for precise alignment.
Add-ons such as labeling modules, ink markers, and mechanical processing tools (e.g., routing, creasing, kiss-cutting) can be integrated into a single workflow. Combined, these features enable fully digitalized and automated textile production – from raw roll to finished cut part.
www.eurolaser.com
TECH
REDEFINING SUSTAINABLE TEXTILES:
How Eastman Naia™ Is Shaping the Future of Fiber Innovation SPOTLIGHT
The textile industry is undergoing a profound transformation as sustainability and innovation reshape the future of fiber development. The shift is driven by rising environmental pressures, evolving consumer expectations, and stricter regulatory demands that require brands to rethink their material choices. In this shifting landscape, Eastman Naia™ is helping lead the transition by sharpening the focus on circularity and responsible sourcing. Through its Naia™ portfolio, the company produces innovative fibers engineered to provide environmental benefits alongside high performance, supporting a more responsible future for textiles.
The fiber’s journey toward sustainable fiber innovation began in 2017 with the introduction of Naia™, a cellulosic fiber derived from sustainably sourced wood pulp and produced through a low-impact, closed-loop process.
In 2020, the portfolio expanded with the launch of Naia ™ Renew, which incorporates 60% sustainably sourced wood pulp with 40% certified recycled materials using Eastman’s molecular recycling technology. Following an update to the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), since 2023 all Naia ™ Renew fibers achieved full GRS certification, validating its recycled content and sustainable manufacturing process. The next major step came in 2022 with Naia™ Renew ES, Eastman’s enhanced sustainability yarn produced from 60% certified recycled content. By 2024, Naia™ Renew ES reached commercial scale, marking a significant milestone in Eastman’s efforts to scale circular solutions in the fiber sector.
These innovations are produced in two fiber formats: Naia ™ filament yarn and Naia ™ staple fiber. Both have been developed to deliver high performance across different fabric types. Naia™ filament yarn delivers a smooth, silky hand, natural breathability and easycare properties, making it ideal for women’s wear, evening dresses and linings, whereas Naia ™ staple fiber offers softness, comfort and quick dry properties, making it a sustainable material of choice for casualwear, denim and home textiles. Both are biodegradable and compostable and are produced through a closed-loop process that prioritizes solvent recovery and resource efficiency.
Naia™ fibers are used across a wide range of apparel and home textile applications. In apparel, they support casualwear, formalwear, outerwear, denim and activewear making them adaptable across various fabric constructions. Most recently, Eastman introduced Naia ™ On The Move, an application concept based on Naia ™ Renew staple fiber for light sports and urban wear. It was developed to meet the functional needs of everyday modern lifestyles, with properties such
as breathability, moisture management, and next-to-skin softness. The concept supports garments designed for changing conditions and active routines.
The fibers have also expanded into broader textile categories, with recent developments in home textiles. Eastman introduced Naia ™ Renew fill fiber to insulate products such as comforters and quilts, adding breathable warmth and moisture control to its performance profile. These diverse applications demonstrate the fiber’s potential to deliver sustainable solutions across both fashion and lifestyle markets.
Sustainability is embedded throughout every stage of Naia™ fiber development. Its performance is built on five core pillars: responsible sourcing, environmentally sound chemical management, advanced circular recycling through molecular technologies, reduced carbon and water footprints, and certified biodegradability. Together, these principles guide the fiber’s development from raw material to finished product. One of the core pillars of the sustainability model is Eastman’s molecular recycling technology, which transforms complex waste streams into high-quality fibers while reducing reliance on virgin resources. This approach enables traceability and supports circular end-of-life outcomes, including certified biodegradability and compostability. Naia™ fibers are backed by third-party certifications including FSC®, PEFC™, TÜV Austria, GRS, and the Higg Index, providing brands with measurable, verifiable environmental credentials.
This fiber innovation has enabled strategic collaborations with brands committed to sustainable design. Patagonia was the first to adopt Naia™ Renew ES in 2022, creating T-shirts demonstrating the fiber’s suitability for everyday apparel. In early 2024, Reformation incorporated Naia ™ Renew ES into its bridal collection, showcasing the fiber’s versatility across fashion categories. As Carrie Freiman Parry, Reformation’s Senior Director of Sustainability, stated, “Innovative materials like Naia ™ Renew ES help us drive sustainable fashion forward while continuing to deliver the high-quality, on-trend product
customers love and expect from Reformation.”
Eastman Naia ™ has also partnered with Debrand, a next-life logistics company that works with leading apparel brands to divert post-consumer textiles from landfills. Together, they piloted the recycling of 5,000 pounds of pre- and postconsumer apparel waste using Eastman’s molecular recycling technology to produce Naia Renew fibers. The success of the initiative demonstrated the potential for scalable textile-totextile recycling.
“We are committed to advancing sustain able solutions for the fashion industry,” says Claudia de Witte, Eastman’s Marketing and Sustainability Director for Textiles. “Partnering with Debrand allows us to drive progress on our Naia™ sustainability goals, particularly to mainstream circularity by creating sustainable solutions for textiles that have reached end of life and turning them into valuable resources for new Naia™ Renew fibers.”
Collectively, these collaborations reflect a growing movement toward verified sustain able innovation. Brands are choosing Naia fibers not only for their environmental cre dentials but also for their traceability, quality, and adaptability across diverse applications, from everyday wear to formal collections and recycling initiatives that close the loop on material use.
Our Fi-Tech Team connects you to the most technologically advanced suppliers serving the Polymer, Synthetic Fiber, Nonwoven and Textile Industries.
Looking ahead, Eastman aims to make sustainable textiles accessible to a wider audience through continued innovation and strategic partnerships. A key objective is to further reduce dependency on virgin resources by increasing the recycled content of Naia ™ fibers and expanding partnerships with change-driven brands and organizations. Through innovation and collaboration, Eastman is driving a global shift toward circularity, placing Naia ™ fibers at the forefront of sustainable textile solutions.
Our customers trust us to provide the best quality and service. They rely on our commitment to their needs day to day and when exploring new opportunities to grow and to improve their manufacturing operations.
(804) 794-9615
TECH
NOTES
Energy Efficiency in Carbon Fiber Production
A new technology using microwaves and plasma heating to produce carbon fibers in an energy-efficient manner, can be used to create highstrength composite materials more cheaply and efficiently. The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF) are part of the Carbowave research consortium, which aims to improve and commercialize microwave and plasma-induced carbonization.
The combination of high strength and low weight makes carbon fibers almost indispensable in manufacturing modern lightweight products. Major industries, such as automotive, aerospace, and renewable energy, are increasingly relying on high-strength carbon fiber composites.
Despite their advantages, these materials are complex and energyintensive to produce. Stabilization and carbonization of the fibers, which are often made from petroleum-based polyacrylonitrile (PAN), requires slow process control in high-temperature furnaces. Despite the considerable energy input, a low material yield is achieved due to the long dwell time in the ovens.
A new process uses microwave and plasma heating to replace the traditional stabilization and carbonization process with energy-saving technology. With this technology, energy is only induced into the fibers locally, thereby minimizing energy loss. This process shortens the production time of carbon fibers, enabling higher production volumes with lower energy consumption.
A European research consortium has joined forces under the name “Carbowave” to optimize and market the process. Their specific research objectives are to develop an optimal coating for PAN fibers that improve microwave adsorption, to develop a plasma heating system for the oxidative stabilization of PAN fibers, and to advance microwave and plasma technology for continuous processes.
DITF is responsible for implementing these processes in continuous production and on pilot lines in a pilot plant. In the joint project, the central task of DITF is the stabilization of the precursor fibers with plasma technology. This involves combining plasma and low-pressure technology to reduce energy consumption in the stabilization process.
In terms of the circular economy, the Carbowave project includes recycling of carbon fibers. The new process technologies will allow for the microwave-assisted decomposition of carbon fiber composites (CFRP). www.ditf.de
Fashion with World’s First Bioinspired Structural Color Technology
Patrick McDowell, the renowned British brand at the forefront of sustainable luxury fashion, announced a new collaboration with Sparxell, the world-first, nature-inspired color platform technology company founded by University of Cambridge scientists Dr. Benjamin Droguet and Professor Silvia Vignolini. The company creates high-performance, biodegradable colorants that are free from plastic and toxic chemicals using plant-based cellulose. This collaboration will unveil a couture printed gown and a commercially available shirt dress, marking a defining moment as Patrick McDowell becomes the first brand to integrate Sparxell’s cuttingedge innovations into fashion.
McDowell continues to reinforce his brand’s commitment to a more responsible fashion industry. This collaboration showcases the potential for innovation to redefine luxury, with the collection making its debut at Future Fabrics Expo 2025, the world’s leading platform for sustainable materials for the fashion industry. The launch signals a broader industry shift toward forward-thinking practices that will shape the future of luxury as well as mainstream fashion. www.sparxell.com
Carbon-Fiber Recycling Innovation Wins Funding
Uplift360, a cleantech company, has been awarded an Innovate UK Smart Grant to scale its pioneering low-energy chemical recycling technology, ChemR. Selected as one of only 44 successful projects from a pool of 2,134 applications, ChemR is the world’s first ambientcondition chemical recycling process for advanced composite materials. It has the potential to transform carbon fiber waste management across all sectors.
Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers (CFRPs) are rapidly expanding due to their high strength, low weight, and corrosion resistance. Yet, as much as 50% of CFRP is wasted during manufacturing, and the UK currently produces between 30,000-50,000 tonnes of CFRP waste annually – with a potential value exceeding £1.2 billion if effectively recycled. With only 20% of CFRP waste being recycled – and less than 2% reused due to limitations in thermal and mechanical recycling methods – the sector urgently needs a scalable, sustainable alternative. www.uplift360.tech
Stabilization furnace for the oxidation of PAN fibers. DITF
For the first time, Sparxell’s patented tech is being applied in fashion.
Resin-removed carbon fiber reinforced polymer after exposure to ChemR.
ExxonMobil Signature Polymers, TRAPO to Improve Car Mat Performance
By adding Vistamaxx ™ 6102 to its EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) formulations, TRAPO – a leading automotive accessories brand in Asia, is able to create a new generation of car mat series. The new Classic Mark IV mat displayed softer and better cushioning with improved anti-slip properties as compared to the current Classic Mark III mat.
The TRAPO Classic car mat series has used hook and loop fasteners at the back of its car mats to provide an anti-slip feature. However, hook and loop fasteners can cause damage to car floorboards. Therefore, TRAPO sought to formulate a new series of mats that can help reduce or eliminate hook and loop fastener usage to avoid this problem while providing good anti-slip performance.
ExxonMobil introduced Vistamaxx™ performance polymers to TRAPO for their new car mat formulation and with a few trials, gave birth to TRAPO new Classic Mark IV mats. TRAPO R&D leveraged Vistamaxx™ performance polymers to help design the new Classic Mark IV mat, which makes it possible to recycle the whole mat. There is also no need for any separation of the layers before recycling. This will potentially reduce waste, increase productivity and enable TRAPO to initiate a recycling program to collect these car mats when they have reached their end of lifecycle. TRAPO aims to repurpose them back to the formulation to produce new products/new car mats for the consumer. www.exxonmobilchemical.com
Dyneema® Launches New Fiber for Protective Gloves
Dyneema ®, an innovator of materials solutions, announced its third generation of Dyneema ® Diamond fiber. Surpassing cut protection and lightweight performance of prior-generation fiber, the new material enables gloves to be made using a single yarn technology – delivering built-in cut resistance without the need for reinforcement yarns. The result is a significant enhancement of comfort, dexterity, and user safety.
According to OSHA and the Bureau of Labor and Statistics 70% of workplace injuries result from gloves never being worn. Dyneema ® has been tackling this issue for over a decade through its market-leading Dyneema ® Diamond fiber technology, which supports the creation of protective gear with unmatched strength, wearability, and reliability. This unyielding commitment to excellence
First Standard for Conductive Yarns
The Global Electronics Association, in Bannockburn, Illinois, has issued the first global standard for classifying, designating and qualifying conductive yarns.
The release of IPC-8911, Requirements for Conductive Yarns for E-Textiles Applications will help address longstanding challenges in supply chain communication, product testing and material selection within the growing e-textiles industry.
The Global Electronics Association Releases IPC-8911: First-Ever Conductive Yarn Standard for E-Textile Application.
The Association retains the IPC brand for the industry’s standards and certification programs which are vital to ensure product reliability and consistency.
Developed by the IPC Conductive Yarns for E-Textiles Test Methods Task Group, IPC-8911 defines key yarn categories, introduces a standardized designation system and includes qualification and conformance requirements tailored to conductive yarns. The standard is supported by eight new test methods, designed to evaluate performance characteristics such as conductivity, mechanical durability and resistance to environmental and chemical exposures.
The task group included global experts from both textile and electronics sectors, with leadership from Joe Geiger of Bally Ribbon Mills and Sahar Rostami of Meta. www.electronics.org
has earned Dyneema ® the trust of elite manufacturers in sectors, including automotive, medical, food, and heavy industry. With the new Dyneema ® Diamond 3.0 fiber technology, the result of three years’ dedicated research, testing, and market research, Dyneema ® raises the bar yet again, bringing unparalleled performance to industries where safety is non-negotiable.
Gloves made with Dyneema ® Diamond 3.0 are up to 40% lighter than those made with previous iterations of the fiber – a game-changer for user comfort. It also delivers breakthrough improvements in worker safety, with six times higher cut resistance than gloves made from generic HPPE fiber,
and a +2-cut level compared to previous generations of Dyneema® fiber. Further advantages over other fibers include improved coating adhesion, higher fiber integrity, plus touchscreen friendliness. This all-around performance has been verified by robust, comprehensive testing at dedicated facilities in Europe and Asia. The results are clear: no other tested material can match Dyneema® Diamond 3.0’s performance against all key criteria of glove performance. www.dyneema.com
Gloves made with Dyneema® Diamond 3.0.
TRAPO car mat with Vistamaxx.
GreenCore and Emerson TEN Partner on TreeFree Diaper® In-Store POS Displays
GreenCore Solutions Corp., a global leader in tree-free disposable baby diaper innovation, announced a strategic partnership with Emerson TEN OÜ, an Estonian-based retail display and point-of-sale (POS) solutions leader, to transform in-store visibility and sales performance for TreeFree Diaper ® and FemCare UltraThin across major European markets.
Through this collaboration, Emerson will design and deploy high-impact POS displays tailored for GreenCore’s rapidly expanding European retail network, including grocery, drugstore, and convenience channels. This will make it easier for retailers to highlight and restock TreeFree Diaper ® products, driving higher shopper engagement and accelerated sales velocity. Emerson will also provide local customer support and ensure timely production and delivery to retail locations across the continent.
TreeFree Diaper® is the world’s first large-scale private label, tree-free, cellulose-free disposable baby diaper. By eliminating tree cellulosic fiber, it reduces CO2 emissions by up to 85% and water footprint by up to 90% compared to conventional pulpbased diapers. These environmental breakthroughs align with surging consumer demand for sustainable hygiene products – particularly among Europe’s 224 million Gen Z and Millennial consumers, who together represent over 50% of the EU population. www.greencoresolutions.com
Harper Hygienics Launches Senior Care
Harper Hygienix, located in Poland, has launched Harper Care by Cleanic – a new line of hygiene products created especially for seniors and those in need of specialized, daily care.
With over 30 years of experience in hygiene solutions, Harper Hygienics brings its expertise to the senior care category, with a goal of providing gentle, high-quality support for people who require comfort, safety, and skin-friendly solutions – and peace of mind to their caregivers.
Harper’s innovative approach focuses on skin protection, comfort, and natural care. Thanks to their advanced nonwoven technologies, the company is the first to introduce hygiene products for seniors enriched with flax fibers – a natural ingredient known for its antibacterial properties, exceptional absorbency and durability.
The new Harper Care by Cleanic line includes Adult Care Wipes (60 pcs.), that are extra-large in size, and made of 100% natural origin nonwoven and enriched with flax fibers – clinically proven to reduce bacteria. They also provide skin microbiome protection and are dermatologically tested. The new Adult Care Underpads (10 pcs.) have side wings for better placement on beds, wheelchairs, and furniture. They are a highly absorbent layer made from natural materials, dermatologically tested and also provide clean, dry comfort with every use.
These products reflect the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainable solutions, dermatological safety, and real-life caregiving needs. www.harperhynienics.com
Loop Industries, Inc., a clean technology company accelerating circularity in plastic and fiber markets, announced the launch of Twist™, a branded circular polyester resin made entirely from textile waste. Loop is currently advancing its discussions with apparel brands for offtake from its planned India JV and will supply Twist™ as its branded product offering. Originally developed as Loop’s fiber-grade PET resin, the product has been rebranded to reflect its role in helping the textile industry transition from linear to circular systems, shifting away from virgin materials and from bottle-to-textile recycling, to give global brands a high-performance solution that embodies both sustainability and nextgen material innovation.
a premium polyester.
Utilizing Loop’s globally patented depolymerization technology, Twist™ is produced by breaking down polyester textile waste into its base monomers, DMT and MEG, which are then purified back to their initial
purity, before being polymerized into Twist ™ resin. This process removes all dyes, colorants, contaminants, and blends, delivering a resin that is chemically identical to virgin polyester. Textileto-textile recycling allows apparel companies to mitigate the increasing environmental impact of textile waste.
Twist™ achieves the highest purity, color and dyability consistency and increases production efficiency, making it fully compatible with existing spinning and manufacturing infrastructure.
The production of Twist™ saves up to 418,600 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually and reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 81% when compared to fossil fuel-based resin –independently validated by Franklin Associates, a division of ERG who completed an LCA study of Loop’s technology. 418,600 tonnes of CO 2 – equivalent of more than one billion miles driven by an average gasolinepowered passenger vehicle. www.loopindustries.com
Tree Free Hygiene products (CNW Group/GreenCore Solutions Corp.)
Loop Industries Announces Launch of Twist
Twist™ by Loop works by deconstructing textiles and purification, before reintroducing it as Twist™,
Harper Care by Cleanic.
EMERGENT
Textiles
IFJ Explores Trending Innovation
I
FJ highlights research from universities and institutions around the world. To highlight your research, email csmith@inda.org. Please write “IFJ Emerging Research” in the subject line. Send a press release and/or summary of the research as you would want it to be printed, a link to the university online story (if applicable), and all high resolution art and short researcher bio(s). All selections could be edited for length.
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON AND UWE BRISTOL
Sustainable
e-Textiles:
Biodegradable Wearables Can Monitor Health and Reduce Waste
esearchers at the University of Southampton and UWE Bristol show that wearable electronic textiles (e-textiles) can be both sustainable and biodegradable.
RAlso included in the study are the universities of Exeter, Cambridge, Leeds and Bath. They describe and test a new sustainable approach for fully inkjet-printed, eco-friendly e-textiles named Smart, Wearable, and Eco-friendly Electronic Textiles,” or “SWEET,” with findings published in the Energy and Environmental Materials journal.
E-textiles are those with embedded electrical components, such as sensors, batteries, or lights in fashion, performance sportswear, or for medical purposes as to monitor people’s vital signs.
These textiles need to be durable, safe, and comfortable, and yet are also in an industry that is highly concerned with clothing waste, the environment, and the end-oflife garment disposal.
Professor Nazmul Karim, University of Southampton’s Winchester School of Art, who led the study, says, “Integrating electrical components into conventional textiles complicates the recycling of the material because it often contains metals, such as silver, that don’t easily biodegrade. Our potential eco-friendly approach for selecting sustainable materials and manufacturing overcomes this, enabling the fabric to decompose when it is disposed.”
The design has three layers: a sensing layer, an interface layer with the sensors,
Compiled by Ken Norberg, IFN Editorial & Production Manager
All photos
Marzia Dulal
UWE Ph.D. student Marzia Dulal is testing the e-textile sensing properties.
Different layers of e-textile after four months of decomposition.
Gloves with swatches of e-textile attached inside and wired for sensing testing.
Strip of e-textile demonstrating the flexible qualities of ink-jet printed graphene.
E-textile swatches wired for testing.
“Our potential eco-friendly approach for selecting sustainable materials and manufacturing overcomes this, enabling the fabric to decompose when it is disposed. The design has three layers: a sensing layer, an interface layer with the sensors, and a base fabric. It uses a textile called Tencel for the base, which is made from renewable wood and is biodegradable.”
— Professor Nazmul Karim
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Your Skin is Breathing. This New Wearable Device Can Measure It. First wearable device to gauge health by sensing gases coming from, going into skin.
orthwestern University researchers have developed the first wearable device for measuring gases emitted from and absorbed by the skin.
Nand a base fabric. It uses a textile called Tencel for the base, which is made from renewable wood and is biodegradable. The active electronics in the design are made from graphene, along with a polymer called PEDOT: PSS. These conductive materials are precision inkjet-printed onto the fabric.
The researchers tested samples of the material for continuous monitoring of human physiology using five volunteers. Swatches of the fabric, connected to monitoring equipment, were attached to gloves worn by the participants. Results confirmed that the material can effectively and reliably measure both heart rate and temperature at the industry standard level.
Dr. Shaila Afroj, Associate Professor of Sustainable Materials from the University of Exeter and a co-author of the study, highlighted the importance of this performance. “Achieving reliable, industrystandard monitoring with eco-friendly materials is a significant milestone. It demonstrates that sustainability doesn’t have to come at the cost of functionality, especially in critical applications like health care.”
The project team then buried the e-textiles in soil to measure their biodegradable properties. After four months, the fabric had lost 48% of its weight and 98% of its strength, suggesting relatively rapid and also effective decomposition. Furthermore, a life cycle assessment revealed that the graphene-based electrodes had up to 40 times less impact on the environment than standard electrodes.
Marzia Dulal from UWE Bristol is a Commonwealth Ph.D. The scholar and the first author of the study highlighted the environmental impact. “Our life cycle analysis shows that graphene-based etextiles have a fraction of the environmental footprint compared to traditional electronics. This makes them a more responsible choice for industries looking to reduce their ecological impact.”
The ink-jet printing process is also a more sustainable approach for e-textile fabrications, depositing exact numbers of functional materials on textiles as needed, with almost no material waste and less use of water and energy than conventional screen printing.
Professor Karim concluded, “Amid rising pollution from landfill sites, our study helps to address a lack of research in the area of biodegradation of e-textiles. These materials will become increasingly more important in our lives, particularly in the area of health care, so it’s really important we consider how to make them more eco-friendly, both in their manufacturing and disposal.”
The goal is to design wearable garments made from SWEET for potential use in the healthcare sector, particularly in the area of early detection and prevention of heart-related diseases that affect 640 million people worldwide.
READ: https://www.uwe.ac.uk/news/researchdevelops-environmentally-friendly-e-textiles University of Southampton: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/ UWE Bristol: https://www.uwe.ac.uk
By analyzing these gases, the device offers an entirely new way to assess skin health, including monitoring wounds, detecting skin infections, tracking hydration levels, quantifying exposure to harmful environmental chemicals, and more.
It comprises a collection of sensors that precisely measure changes in temperature, water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), each providing valuable insights into various skin conditions and overall health. These gases flow into a small chamber within the device that hovers above the skin without actually touching it. This nocontact design is particularly useful for gathering information about fragile skin without disturbing delicate tissues.
The study was published on April 9 in the journal Nature and demonstrates the device’s efficacy across small animals and humans.
“This device is a natural evolution of our lab’s wearable electronic devices that collect and analyze sweat,” said Northwestern’s John A. Rogers, who co-led the study. “In that case, we were analyzing sweat to learn about the wearer’s overall health. While useful, that method requires pharmacological stimulation of sweat glands or exposure to a hot, humid environment. We started thinking about what we could capture from the skin that is naturally occurring all the time. It turns out there are all kinds of things coming off the surface of the skin – water vapor, carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds – that can be correlated to underlying physiological health.”
A bioelectronics pioneer, Rogers is the Louis Simpson and Kimberly Querrey Professor of Materials Science and
Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and Neurological Surgery at Northwestern –with appointments in Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering and the Feinberg School of Medicine – and the director of the Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics.
“This technology has the potential to transform clinical care, particularly for vulnerable populations, including newborn babies, the elderly, patients with diabetes and others with compromised skin,” said Northwestern’s Guillermo A. Ameer, who also co-led the study. “The beauty of our device is that we found a completely novel way to assess the status of delicate skin without having to come in contact with wounds, ulcers, or abrasions. This device is the first major step toward measuring changes in gases and correlating those changes with skin status.”
keep water in and irritants, toxins, microbes, and allergens out.”
By tracking changes in the emission of water vapor and gases from the skin, healthcare professionals can gain insight into the integrity of their patients’ skin barriers. While technologies to measure water vapor loss
their use in sensitive situations, such as wound care or for individuals with fragile skin,” Rogers said. “Our device overcomes this limitation by creating a small, enclosed chamber above the skin’s surface.”
John A. Rogers
Ameer is the Daniel Hale Williams Professor of Biomedical Engineering at McCormick and professor of surgery at Feinberg. Rogers and Ameer co-led the study with Yonggang Huang, the Jan and Marcia Achenbach Professor in Mechanical Engineering and professor of civil and environmental engineering.
Empowering Patients at Home
The skin barrier, the outermost layer, serves as the body’s first line of defense against the environment. It maintains hydration by preventing excessive water loss and acts as a barrier against irritants, bacteria, and ultraviolet radiation. When the skin barrier is compromised, it can lead to increased water loss (transepidermal water loss or TEWL), skin sensitivity, and risk of infection and inflammatory conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
“The skin is critical for protecting us from the environment,” said study co-author Dr. Amy Paller, the Walter J. Hamlin Professor of Dermatology and chair of the Department of Dermatology at Feinberg. “A major element of this protective function is the skin barrier, which is largely characterized by a formidable collection of tightly woven proteins and fats that
do exist, they are large, cumbersome machines that largely reside within hospital settings. The compact wearable device, on the other hand, is designed to help physicians remotely monitor their patients and empower individuals to take control of their own skin health at home.
“The gold standard for measurement of skin barrier integrity is a large instrument with a probe that intermittently is touched to the skin to collect information about transepidermal water loss – or the flux of water through skin,” Paller said. “Having a device that can measure transepidermal water loss remotely, continuously, or as programmed by the investigator – and without perturbing a patient during sleep – is a major advance.”
How the Device Works
Measuring just two centimeters long and one-and-a-half centimeters wide, the device comprises a chamber, a collection of sensors, a programmable valve, an electronic circuit, and a small rechargeable battery. Instead of touching the skin directly, the chamber hovers a few millimeters above it.
“Traditional wearable sensors rely on physical contact with the skin, limiting
An automatic valve opens and closes the entrance to this chamber – a function that dynamically controls access between the enclosed chamber and the surrounding ambient air. When the valve is open, gases flow in or out of the chamber, enabling the device to establish a baseline measurement. Then, when the valve rapidly closes, it traps gases within the chamber. From there, the series of sensors measures changes in gas concentrations over time.
“If our device didn’t incorporate a programmable valve and a timedynamic measurement approach to quantify flux of species out of and into the skin in a real-time manner, then the system could be confounded by changes in the concentrations of these species that might naturally vary in the surrounding environment,” Rogers said. “Specifically, if the valve were open all the time, the sensor would detect these sorts of changes – not because of anything associated with the skin. On the other hand, if the valve were always closed, then it would perturb natural patterns of flux in a way that also could not account for environmental factors. For workers in potentially hazardous environments, it’s helpful to know how much of those hazardous species are entering the body through the skin.”
Ideal for Wound Care
Using Bluetooth, the device sends this data straight to a smartphone or tablet for real-time monitoring. These rapid results can help healthcare workers make more informed – and speedier – decisions for wound management and administering antibiotics.
Because increased water vapor, CO2, and VOCs are associated with bacterial growth and delayed healing, monitoring these
Measuring just two centimeters long and one-and-a-half centimeters wide, the device comprises a chamber, a collection of sensors, a programmable valve, an electronic circuit and a small rechargeable battery. Instead of touching the skin directly, the chamber hovers a few millimeters above it.
factors can help caregivers detect infections earlier and with more confidence.
“Prescribing antibiotics for wounds can be a bit of a gamble,” said Ameer, who is an expert on regenerative engineering approaches to improve wound healing.
“Sometimes it’s hard to tell if a wound is infected or not. By the time it’s obvious, it might be too late, and the patient can develop sepsis, which is incredibly dangerous. To avoid this, physicians prescribe a wide spectrum of antibiotics. This can lead to antibiotic resistance, a growing problem in healthcare. Being able to closely, continuously monitor a wound and prescribe an antibiotic at the earliest sign of infection is an obvious and important interest.”
While continuous monitoring is important for all types of wounds, it is particularly crucial for diabetic patients. Ameer has previously developed various strategies, including antioxidant gels and regenerative bandages, for treating diabetic ulcers. Just two years ago, Ameer teamed up with Rogers to create the first transient electronic bandage, which used electrical stimulation to accelerate wound healing. The new wearable provides yet another tool to help these vulnerable patients avoid risky side effects.
“Diabetic ulcers are the number one non-traumatic cause of lower limb amputations worldwide,” said Ameer. “Sometimes it might appear that the wound is closing, but the skin barrier function is not quite restored. Our device can precisely measure emitted gases, which provides useful information about the skin barrier function.”
Assessing Efficacy of Bug Repellants, Lotions
The innovative new technology not only offers unprecedented insights into wound healing and skin health, but it also might pave the way for advances in monitoring the efficacy of bug repellents, skin creams, and systemic medications designed to improve skin health.
CO2 and VOCs are the very gases that attract mosquitoes and other pests. So, measuring these emissions from the skin could help researchers understand and mitigate mosquito attraction. The new
device could also enable dermatologists and their patients to measure the rate at which lotions and creams penetrate the skin, providing insights into skin permeability and barrier function. These data also could help other researchers develop more effective transdermal drug delivery systems, monitor the effects of systemically delivered drugs for skin diseases, and evaluate the safety of cosmetics and personal care products.
Next, the Northwestern team plans to refine the device’s capabilities, including adding a sensor to track changes in pH levels and developing gas sensors with increased chemical selectivity for early detection of organ dysfunction and other diseases.
“This unusual wearable platform provides a new way to think about and understand skin health,” Rogers said. “This technology is not just about measuring gases and corresponding characteristics of the skin. It’s about predicting overall health, preventing infection and disease, and creating a future where personalized care is driven by real-time, non-invasive, continuous health tracking through a new collection of parameters that complement those that can be captured with conventional wearables.”
The study, “A Non-Contact Wearable Device for Monitoring Epidermal Molecular Flux,” was supported by the QuerreySimpson Institute for Bioelectronics, the Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering, and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (grant number R01DK131302).
Reach the authors at John Rogers, jrogers@northwestern.edu and Guillermo A. Ameer, g-ameer@northwestern.edu.
New study finds the amount of stretching determines the fibers’ properties.
By Amanda Morris
hen spiders spin their webs, they use their hind legs to pull silk threads from their spinnerets. This pulling action not only helps the spider release the silk but it’s also a crucial step in strengthening the silk fibers, resulting in a more durable web.
WIn a new study, Northwestern University researchers have discovered why stretching plays such a crucial role. By simulating spider silk in a computational model, the team found the stretching process aligns the protein chains within the fibers and increases the number of bonds between those chains. Both factors lead to stronger, tougher fibers.
The team then validated these computational predictions through laboratory experiments using engineered spider silk. These insights could help researchers design engineered silk-inspired proteins and spinning processes for various applications, including strong, biodegradable sutures and tough, high-performance, blast-proof body armor.
“Researchers already knew this stretching, or drawing, is necessary for making really strong fibers,” said Northwestern’s Sinan Keten, senior author. “But no one necessarily knew why. With our computational method, we were able to probe what’s happening at the nanoscale to gain insights that cannot be seen experimentally. We could examine how drawing relates to the silk’s mechanical properties.”
An expert in bioinspired materials, Keten is the Jerome B. Cohen Professor of Engineering, professor and associate chair of mechanical engineering, and professor of civil and environmental engineering at Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering.
“Spiders perform the drawing process naturally,” said Northwestern’s Jacob Graham, a Ph.D. student in Keten’s
John Rogers Guillermo A. Ameer
Spiders perform the stretching process naturally, according to researchers. They spin silk out of their silk gland, using their hind legs to grab the fiber and pull it out. That stretches the fiber as it’s being formed, which makes the fiber strong and elastic. Getty Images/Northwestern University
research group nd the study’s first author. “When they spin silk out of their silk gland, spiders use their hind legs to grab the fiber and pull it out. That stretches the fiber as it’s being formed. It makes the fiber very strong and very elastic. We found that you can modify the fiber’s mechanical properties simply through modifying the amount of stretching.”
Stronger Than Steel, Tougher Than Kevlar
Researchers long have been interested in spider silk because of its remarkable properties. It’s stronger than steel, tougher than Kevlar and stretchy like rubber. But farming spiders for their natural silk is expensive, energy-intensive and difficult. So, scientists instead want to recreate silklike materials in the lab.
“Spider silk is the strongest organic fiber,” Graham said. “It also has the advantage of being biodegradable. So, it’s an ideal material for medical applications. It could be used for surgical sutures and adhesive gels for wound-closure because it would naturally, harmlessly degrade in the body.”
Study coauthor Fuzhong Zhang, the Francis F. Ahmann Professor at Washington University (WashU) in St. Louis, has been engineering microbes to produce spider-silk materials for several years. By extruding engineered spider silk proteins and then stretching them by hand, the team has developed artificial fibers similar to threads from the golden silk orb weaver, a large spider with a spectacularly strong web.
Simulating Stretchiness
Despite developing this “recipe” for spider silk, researchers still don’t fully under -
Researchers have long been interested in spider silk because of its strength and stretchability. But farming spiders for their natural silk is expensive, energy-intensive, and difficult. So, scientists instead want to recreate silk-like materials in the lab. Pictured is an electron microscopy image of fibers from engineered spider silk. Washington University in St. Louis
stand how the spinning process changes fiber structure and strength. To tackle this open-ended question, Keten and Graham developed a computational model to simulate the molecular dynamics within Zhang’s artificial silk.
Through these simulations, the Northwestern team explored how stretching effects the proteins’ arrangement within the fibers. Specifically, they looked at how stretching changes the order of proteins, the connection of proteins to one another and the movement of molecules within the fibers.
Keten and Graham found that stretching caused the proteins to “line up,” which increased the fiber’s overall strength. They also found that stretching increased the number of hydrogen bonds, which act like bridges between the protein chains to make up the fiber. The increase in hydrogen bonds contributes to the fiber’s overall strength, toughness and elasticity, the researchers found.
“Once a fiber is extruded, its mechanical properties are actually quite weak,” Graham said. “But when it’s stretch up to six times its initial length, it becomes very strong.”
Experimental Validation
To validate their computational findings, the team used spectroscopy techniques to examine how the protein chains stretched and aligned in real fibers from the WashU team. They also used tensile testing to see how much stretching the fibers could tolerate before breaking. The experimental results agreed with the simulation’s predictions.
“If you don’t stretch the material, you have these spherical globs of proteins,”
Graham said. “But stretching turns these globs into more of an interconnected network. The protein chains stack on top of one another, and the network becomes more and more interconnected. Bundled proteins have more potential to unravel and extend further before the fiber breaks, but initially extended proteins make for less extensible fibers that require more force to break.”
Although Graham used to think spiders were just creepy-crawlies, he now sees their potential to help solve real problems. He notes that engineered spider silk offers a stronger, biodegradable alternative to other synthetic materials, which are primarily derived from petroleum-based plastics.
“I definitely look at spiders in a new light,” Graham said. “I used to think they were nuisances. Now, I see them as a source of fascination.”
Sinan Keten, Jerome B. Cohen Professor of Engineering, professor and associate chair of mechanical engineering and professor of civil and environmental engineering can be reached at s-keten@northwestern.edu.
Jordan Graham, Ph.D. student, is also a contributing author and can be reached at JacobGraham2025@u.northwestern.edu.
The study was published in the journal Science Advances (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/ sciadv.adr3833) and supported by the National Science Foundation.
Sinan Keten
HEMP
HEMP Emerging Star Climate-Smart Bast Fiber
Companies in the Supply Chain Share Strategies for Hemp as an Industrial-Scale Fiber
By Caryn Smith, Publisher and Chief Content Officer, IFJ
Hemp is often referred to as a “miracle fiber." It is exceptionally strong, very durable, and provides numerous environmental benefits. It is so strong that it has a tensile strength up to eight times that of cotton. The fibers do not degrade; they only get softer, and with each textile wash, they maintain structural integrity.
Growing the fiber requires less water than cotton, and rainwater meets most of its needs. It is naturally disease-resistant, thereby reducing the need for pesticides. It offers soil enrichment benefits, and can remediate soil polluted with heavy metals. The finest aspect of this versatile fiber is that it sequesters a substantial amount of carbon dioxide, making it carbon-negative during the growth process.
The fiber has been in use for thousands of years, yet the transition to modern industrial production has been slow, technically speaking. Yet, the numerous benefits of hemp fiber are attracting corporate investments that confirm it is worth the hard work, and is driving product development across the globe.
Hemp Hot Spots
The global market for hemp-based products was valued at US$1.8 billion in 2023
and is projected to reach US$16.2 billion by the end of 2033. Sales of hemp-based products are projected to skyrocket at a CAGR of 24.5% from 2023 to 20331. Major producers are China, France, Canada. Combined efforts in Europe have also dominated the industrial hemp market, with a 31.04% share in 20242, supported by large-scale hemp cultivation in countries such as France and the Netherlands. Emerging markets include India, specifically the provinces of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, and Vietnam, a rising producer of industrial hemp.
In the United States, the industrial hemp market is projected to grow significantly, reaching an estimated value of US$8.38 billion by 20323, driving product adoption across industries such as pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, textiles, cosmetics, and others.
Current thriving niches include fashion, construction, and automotive, with China providing these industries 73,000 metric tons of hemp fiber4. European countries utilized over 45,000 metric tons of hemp fiber5 in insulation and hempcrete for energy-efficient housing. The fashion industry saw a 30% increase in hemp-fabric utilization for denim, outerwear, and everyday garments, primarily driven by urban millennials and Gen Z consumers.
Hemp bio-composites surged in the automotive sector, where companies like Mercedes-Benz and BMW are using hemp-based door panels and dashboards in over 1.3 million vehicles. Hemp packaging for cosmetics and consumer goods saw a 25% increase in orders across North America and Western Europe. Rising niche applications include acoustic panels, filters, and nonwoven geotextiles.
In North America, over 20,000 acres are dedicated to fiber-specific hemp crops in 2024, up 15% from 2023, with the U.S. increasing fiber-focused cultivation by 17%6. The U.S. market continues to grapple with significant regulatory roadblocks, inadequate processing infrastructure, and low profit margins for growers.
Advocacy groups, such as the National Industrial Hemp Council (NIHC), are moving the needle on U.S. industrial hemp. NIHC held its Global Industrial Hemp Fiber Summit at North Carolina State University’s Wilson College of Textiles for the first time in July. This new collaboration brought approximately 200 leaders from across the industrial hemp value chain – researchers, educators, growers, processors, manufacturers, brands, and policy-
makers – for the multi-day event. Attendees even visited Biophil Natural Fibers, a rising hemp facility located in Lumberton, NC, to see their working-scale decortication and premium fiber production.
“The Summit proved what NIHC has always believed: When we bring the right people together, we create the conditions for real growth,” said Patrick Atagi, President and CEO. “This is how we build a sustainable, world-class U.S. hemp fiber industry.”
Investments Are Paying Off at IND HEMP
Collaboration is a key ingredient at IND HEMP, and this North Central Montana, U.S.-based company is making strides. “Supply chains need collaboration and partnership, especially with a new and developing material,” says Gregg Gnecco, Brand and Marketing Director. “IND HEMP has been fortunate to establish relationships with our customers' development and engineering teams to identify specific needs. We often trial multiple grades to find the right fit and co-develop our standard specifications to match the needs of various production systems.”
Currently, the company has integrated its IH Gold Decorticated Technical Hemp Fiber in Hempitecture’s Hempwool® and PlantPanel® X insulation manufacturing, on an airlaid nonwoven system. Additionally, needle-punch Platinum fiber is utilized in the headliner of a limited-run vehicle at one of the top three U.S. automakers. The company's Hurd Fiber has been compounded into plastics and was used in the front and rear molded fenders of the Livewire Electric motorcycle, a Harley-Davidson brand. IND HEMP’s Platinum fiber is verified to meet the European Standard by a leading needle-punch nonwoven manufacturer that services the European auto industry.
IND HEMP invests in its R&D initiatives to prove usability and compatibility for downstream customers. In early 2025, the company conducted a trial project using spunlace hydro-entangled nonwovens for both wet and dry wipes, in collaboration with the Nonwovens Institute (NWI) at NC State University. “This trial allows potential customers and manufacturers to see, touch, feel,
and understand that our fibers will work in their processes, eliminating the initial risk of testing on their lines without a baseline understanding of compatibility,” says Gnecco.
IND HEMP and NWI successfully demonstrated the compatibility of hemp fiber with carded spunlace hydroentangled systems at the roll scale. Tests blended IND HEMP Premium Cottonized hemp fiber with cotton and then with wood-based Lyocell in blends. This grade of fiber is the same as required for spinning into textiles and presents what IND HEMP considers the finest hemp fiber nonwovens made in the U.S. to date.
NIHC Global Industrial Hemp Fiber Summit at North Carolina State University’s Wilson College of Textiles brought 200 professionals in the value chain to discuss U.S. hemp prospects. NIHC/Wilson College of Textiles
Montana Platinum from IND HEMP is decorticated, cleaned, and ready for integration into textiles, nonwovens, biocomposites, and more. Hemp is the strongest natural fiber and is a good sustainable rotation for U.S. farmers. IND HEMP
IND HEMP's natural fiber decortication and processing facility in Fort
feet of processing equipment built
processing both hemp fiber and flax fiber crops. IND
“This kind of testing is necessary as manufacturers consider adopting new materials. We can answer the inevitable questions, ‘Will your hemp fiber break my machines and shut down my line? Is it commercially viable to run at scale? Can you consistently supply necessary volume at approved specifications?’” says Gnecco. “This is why we are committed to spending our R&D dollars to prove viability and compatibility, so that our customers can spend their R&D dollars optimizing adoption for product and market fit.”
At IDEA® Show in April, IND HEMP showcased their spunlace hydro-entangled nonwovens test rolls in multiple material blends and grams per square meter (GSM) to highlight the fibers material compatibility with various systems. These samples facilitated conversations beyond possibilities into viable pathways for products or applications. From these discussions, combined with feedback from the WOW Show, which focuses on wipes, IND HEMP identified the next steps for R&D. They have since contracted with SENW and NWI for next steps of development and additional testing. These results will be presented on in a session at the RISE conference in October.
“We are performing deeper material property testing, working with Southeast Nonwovens for comparative testing on specific existing product targets,” says Gnecco. “From here we will work NWI for finishing tests such as perforations, folding et. We will complete this research in Q3/ Q4 2025, and be ready for companies that are planning development trials with this material.”
IND HEMP identified wipes and dry towels as a focus of hemp applications due to increased usage since the pandemic,
HempWool is a thermal insulation material made by Hempitecture, made with IND HEMP’s IH Gold Decorticated Technical Hemp Fiber. The circular material is composed of 90% natural fiber and serves as a safe and non-toxic alternative for sustainable home insulation throughout the build, including ceiling, floor, walls, and partition walls, as well as in vans, RVs, and modular homes. HempWool is safe to touch and to handle without gloves. Hempitecture
PlantPanel® X, split-insulation wall and roof assemblies, is used with either a rain screen cladding or roofing material. With 100% biobased and recycled content, and utilizing IND HEMP’s IH Gold Decorticated Technical Hemp Fiber, PlantPanel X is a sustainable, low-carbon continuous insulation solution. Hempitecture
and rising environmental initiatives to eliminate manmade synthetic petroleumbased fibers, i.e., plastic. “Technically, hemp’s absorption and strength performance add value to natural fibers and provide a sustainable alternative to synthetic fibers,” says Gnecco. “The renewability benefits of hemp at a product’s end of life are significant. Also, hemp is the leading carbon-sequestering, sustainably produced crop today.” Growing global regulations, such as the UK’s ban on wet wipes containing plastic, which takes effect in 2026, are also contributing factors.
IND HEMP is an advocate for the U.S. hemp fiber market. “The reemergence of common-sense hemp fiber advocacy in the U.S., the resurgence of committed hemp farmers, and accelerated overseas growth present a multitude of economic opportunities, added to hemp's environmental benefits," shares Gnecco.
"Hemp as an industrial commodity provides U.S. farmers a cash rotation crop to boost bottom lines and improve soil health," says Gnecco. "Processing facilities provide rural jobs and economic development opportunities in small-town America. Furthermore, products can perform better, last longer, and have a more environmentally friendly end of life. Hemp blends well with other natural fibers for spinning/textile and nonwovens applications. For example, when a 70:30 cottonhemp blend is spun into fabric to make a shirt, the hemp fiber adds more than twice the abrasion and tensile strength compared to cotton alone, resulting in a shirt that lasts longer and wears better. In fact, we provide life cycle analysis data on all of our supplied materials for manufacturing partners to determine the carbon footprint in their ESG calculations.”
Benton, Montana, sits on a 10-acre campus occupying 52,000 square
around a Laroche bast fiber processing line capable of
HEMP
Gregg Gnecco, Brand and Marketing Director, with IND HEMP’s sample spunlace hydro-entangled nonwovens test rolls in multiple material blends and grams per square meter. IND HEMP
IND HEMP 50-50 Lyocell blend. IND HEMP
Cretes Has Solutions for Hemp Processing
Cretes, located in Wevelgem, Belgium, develops and builds industrial turnkey systems for the processing of bast fibers such as flax and hemp, handling of process waste, and manipulation of textiles and fabrics. The company has provided hemp processing technology to top industry manufacturers in France, the Netherlands, and Sweden – all key hubs for hemp production.
As a specialist in hemp processing technology, the challenge lies in processing straw that exhibits high variability in thickness, retting degree, and fiber content. Cretes’ technology is known to be 100% reliable for processing high volumes of quality hemp into valuable products at very high capacity, and is trusted by the most prominent players in the hemp industry.
“Cretes is a prominent machine manufacturer,” says CEO Edward Vandeputte. “Engineering and innovation are in our veins; it is what we live for. We have over a century of experience in designing and building machinery for the processing of bast fibers. Yet, every day, we strive to improve our machines, making them better, faster, more robust, and more efficient. This innovation means reducing the cost of maintenance and energy consumption. We also prioritize the safety of the operators and maintenance technicians who ultimately work with our equipment. Automation has played an increasingly significant role in our development over the last couple of years. Our focus is to offer value to our customers through lasting cooperation!”
“We see an increased demand for hemp processing systems on a global scale,” says Vandeputte. “Popular and innovative end-use applications are nonwoven insulating mats for the construction industry, fibers for degumming and blending with cotton, and building blocks from shives for the construction industry. Interest in composite material is also increasing but requires further study.”
“We believe hemp has a bright future ahead. We are only at the start of a hemp
is a leading manufacturer of hemp stalk processing systems, with customers in France, the Netherlands, Romania, Lithuania, South Africa, Malaysia, Canada, etc. Cretes has extensive experience with equipment for bast fibre processing, including the processing of hemp straw into high value fibers, as well as processing all the aspects of the products (such as the shives or hurd). Cretes
revolution,” he says. “Hemp textiles are a significant addition to the existing flax linen industry. Both products are unique, but they share strengths on the agricultural, processing, and product levels. Breakthroughs are on the verge in the construction industry – innovative building blocks made
from hemp shives are a top-quality, ecofriendly, breathable, and highly fire-resistant product. Hemp nonwoven mats for building insulation will soon conquer market share, if they remain competitive against the more traditional, energy-consuming, and CO2-boosting mineral wool mats.”
Cretes
The decorticator is designed to transform straw from bast fibres into a mixture of fibers and shives (hurd). This machine serves to sever the fibres from the wooden stem. Inside the machine, a rotor equipped with travelling blades and profiled screens. Cretes
Cretes’ Production Line. Cretes
Hemp Gets into Personal Care
Harper Hygienics is a leading manufacturer of hygiene products in Central and Eastern Europe. They have mastered the understanding of and response to consumer needs. The company headquarters and central production facility are in Minsk Mazowiecki, Poland, with a commercial office in Warsaw. In 2017, Harper Hygienics joined forces with iCotton, a Latvian company, forming the iCottonHarper Group – strengthening technological capabilities and broadening their international reach.
Harper products are distributed globally in key markets across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The broader American market is important to the company for growth, expanding their presence and partnerships in North America.
Natural Products Spurred Growth
Harper Hygienics operates with an umbrella strategy, uniting diverse product categories under strong, trusted brands, and utilizing natural fibers such as cotton and now hemp-based products. The company began with cotton pads and cotton swabs, and expanded into baby wipes, makeup remover wipes, intimate hygiene products, and household cleaning.
“Notably, we were the first company in our domestic market to introduce wet wipes for home use,” says Dmitrij Kostojanskij, CEO, “setting new standards in everyday hygiene solutions.”
“A milestone in our development was Harper Hygienics’ listing on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, while expanding infrastructure by building new production and warehouse facilities to meet growing demand for higher volumes. We have built a vertically integrated production system – from fiber processing to the finished product – ensuring full control over quality and efficiency at every stage,” says Kostojanskij.
Their brands target primarily female consumers across all age groups and include Cleanic, a wide range of natural fiber personal care products; Kindii, dedicated to
babies and young children; and Presto, offering convenient and effective wet and dry wipes for household cleaning.
“Cleanic has earned us remarkable brand recognition of over 90% in the domestic Polish market,” says Kostojanskij. “In the brand’s evolution, we now leverage sustainable feminine hygiene products. Based on in-depth research, we launched Cleanic Naturals Organic Cotton sanitary pads, and now includes pantyliners, cotton swabs, cosmetic pads, and wet wipes – all aligned with our mission to combine performance, comfort, and sustainability.”
Harper followed with the Cleanic Naturals Hemp line for sanitary pads and pantyliners. In 2024, the products were finalists for the Hygienix 2024 Innovation Award. The new hemp line also includes cotton swabs, cotton pads, and intimate wipes.
Exploring Hemp Fibers
The company developed optimal fiber hemp blends to overcome the coarse nature of hemp and achieve the right balance between softness, durability, and performance. A more technical challenge – the length of the hemp fibers, which are generally longer than those of more common fibers – required adjustments in the production process and the precise selection of fiber compositions to ensure compatibility with Harper’s existing machinery and quality standards.
“We use Sero™ regenerative hemp fibers by Bast Fibre Technologies according to our specific requirements,” adds Kostojanskij. “We do not modify the raw fibers in-house; instead, we focus on selecting the right blend of materials and process-
ing them into nonwoven fabrics that meet our quality and performance standards. This ensures that the hemp is prepared in a way that aligns with our product needs, allowing us to focus on fabric development and final product innovation.”
When testing Cleanic Naturals Hemp, the fiber demonstrated notable antibacterial properties, making it a compelling choice for personal hygiene applications. Harper engaged ITA-TEST, one of the largest and advanced hygiene testing laboratories in Poland. They confirmed a significant reduction in bacterial growth for two common strains: Staphylococcus aureus at 89.7% reduction and Escherichia coli at 21.6% reduction. Further consumer testing confirmed the comfort, performance, and safety of the hemp sanitary pads including a 90% rating of absorbency as high or medium and 90% praising the softness of the surface, proving that hemp is viable in even the most intimate of uses.
Hygiene and Hemp
In 2023, iCotton acquired U.S.-based Hempress Hygienics, headquartered in Austin, Texas. This next-generation period and personal care brand is committed to make sustainable and intentional hemp-based personal care products mainstream. It is the U.S. market’s first 100% organic hemp and cotton-based day and night pads, liners, swabs, cosmetic pads, and silicone menstrual cups. Hempress Hygienics is now part of the iCottonHarper Group of Companies, in which Harper Hygienics is a stakeholder.
In 2024, Harper Hygienics launched Hemplace™, Harper’s proprietary technology platform dedicated to growing its hemp-based hygiene solutions. It brings together a range of technologies, scientific expertise, and expert collaboration to integrate hemp into materials, setting new industry standards. It focuses on cuttingedge innovation from teams of experts to help industry partners and leaders collaborate on sustainable hygiene solutions.
Harper’s Cleanic Naturals Hemp were Hygienix 2024 Innovation Award finalists.
Tapping Canada’s Hemp Market
Zylotex™ is an emerging Canadian start-up that is reshaping the future of materials by transforming Canadian hemp in an innovative lyocell process to produce biodegradable fibers for specialized textiles. “By leveraging local sources of fiber, we support onshoring and strengthening the Canadian value chain,” says Lelia Lawson, Founder and Chief Technology Officer. “Our commitment to the bioeconomy and the Canadian textile industry ensures we meet the highest standards of sustainability and performance. Moreover, the design of our products caters to the global textile market, is suitable for international applications, and paves the way for a greener future.”
Why does this matter? “Today, global textiles drive deforestation, pollute waterways, and fill landfills with microplastics, while cotton and synthetics dominate supply,” she says.
With over two decades of experience in industrial personal protective clothing, Lawson brings deep expertise in textiles, product development, and quality systems. Working alongside local partners, early experiments demonstrated that agricultural byproducts – specifically bast and hurd from hemp stalks – could be transformed into high-quality lyocell pulp, now known as ZyloPulp™.
Zylotex also formed a pivotal partnership with Plantae Technologies, positioning the company to move from pilot to commercial scale, bringing Canadian hemp-based lyocell one step closer to market.
Tackling Hemp’s Challenge in Unison
Zylotex focuses on supply-chain collaboration and technical innovation rather than working in isolation. Hemp presents wellknown hurdles for manufacturers, including variability in fiber quality, higher lignin levels in oilseed cultivars, and limited infrastructure for processing. Zylotex collaborates with its partners across the value chain to develop a system that addresses these challenges and bridges the gap between agricultural supply and industrial fiber production.
Technical & Premium Hemp Fiber:
Proven compatibility for textiles and nonwoven systems:
“A central part of this effort is our joint development agreement with Plantae Technologies,” says Lawson. “Plantae leads all the engagement with growers and biomass sourcing, while Zylotex concentrates on converting the raw feedstock into high-purity dissolving Zylotex pulp suitable for lyocell production. This division of expertise ensures that agricultural realities are aligned with processing requirements, allowing for a more consistent and scalable input stream.”
On the customer side, Zylotex is collaborating directly with brands and manufacturers during early prototyping and testing. By engaging in fiber development trials, Zylotex ensures that the regenerated hemp-based fibers can meet the specific performance and sustainability targets needed in textiles, nonwovens, and composites. This co-development model addresses technical hurdles while reducing adoption risk by giving customers confidence in both quality and supply chain reliability.
Student to CTO
“We formed Zylotex to commercialize the research outcomes from the University of Alberta, Canada, program, to transform Canadian-grown hemp into a consistent, high-purity feedstock for regenerated cellulosic fibers,” shares Lawson. “Ultimately, I am a PhD student in the Department of Human Ecology at the university, working under the supervision of Dr. Patricia Dolez, while also serving as the Chief Technology Officer and Founder of Zylotex.”
“Our current R&D focuses on developing pulping and pre-treatment strategies that can convert variable hemp stalks, often grown as oilseed crops, into dissolving pulp suitable for lyocell production,” she continues. “We have demonstrated that hemp can achieve more than 90 percent α-cellulose content with very low lignin and ash. This pulp quality is comparable to wood-based dissolving pulp and supports the viability of hemp as a substitute feedstock for regenerated cellulosics.”
Published work on solvent recovery and wastewater characterization for the NMMO-based lyocell process further
validates the effort, underpinning the environmental and economic claims of closed-loop production. Modeled impacts show a reduction intensity of 12.8 tCO₂e per tonne of hemp-based lyocell fiber due to displacement of petroleum-based textiles and reduced water consumption, with cumulative reductions scaling significantly through 2050. At the end of life, the fibers are biodegradable, leaving no microplastic residues.
Developing the Lyocell Product
“Working alongside Plantae Technologies, we are advancing hemp-based dissolving pulp into lyocell fiber prototypes currently being tested in consumer textile and nonwoven applications. The work spans spans from baled hemp straw to regenerated fibres that can be spun, blended and converted into fabrics or absorbent materials. We are converting Canadian-grown hemp into high-purity dissolving pulp, while ensuring compatibility with the NMMO-based lyocell process. This pulp is then spun into trial fibers and evaluated for various properties with conventional fibers. These trials demonstrate that hemp-based Lyocell can be processed using existing infrastructure while delivering the same performance benchmarks as wood-based Lyocell.”
Key challenges included removing the higher lignin and ash content found in oilseed hemp cultivars, as well as dealing with variability in stalk quality. “Our pretreatment and pulping sequences are specifically designed to address these issues,” she notes, “producing a pulp that meets industry standards. Another obstacle was proving solvent recovery and closed-
loop viability at lab scale, which we validated through targeted recovery experiments and wastewater analysis.”
Sustainable Change in Textiles and Nonwovens
Lawson believes that hemp represents one of the most promising pathways for real sustainable change in textiles and nonwovens. The industry is facing an urgent cellulose shortage as demand for cotton and manmade cellulosics continues to outpace supply. Hemp fills a gap by leveraging an agricultural crop that grows quickly, requires fewer inputs than cotton, and sequesters significant amounts of carbon during cultivation.
For change to be meaningful, however, sustainability must extend across the entire value chain. Hemp is not a plug-andplay solution. The team’s position is that the breakthrough will come from integrating hemp into regenerated cellulose platforms like lyocell, where pulping and pre-treatments can transform agricultural residues into a dissolving pulp that meets strict technical standards.
“We see hemp as a driver of holistic sustainability,” says Lawson. “By connecting growers, decorticators, processors, and end-users in a coordinated supply chain, hemp can reduce reliance on imports, create local manufacturing opportunities, and support circular economy models. In nonwovens, where performance, biodegradability, and lifecycle impact are crucial, hemp-based Lyocell is particularly well-positioned to displace synthetic inputs that contribute to microplastic pollution.
“In our view,” she notes, “hemp will not replace cotton or wood-based cellulosics outright. Instead, its role is to diversify and strengthen the industry's portfolio of sustainable fibers. With the right processing innovations and collaborative partnerships, hemp has the potential to shift textiles and nonwovens toward a lowercarbon, more resilient future.”
Canadian Supply Chain Booster
“We deliberately focus on Canadian oilseed and dual-purpose cultivars because that is what is most widely available here
Zylotex and Plantae Technologies team, left to right: Trevor Kloeck, Ken Barker, Lelia Lawson, Ian Wilson, Wade Chute, Dennis Taschuk (missing from photo: Gary Wetsch). Zylotex
today. While these cultivars were not originally bred for textiles and contain higher lignin and ash than traditional European or Asian fiber hemp, they represent a realistic, scalable feedstock that farmers are already growing rather than waiting for ‘perfect’ fiber cultivars to be developed,” notes Lawson.
This approach builds on whole-plant utilization, creates value for material that would otherwise be treated as low-value residue, and keeps supply chains domestic. That is why the partnership model
between Zylotex and Plantae is crucial in connecting the dots between agriculture, processing, and market demand.
“Often misunderstood, hemp is considered a coarse, rustic fiber," Lawson shares, "when in fact we can transform it into high-performance regenerated cellulosics with softness, strength, and versatility that matches any natural or synthetic fiber available today. The challenge isn’t whether hemp can work, but rather how we design the right processing strategies and supply chains to unlock its potential.”
Growing the U.S. Hemp Marketplace
As a seasoned expert in nonwovens and fibers and a consultant to the hygiene industry, Olaf Isele’s involvement with hemp fiber is extensive. He is now Founder/CEO of Metaxi Simbiosys. His work includes developing test methods and standards for evaluating hemp fiber quality, facilitating the development of specifications for various applications, development and production of hygiene products using hemp fibers, and ensuring quality control. He believes that recognized standards are crucial to develop trust in the hemp fiber supply chain, its end-users, and throughout society.
“My work has demonstrated that when we process hemp fiber the right way, it is suitable for us in even the most discerning textile and hygiene products applications,” says Isele. “The feminine care products company, Trace Femcare, has shown that hemp fiber is a viable fiber for use in even medical devices, like tampons, by successfully passing rigorous biocompatibility tests.” He was Product Development Director for the company.
His involvement in the launch of many products available to consumers today confirms his position. He has worked in product development for Trace Femcare on tampons and menstrual pads, Harper Hygienics wipes, analyzed the hemp-fiber clothing of Smith & Rogue apparel company and evaluated hemp fiber quality of several European processors, and other bast fiber projects.
“Using the European marketplace as a template, we can create supply chains,
The world’s first tampon is made from a 50/50 blend of 100% regenerative cotton and hemp. Inset: Hemp fibers (mix of individual fibers and fiber bundles) under a high-magnification optical microscope. Olaf Isele
Hemp is not a silver bullet. It varies by cultivar and environment, and the infrastructure for processing it is still in development. By connecting farmers, processors, and manufacturers into a coordinated ecosystem, it can turn what is currently agricultural residue into a premium fiber stream.
“Because we approach hemp with the right mix of science and collaboration,” she says, “Zylotex will redefine how the textile industry thinks about sustainability.”
products and markets in North America, as well. In the creation of existing products, the entire supply chain – from farm to finished product – was targeted towards high-quality hemp fiber, encompassing its farming, harvesting, retting, processing, and ultimately refining. For our applications today, with standards and quality control in its early days still, it required hands-on attention and trial and error learning to achieve our success,” he says.
“While anachronistic, the re-birth of the hemp industry in the USA allows us to work from the farm to the finished product. Traceability, transparency, and sustainability for us go hand in hand,” he says.
Building a vibrant U.S.-based hemp textile marketplace requires considerable effort, including conducting more lifecycle assessments and exploring regenerative agriculture and climate-neutral processing technologies; however, the
road ahead is clearly visible. “A favorite quote of mine from a client is, ‘Hemp is a multi-purpose crop that allows us to be proud of its ecological benefits, its thousands of years of history, and integrate it into modern science and industry for sustainable products with facts and stories that people can relate to and corroborate.’”
“On one hand, hemp has an almost magical trait to it,” he continues. “There are expert farmers, processors, and artisans who practice ancient traditions in creating textiles from hemp, and that is beautiful. On the other hand, to achieve the full potential of hemp sustainably to thrive in the future, we must bring it to a commodity scale. Then, industriallevel availability, as well as financial and economic systems worldwide, will seek to incorporate the benefits of hemp, where realistically, almost every product can benefit. However, that requires doing the hard work of fully understanding the properties of hemp and developing the necessary tools and test methods to establish it as a commodity with reliable quality and trust throughout industry and society.”
How INNOVATION and ADAPTATION Are Reshaping the Future of Textiles
By Nina Cohen
Textiles are a critical industry, impacting people, the planet, and processes everywhere. The industry faces constant challenges and changes, ranging from rising consumer expectations to global sustainability demands. To keep up with ever-changing demand, the industry must adapt to the current needs of consumers and the capabilities of manufacturers. Needs such as supply chain efficiency, end-product performance requirements,
and health and safety concerns are converging to reshape how textiles are designed, produced, and consumed. Innovation in material development plays a key role in the sector's ability to meet these evolving needs.
The New Rules of the Textile Market
Sustainability has become a defining concern for the industry. According to a 2022 report by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST),
although most textiles can be reused, 85% still end up in landfills or are incinerated, contributing to environmental waste. In the U.S. alone, textile waste surged by 50% between 2000 and 2018, contributing to landfills reaching capacity sooner than expected (Sajdeh et al., 2025). Both consumers and brands are becoming aware of the negative impacts of the textile industry. Brands are taking action by collaborating with their manufacturers to rethink the lifecycle of textiles, requiring products with new chemistries, and introducing more innovative finishing technologies and partnerships across all parts of the supply chain.
Consumer behavior is also a key driver in textile production. Users demand more than just style from their fabrics; they seek performance and longevity in their garments. The global performance fabric market size was estimated at approximately US$35 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach around US$57 billion by 2032 (Patel, 2025). The expected performances include antimicrobial protection, moisture-wicking, odor control, durability, and other functional features. These are known technologies that are now becoming mainstream. Consumers are interested in garments that stay fresher for longer, which ideally leads to a slower disposal rate.
Textiles also play a key role in public cleanliness. Since the pandemic, demand for protective fabrics has surged. In addition to medical-use products like hospital
gowns and protective masks, consumers now also expect these key protection properties in everyday settings, like home furnishings, travel gear, and apparel.
At the same time, regulatory shifts are accelerating change globally. Many governmental agencies are redefining their scope of acceptable materials, forcing brands to change the direction of what goes into their products. There is a general shift in the apparel industry to move away from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), due to known health and environmental impacts. Manufacturers are reevaluating standard performance chemistries and exploring the implementation of new technologies into their existing application settings. Chemistry leaders in the field are developing PFASfree alternatives to previous technologies that deliver water repellency, stain resistance, and durability expected in the final product. These new alternatives meet the performance requirements without compromising safety. These efforts emphasize how sustainability today is as much about material innovation as it is about circularity.
Together, these forces create a dynamic environment that demands continuous innovation and adaptation.
Innovation in Action
As stated previously, the textile industry is grappling with growing consumer expectations for performance, cleanliness, and sustainability, while also confronting serious environmental challenges. For example, in the performance space, addressing malodors is one of the biggest design challenges faced by the sportswear industry. Continuous sweating in the garment leads to frequent washing of performance fabrics (driven by odor buildup), which uses large amounts of waste, clean water, and energy. Meanwhile, frequent washing will shorten the fabric's lifespan and contribute to microplastic pollution in our waterways.
High-performance sports apparel must withstand friction and sweat, but manufacturers must adhere to the brand's requirements to create the final product. The apparel industry is dominated by
synthetic materials like polyester and nylon, due to their relatively low cost to manufacture, ability to alter shape and size, and good durability. They are quick drying, but retain microbial growth over time, resulting in lingering odors. Cotton, when untreated, is breathable, but absorbs and retains moisture, often trapping sweat and odors that can persist even after repeated washing. It is not as readily available as synthetic materials, but it comes from a renewable source and can be easily recycled. The fiber selection for a garment not only affects comfort and cleanliness but can also lead to early disposal and replacement of the garment, contributing to textile waste and landfill buildup.
One example of how companies are responding to performance and sustainability demands comes from the outdoor apparel sector. Jack Wolfskin, a leader in eco-conscious outdoor gear, sought a solution that aligned with its sustainability ethos while enhancing the performance of its products. In 2023, they partnered with Microban International to integrate Scentry Revive, an innovation from Microban that permeates fabrics during the manufacturing process to neutralize odors, into its apparel line.
This innovation helps garments stay fresher longer, with odor-neutralizing properties that last for up to 50 home laundering cycles. Certified by OEKO-TEX® and approved by bluesign®, the technology underscores a commitment to environmental safety and sustainable manufacturing, all while delivering the high-
performance that today's consumers expect.
Preventing the growth of odor-causing and degrading microbes helps maintain the appearance, freshness, and integrity of textiles, ultimately extending their lifespan. This means consumers can wear their sportswear for more extended periods without needing frequent replacement, thereby reducing demand for new products and helping to minimize textile waste.
According to the 2020 “Fashion on Climate” report by McKinsey & Company and the Global Fashion Agenda, clothing care practices account for 23% of a garment’s total carbon footprint. The report highlights a significant opportunity for consumers to protect the environment through mindful habits, including using lower laundering temperatures and replacing every sixth dryer cycle with air drying, which together could reduce carbon emissions by an impressive 186 million tonnes.
This growing awareness is driving innovation across the textile industry, where functional fabric treatments are increasingly used not only to enhance performance but also to support sustainability goals. By addressing common consumer challenges, such as odor retention in synthetic fabrics, these solutions help bridge the gap between high performance, cleanliness, and environmental responsibility in textile design.
Industry collaboration highlights these types of partnerships, which demonstrate how companies can respond to mounting
Microban International
industry pressures and consumer demand for longer-lasting, more sustainable products. By collaborating with a company to make a small change, such as embedding odor control technology directly into a product's fabric, manufacturers can not only extend product lifespans and reduce environmental impact but also help redefine what responsible innovation looks like in performance textiles, resulting in a stronger value chain that benefits both the industry and its consumers.
Lessons From the Industry
These examples highlight an important insight: innovation in textiles doesn’t happen in isolation. Instead, it emerges at the intersection of scientific research, deep consumer insight, and effective market collaboration. Demand drives change, and all parts must step up to innovate the industry's next move.
At the core of this process lies data and validation. With hundreds of textile testing standards and methods, the industry requires rigorous proof of performance. Whether assessing antimicrobial effectiveness, odor control, or durability, independent testing and certification are essential to building trust. They ensure consistency and safety not only among manufacturers and brands, but also with the consumers who depend on these products. Transparent, verifiable data empowers brands to communicate the value of their innovations confidently and assures consumers of their real-world effectiveness.
Lifecycle thinking is driving sustainability. The focus is shifting from shortterm product benefits to long-term environmental impact. Even small enhancements, like improved odor resistance, can have a significant positive effect by extending the usable life of products. In turn, this reduces premature disposal and slows the continuous cycle of textile consumption, which remains a key driver of waste worldwide.
Beyond apparel, these functional innovations are important and are also being applied in other textile sectors like home furnishings, automotive interiors and medical textiles; each is facing unique
With hundreds of textile testing standards and methods, the industry requires rigorous proof of performance. Whether assessing antimicrobial effectiveness, odor control, or durability, independent testing and certification are essential to building trust.
challenges around durability and sustainability. These segments increasingly rely on advanced material technologies to meet performance and regulatory standards while supporting longer product lifespans and reduced waste.
Collaboration amplifies the efforts above. Innovation is rarely the work of a single organization. It flourishes through partnerships, connecting raw material suppliers, technology developers, manufacturers, brands and consumers alike. Industry-wide initiatives and cross-sector collaborations accelerate the adoption of new technologies and best practices, spreading benefits more broadly and efficiently. Shared expertise and resources help overcome technical and economic barriers, making sustainable solutions more accessible across the supply chain.
Far from being a static, traditional field, the textile industry is a dynamic ecosystem where material science, consumer behavior and sustainability goals converge. Appreciating this complexity is critical to driving innovations that not only meet today’s performance needs but also tackle the environmental and social challenges of tomorrow.
Looking Ahead
The textile industry will continually invent and reinvent itself to keep pace with ongoing change. Each era brings new demands, and presently, the industry continues to adapt to the greatest challenges and creates new opportunities. The future of textiles depends on innovation that is both performance-driven and socially responsible. Companies are showing what's possible when innovation is anchored in consumer demand and research. Decision-making is validated by data and amplified through mill and
brand collaboration. Research and development in the textile space sets a path toward cleaner, longer-lasting, and more sustainable products. The more the industry invests in research and embraces collaboration, the stronger its ability will be to meet global demands responsibly and effectively in the long term.
One of the most powerful lessons from the evolution of the textile industry is that knowledge drives progress. From R&D breakthroughs to data-driven consumer insights, it is information that is shared, tested, and applied, transforming how fabrics are designed and used. The more we educate both industry professionals and end-users about the potential of textiles, the greater the impact these innovations will have on everyday life.
References
Rohan Sajdeh, Catharina Martinez-Pardo, Alexander Meyer zum Felde, Tom Lange, Eleonora Tieri, and Elian Evans. “Spinning Textile Waste into Value.” Boston Consulting Group, Aug. 12, 2025. https://www.bcg.com/publications/2025/ spinning-textile-waste-into-value.
Debadatta Patel. “Performance Fabric Market Report | Global Forecast From 2025 To 2033.” Dataintelo, n.d. https://dataintelo.com/report/ performance-fabric-market.
Nina Cohen, Application Engineer II at Microban International, she partners with leading brands to implement and optimize performance antibacterial and odor control finishing treatments on textile products. Her work focuses on scaling innovative solutions from concept to mill trial size, ensuring technical excellence and commercial viability. For more information, contact Nina.Cohen@ microban.com or call (704) 766-1062.
Driving Forward with Nonwovens INNOVATION on the OPEN ROAD
Investments in Eco-Friendly, Recyclable Material Solutions and Innovation in Bio-Based Nonwovens Are Increasingly Shaping the Next Generation of Automotive Interiors.
By Geoff Fisher, European Editor, IFJ
The development of nonwoven materials and associated technologies is likely to lead to even wider adoption in the automotive industry, driven by rising global vehicle production, particularly in the growing electric vehicle (EV) segment, and an intensified focus on sustainable solutions.
While woven and knitted fabrics, as well as leather, continue to dominate visual surfaces in vehicle interiors, nonwoven fabrics are increasingly finding use in the automotive sector, driven by rising demand for lightweight, durable, and cost-effective materials that enhance performance and reduce vehicle weight, thereby improving fuel efficiency. Properties such as sound insulation, filtration, and comfort also make nonwovens suitable for diverse applications across the vehicle interior and exterior.
Current Applications
Nonwovens already find use in more than 40 different parts of a vehicle. They are
widely used in interior trim applications such as upholstery, floor coverings, headliners, parcel shelves, seat backs, door panels and trunk liners, as well as air, oil and fuel filters, heatshields, engine covers, and acoustic and thermal insulation components. In addition, pressure on global automakers to reduce emissions and comply with increasingly stringent environmental regulations has led to the widespread adoption of nonwoven fabrics for a diverse and growing range of components. In particular, continued advancements in manufacturing technologies and the growth of the EV market have further expanded the use of nonwovens for thermal and acoustic insulation applications.
Market Value
The global automotive nonwoven fabrics market is estimated to be worth US$3.4 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach US$5.0 billion by 2035, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4% over the period, according to a new report from Future Market Insights.
Polyester is the leading fiber type with a 36.2% market share of automotive nonwovens, based on its mechanical properties, cost-effectiveness, and compatibility with various nonwoven technologies, the report notes. Other key fibers used in the sector include polypropylene (20.3%), polyamide (18.5%), and polyethylene (15.1%).
Polyester-based fabrics are widely used for their resistance to moisture, stretching, and abrasion, making them suitable for automotive interiors, insulation layers, and structural reinforcements. In addition, their thermal stability and recyclability have made them a preferred choice for manufacturers aiming to reduce environmental impact without compromising on performance.
Other Transport Applications
In the overall transport industry, the automotive sector accounts for a major share of nonwoven applications. Some nonwoven fabrics are utilized in aircraft interiors for components such as seat upholstery, carpeting, headliners and wall
panels. They are also used for insulation and sound dampening to reduce noise within the aircraft. In terms of structure, they are employed in components such as composite panels for reinforcement.
Meanwhile, nonwovens are used as fire blockers in train seats, placed between the upholstery and the cover fabric to prevent or delay the spread of fire. Nonwoven materials contribute to thermal and acoustic insulation in train carriages and are also used for various interior components such as headliners, seat components, door trim, and other interior fittings.
Improving Noise Insulation
A recent European collaboration has developed a sustainable and high-performance multilayer acoustic nonwoven fabric for improving noise insulation in both electric and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
The Acoustiwall project aimed to improve sound insulation and absorption in the low- and mid-frequency range for vehicles by developing an energy-efficient, eco-friendly wheel arch liner based on a lightweight nonwoven fabric.
Splittable bicomponent fiber acoustic patches were integrated, using threedimensional (3D) lofting technology, into specific locations of the semi-finished product before it was molded into a 3D product.
The project partners were:
• Autoneum, Switzerland, a Tier 1 automotive supplier for acoustic and thermal management, which undertook the transformation of the twodimensional (2D) material to a 3D product and testing;
• Needlepunched nonwovens producer Hassan, Türkiye, which produced the 2D materials (nonwoven base layer) with integrated acoustic patches;
• Groz-Beckert, Germany, is a manufacturer of carding wires and needles for special fibers.
The project partners collaborated with German nonwoven equipment manufacturer Dilo, utilizing its 3D lofter to split and lay down the bicomponent fibers onto the nonwoven base layer.
Some nonwoven fabrics are utilized in aircraft interiors for components such as seat upholstery, carpeting, headliners and wall panels. In terms of structure, they are employed in components such as composite panels for reinforcement.
In industrial trials on the prototype wheel arch liner, the airflow resistance, acoustic absorption, tensile strength, elongation, water absorption, stone chipping resistance, and flammability all met the critical physical tests specified by an original equipment manufacturer (OEM).
Furthermore, there was a clear improvement in acoustic performance with the special fibrous patch on semi-finished and molded materials compared to the same base material with a commercial patch and standard production in the low- and mid-frequency ranges. The airflow resistance values on the molded samples were also lower compared to the semi-finished samples, owing to the stretch/non-homogeneity properties.
Polyester Felt-based Sound Insulation
At the Automotive Acoustics Conference held in July in Konstanz, Germany, Autoneum presented a polyester felt-based sound insulation system that is lightweight, resilient, and shapeable, aiming to combine acoustic performance and precise contours with enhanced recyclability.
Flexi-Light PET is manufactured from a novel blend of polyester fibers primarily
sourced from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET). Through a state-of-theart production process, Autoneum can adjust the orientation of the fibers to produce a proprietary felt with mechanical and acoustic properties comparable to those of polyurethane foam.
The material is flexible and can be molded into 3D shapes, making it an ideal insulation material for interior components with complex contours, such as carpets and inner dashboards, according to the company.
Composed entirely of PET – up to 90% of which is recycled content – Flexi-Light PET can be used as a decoupler in conjunction with other PET-based technologies within Autoneum’s product range, supporting full circularity and enabling the reuse of production waste and end-oflife recycling of the product.
Enhanced Nonwovens for Molded Parts
A sustainable nonwoven material, designed for use in molded parts of vehicles to enhance sound and thermal insulation, has also been developed by German nonwovens producer Sandler. Said to be ideal for both interior and
A high-performance multilayer acoustic nonwoven fabric for improving the noise insulation in both electric and internal combustion vehicles has been developed by Autoneum, Hassan and Groz-Beckert, together with Dilo.
Autoneum/Hassan/Groz-Beckert
exterior uses in passenger and commercial vehicles, Finexus replaces the need for multilayer structures with its singlepolymer material. Applications include underbody, headliner, wheel arch liners and trunk liners for both ICE vehicles and EVs.
Customized, complex component geometries are also achievable due to the flexible formability of Finexus nonwovens, which are produced without the use of any chemicals or binders. Besides their robustness and thermal resistance, these nonwovens can contribute to a quieter, safer, and more comfortable driving experience by reducing noise levels inside and outside the vehicle, Sandler stated.
Innovative and Price-Sensitive
Jones Family of Companies, which acquired Amherst, New Hampshire, USAbased Rontex America in 2020, produces needlepunched nonwoven fabrics for Class A interior trim and trunk surfaces, as well as lightweight moldable acoustical insulation that is an integral part of composite materials designed to eliminate engine, road noise, and wind vibrations in the dash, floors, and cargo areas.
The company’s automotive solutions are made from sustainable post-industrial fiber material for a wide range of applications, including facing interior fabrics for trunks, rear decks, and wheel arch liners, as well as moldable materials customdesigned to meet specific dash, floor, and trunk applications. “Our unique blend of cotton, low-melt and synthetic fibers allows us to be innovative and pricesensitive,” said Jones Nonwovens.
Lightweight SoundAbsorbing Material
Along with Toray Textiles Cen tral Europe (TTCE), Toray Advanced Materials Korea has expanded production for its Airlite ultra-fine noiseabsorbing material. The facility, located at the TTCE plant in Prostějov, Czech Republic, commenced commercial production of 1,200 tonnes per year in 2022.
Airlite is a lightweight, meltblown sound-absorbing material that combines polypropylene and PET and is marketed as an eco-friendly material that can reduce energy consumption for vehicles. As the urban air mobility industry continues to grow, the demand for lightweight, sound-absorbing materials is expected to rise further, the company said.
Having manufactured such materials for vehicles since 2013, Toray Advanced Materials Korea plans to expand this business to Europe to strengthen cooperation
with global automakers and major parts makers, and said it will increase environmentally added value by developing products using recycled materials. Meanwhile, Japan-headquartered Toray Industries also offers Gulfeng. This nonwoven/woven fabric combines flame retardance with fire-shielding properties, available in various types, from thin (60 μm) paper to thick felt. It will not rip or open holes when exposed to fire, providing a shield against the spread of flames that prevents fire from reaching flammable objects on the other side. Its shielding properties also reduce the levels of heat transfer.
Technological Portfolio
Global nonwovens producer Tenowo manufactures nonwoven products and components for vehicle interiors and exteriors, such as luggagecompartment covers, headliners, package trays, door panels, wheel arch liners, underhood covers, heatshields, and acoustic insulation parts, as well as secondary backing for carpets, floor mats,
Flexi-Light PET: sustainable sound insulation for vehicles. Autoneum
Close-up of Flexi-Light PET sound insulation for vehicles. Autoneum
Finexus, a sustainable single-polymer product, is designed for both interior and exterior automotive components. Sandler
Toray Textiles Central Europe and Toray Advanced Materials Korea have set up a facility in the Czech Republic to expand the scope of its Airlite automotive interior sound acoustic insulation business in Europe. Toray Advanced Materials Korea
Application example of Lastan in an electric
Enhancing EV Battery Safety
and underbody components, and as a foam replacement for vehicle seats.
The Germany-headquartered company offers a range of production processes, such as stitch-bonded nonwovens technology, mechanical needling, and hydrodynamic or thermal consolidation.
Battery Separators for Stationary Energy Storage
Germany-based technical textiles manufacturer Freudenberg Performance Materials produces a range of nonwoven battery separators that increase the cycle life, performance, and safety of batteries for stationary energy storage systems, as well as batteries used in transportation, communications, and computer systems, that include nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride, nickel-zinc, nickel-hydrogen, metal-air, and lead-acid batteries.
The latest surface finishing technology from Freudenberg is said to provide excellent electrolyte absorption as well as increase the speed. The company can combine this new technology with a range of other finishes and its nonwoven technologies to develop further custommade separators that meet the needs of energy storage system manufacturers and other battery manufacturers in the aviation, rail vehicle construction, or computer systems sectors.
Asahi Kasei has introduced a new material solution for enhanced EV battery safety. Lastan, a flame-retardant and flexible nonwoven fabric, is offered as an alternative to conventional materials for thermal runaway protection, which can be utilized in top covers, busbar protection sleeves and other applications within the EV battery pack.
According to the Japanese technology company, Lastan is a non-mineral, flame-resistant fabric made by air baking a special acrylic fiber at 200–300°C. It is characterized by high flame resistance and good electrical insulation, which are further improved by a special coating process that also augments abrasion resistance. This allows the material to provide effective protection against particle bombardment from venting gas.
Even when a 1300 ° C flame is applied, the temperature on the opposite side of Lastan remains below 400°C. And while a limiting oxygen index (LOI) value of 27 or higher is generally considered to indicate flame retardance, the material has an LOI value of 50 or higher.
In UL94 flame retardance testing, Lastan obtained the highest rating of 5VA. Further, no holes are formed in the material, even when exposed to a flame of 1300 ° C for one minute. Lastan is also resistant to high-pressure impact by particles of 200–500 μm, and provides electrical insulating capacity of up to 3.5 kV at a thickness of 1 mm.
Having integrated production of Lastan in Japan, Asahi Kasei is considering future production in the U.S. and other countries.
Aftermarket Relaunch
AJ Nonwovens is relaunching Multipile, a versatile, high-performance nonwoven product designed to meet the evolving needs of the automotive aftermarket. Now made with sustainable materials and manufactured in the U.S., multipile offers “a reliable, domestic alternative to imported substrates – without sacrificing quality or performance,” according to the company of Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
Multipile is engineered for durable applications, including automotive buffing pads, abrasive backings, and other technical uses. With increasing demand for environmentally responsible sourcing and shorter supply chains, the company’s latest iteration of Multipile offers customers a domestically made option in a traditionally import-heavy category. It is available in a variety of colors, allowing customers to match their brand identity or product differentiation requirements easily.
Meanwhile, AJ Nonwovens is expanding its range of US-made, sustainable nonwoven solutions engineered for both interior and exterior vehicle applications, including seat composites, headliners, wheel arch liners, and underbody shields for OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.
With U.S. production facilities in Missouri, New Hampshire, and Texas, the nonwovens producer offers strategically located, regionally optimized manufacturing to reduce lead times, control freight costs, and ensure a resilient supply chain for critical production schedules, according to Sam Hyden, Director of Automotive Sales.
Geoff Fisher is the European editor of International Fiber Journal and editorial director of UK-based Textile Media Services, a B2B publisher of news and market reports on transport textiles, medical textiles, smart materials and emerging markets. He has 40 years of experience covering fibers and technical textiles and can be contacted at gfisher@textilemedia.com.
New grade of Lastan. Asahi Kasei
vehicle battery top cover.
Asahi
Kasei
Keeping Watch on Composites
Keeping Watch on Composites
By Marie O’Mahony, Smart & Advanced Textiles Correspondent, IFJ
he global textile composites market is expected to reach US$14.2 billion by 2032, more than doubling in size over the next decade, according to a report by Allied Market Research. The projected growth is on track if JEC 2025 can be used as an indicator. The JEC Composite trade show is held over three days each year in Paris, attracting global exhibitors and visitors; this year, it recorded around 45,000 people passing through its doors from 94 countries.
TWith 1,350 exhibitors (including IFJ ), a host of National Pavilions, conference, innovation, and start-up exhibition areas, and awards, the only shortage was time to see everything. This review focuses on some of the themes most relevant to the textile industry with key takeaways:
• Growth in biocomposites and hybrid biocomposites
• E-composites sees an increase in manufacturing solutions
The Czinger 21C hypercar uses a carbon fiber monocoque and AI-driven design software to design the chassis structure generatively. Optimized to minimize weight and maximize stiffness, the digital design is 3D printed using novel additive manufacturing machines. Laser-guided robotics are being used to assemble the 3D printed components. Marie O’Mahony
Calibre RM50-03. richardmille.com
• Futuristic cars, luxury items, and sports equipment capture the eye Carbon fibers are perceived as dominant, and a cursory walk through JEC 2025 would confirm this, if one were to judge by the number of eye-arresting cars and acrobatic engineering forms using them. However, of the 13.5 million tons of composites produced in 2024, approximately 95% of them used glass fiber, according to Dr. Elmar Witten, Managing Director of AVK, the German industry association for reinforced plastics. Cost is one factor, with glass fiber a fraction of the cost of carbon
fiber. Not all applications require the high specifications offered by carbon fiber. Coupled with the drive towards sustainability and strong R&D, natural fibers are growing in popularity. The global biocomposite market size was estimated at US$28.37 billion in 2024 and projected to reach US$79.35 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 12.1%, a momentum driven by the strong global push towards sustainable materials in industrial applications, according to Grand View Research.
The aesthetics of flax were incorporated into
Edge’s patented acoustic insulation development. The panel uses flax and polypropylene to achieve efficiencies in environment impacts and spacesaving because of its thinness. Marie O’Mahony
North America dominates this market, accounting for just over 50% according to the report; however, the Asia Pacific industry is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR between 2025 and 2033. Here are indications of a step sideways from the goal of full circularity, with the hybrid biocomposite product segment expected to see the most significant growth over the forecast period at 12.9%.
One of the reasons for composites’ growing popularity is the acknowledgement of their ability to reduce environmental impacts, offer a good strength-to-weight ratio, and increasingly incorporate more natural fibers to produce biocomposites
and hybrid biocomposites. Striving to move towards greater circularity, recycling has become a strong area of research and development. The JEC Innovation Planets exhibition showcased a number of these developments. Noticeable this year was the emphasis placed on the products made from recycled materials, demonstrating their continued value in the materials world. Teijin Carbon Europe GmbH, Spiral RTC, and Collins Aerospace exhibited their material developed from Airbus A350 production scrap carbon fiber clips, and were one of the Innovation Award Finalists.
JEC 2025 attracted 1,350 exhibitors and around 45,000 visitors at the annual event held once again in Paris. The author poses at the event site. Marie O’Mahony
In a collaborative process between Teijin Carbon Europe GmbH, Spiral RTC, and Collins Aerospace, scrap material from the manufacture of the Airbus A350 becomes part of a circular material flow in the Aerospace industry. Marie O’Mahony
Composite
The scrap material is sent from Collins Aerospace to Spiral, where it is compounded and co-consolidated with Teijin’s slit tape. The resulting material is used to make thermoplastic composite rods for the Multi-functional Fuselage Demonstrator (MFFD). The process offers a 20kg reduction in CO2 emissions per kg, achieved by minimizing the use of virgin raw materials while maintaining high mechanical performance and durability. Composite Edge has developed an Adaptive Acoustic Element that is exceptionally thin, measuring just 1mm. It offers excellent sound absorption properties as well as vibration damping and thermal insulation. The material offers up to 95% sound absorption, is waterproof, fireand chemical-resistant, and recyclable. Applications include wind turbine rotor blades, propellers for air and marine transport, as well as building technology and HVAC systems.
Flax, hemp, and jute were prominent in new developments in processing and manufacturing, combined with advances in resins (including bioresins), which offered improved performance characteristics, making them better suited to a broader range of product areas.
Oxeon AB has advanced its Textreme Spread Tow thin-ply technology, which combines both to produce thinner fabrics with material and composite weight
Flax, hemp, and jute were prominent in new developments in processing and manufacturing, combined with advances in resins (including bioresins), which offered improved performance characteristics, making them better suited to a broader range of product areas.
savings. In addition to carbon fiber, the company is now applying the same process to a bio-based flax, as well as a woven carbon fiber and a carbon fiber/ Zylon composite.
Manufactured by Toyobo, Zylon is a rigid-rod isotropic polymer spun through a dry-jet wet spinning process, exhibiting a high impact energy absorption level and a higher cross-sectional strength than carbon fiber. In an indication of industry confidence and market demand, EcoTechnilin, which manufactures biocomposites incorporating flax, hemp, jute, kenaf, or Dakkan hemp, has launched its fourth production line in Poland, thereby expanding its production capacity from 12,000 to 13,000 tonnes per annum.
Conductive, electromagnetic shielding, and E-composites were showcased at JEC 2025, featuring examples of finished products for the transportation and healthcare sectors. Cleveland, Utah, is home to Conductive Composites,
specialists in conductive and shielding technology across a range of product types. NiFIBER is a nickel-coated fiber with a variety of core fibers, tailored to customer requirements, which can include aramid, cellulose, and carbon fibers.
Conductive Composites utilize a proprietary vapor-based process to apply an excellent coating to each fiber, resulting in a thin and ductile film of nickel. The fibers can be supplied in tow, braid, cloth and converted formats. The resulting product is well-suited for use in various manufacturing processes and offers significant advantages in terms of weight, stiffness, and tensile strength, making it ideal for applications requiring conductivity and electromagnetic shielding. The nonwoven form uses an ultrathin coating on substrates such as carbon fiber, aramid, and cellulose. It can be embedded in tapes or co-cured into composite surfaces, as well as being used as a stand-alone conductive sheet product.
Two Textreme fabrics from Oxeon AB. Flax fiber (left), using straighter fibers in the Spread tow process, increases fiber volume fraction and enhances structural integrity. The second material uses carbon fiber and a Zylon PBO fiber, the latter providing high strength and modulus that offers twice the strength of a para-aramid.
Huntsman Advanced Materials showcased their electrically conductive adhesives. These are designed to offer benefits during manufacturing, including reduced energy requirements, time savings through a simplified process, and environmental and cost-saving benefits during transportation due to their lower weight. The products on offer include Miralon pulp, a carbon-based multipurpose adhesive that requires a low loading percentage compared to conventional fillers, preserving more of the base material’s properties, and is suited for bonding conductive elements. It is electrically
Jason Carling, Vice President of Engineering, Conductive Composites at the company booth showcasing their products, which include nickel nanostrands, nickelcoated fibers, conductive adhesives, and nonwovens.
conductive and flexible, placing it at the forefront of Huntsman’s new generation of carbon nanotube-based (CNT) materials. These are available in various forms, including sheets and yarn, in addition to the pulp adhesive. Miralon materials are made up of interconnected bundles of ultra-long, entangled nanotubes. It has strength and toughness at low density, with a conductivity that is almost equal to that of a single-walled CNT. The company envisions applications for its sheet form in composite embedded heaters or electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection for data cables, for example.
The scale of some of the products on display at JEC is always impressive, but this year’s show featured some very innovative manufacturing processes that utilized new technologies, clever design engineering, or both. The Swiss North Thin Ply Technology (NTPT) serves a very broad market range, spanning marine applications to the more unexpected field of luxury watches, in partnership with Richard Mille. Working in their clean room-controlled environment, Thin Ply prepregs are used to allow for a range of color and material innovations that enhance the distinctive aesthetic and performance of Richard Mille watches. The RM 011 was the first partnership in Carbon TPT, before going on to develop the Quartz TPT and Carbon TPT that is injected with graphene.
In a limited edition of just 75 timepieces, the Calibre RM50-03 weighs less than 40 grams, including the strap, making it, on release, the lightest mechanical chronograph ever made. Titanium, Carbon TPT are combined with graphene in the form of Graph TPT to achieve this. Carbon TPT uses multiple layers of 600 parallel carbon filaments to achieve a maximum thickness of 30 microns. These are impregnated with a matrix before being woven on a special machine that modifies the direction of the weft by 45° between layers. The woven material is then heated to a temperature of 120°C at a pressure of 6 bars. Carbon TPT is shown to improve the rate of occurrence of breaking stresses by 25% and of micro-cracks by 200% compared to other technically advanced forms of carbon material.
Dr. Marie O’Mahony is an industry consultant, author and academic, the author of several books on advanced and smart textiles published by Thames and Hudson. She is Programme Leader for MSc E-textiles and Wearable Technologies (launching 2026) at WSA, University of Southampton and can be contacted at marie.consultant@gmail. com. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-marieo-mahony-94776836/
North Thin Ply Technology biocomposite using unidirectional flax fibers skin with a honeycomb or foam core to produce a sandwich panel with a low CO2 footprint. Marie O’Mahony
ELEVATING STANDARDS: A Deep Dive into EDANA’s Quality and Audit Programme
By Marines Lagemaat, Scientific & Technical Affairs Director, EDANA
Discussion of the Origin and Impact of the Quality and Audit Programme (QAP) and How It’s Reshaping Supply Chains in the Hygiene Products Sector.
In early 2018, EDANA and its member companies identified a critical challenge within the hygiene products supply chain: a lack of standardized quality audits. Converters routinely conducted their own audits, often using multiple, slightly different quality standards. This situation created a significant burden for suppliers, who were forced to undergo multiple, overlapping assessments that were fundamentally similar. The solution, which was both straightforward and transformative, was the creation of a voluntary, harmonized standard. This new initiative, the Quality and Audit Programme (QAP), was designed to verify and enforce consistent quality requirements across the industry.
QAP consists of a two-part, voluntary initiative structured to enhance quality and efficiency.
The first part establishes a baseline quality standard, outlining the essential requirements for a supplier’s quality management system in the hygiene industry. This framework was developed through a collaborative effort between EDANA and a diverse group of its members.
The second part is a structured audit system designed to improve efficiency and transparency. Audits are performed by accredited, third-party auditors – currently in partnership with the British Standards Institution (BSI). It ensures a consistent and dependable evaluation process, eliminating the need for suppliers to endure multiple, redundant audits. Furthermore, audit findings are kept confidential and are the property of the supplier. The supplier can then securely share these results with selected converters through a cloud-based platform, fostering greater trust and collaboration across the supply chain. By participating, suppliers demonstrate a strong commitment to quality, while converters gain access to a reliable, consistent assessment of their partners.
In the hygiene industry, consistently proving quality is paramount. The EDANA QAP provides a clear and effective solution. It sets a harmonized benchmark tailored to the sector’s unique requirements, and qualified, independent auditors rigorously
evaluate suppliers. This provides external stakeholders with confidence in product quality, while internal teams benefit from a recognized standard that streamlines their processes. Suppliers gain efficiency by following a single, consistent audit protocol, rather than navigating multiple, specialized requirements. Converters, in turn, benefit from a structured, third-party audit that provides a reliable assessment of their partners.
The program’s primary goal is to ensure a consistent evaluation across the supply chain. However, continuous refinements to auditor training and standard implementation are ongoing to enhance alignment and effectiveness further. Notably, the QAP provides companies with the flexibility to exceed EDANA’s standards, thereby encouraging ongoing improvement. It is a tool for the industry, not a mandatory requirement, and suppliers and converters are free to apply additional requirements to their own quality systems.
Partnering with BSI
Since its launch in 2022, the program has grown steadily, incorporating key learnings to enhance auditor harmonization, standardize content, and expand its global reach. Efforts are also underway to refine the number of available auditors, further strengthening consistency across evaluations.
To develop the QAP, EDANA sought a well-established leader in standardization and auditing. BSI, with its robust reputation for drafting standards, was the ideal partner. BSI’s auditors, who conduct the assessments, undergo rigorous onboarding and continuous professional development. BSI’s competency code system is specifically designed to ensure auditors have the necessary expertise for specific industries, products, and specialized skills. As the program progresses, ongoing efforts are focused on further harmonizing auditor training and oversight to enhance consistency across different regions. In the future, the program may open to other qualified auditing organizations with the right capabilities.
In addition, the program includes a training course for auditees,
To develop the QAP, EDANA sought a wellestablished leader in standardization and auditing. BSI, with its robust reputation for drafting standards, was the ideal partner.
or suppliers. This is not a general quality management course, but rather a targeted training focused on the “EDANA harmonized quality assurance standard” for the hygiene industry. The course explores the key requirements and benefits of implementing the EDANA scheme, enabling suppliers to manage conformity and drive continual improvement within their organization. By achieving conformity with this internationally recognized standard –designed specifically for the absorbent hygiene products (AHP) and personal care wipes industry – companies can attract and retain customers more effectively.
Program Participation
Suppliers and converters both play a vital role in the EDANA QAP, demonstrating their commitment to quality and meeting stringent customer requirements. Suppliers can showcase their dedication to quality by participating in the QAP, while converters can partner with suppliers to ensure product quality.
To register, interested parties can submit a form via the EDANA website to connect with BSI, which expertly manages the audit schedule. BSI arranges audits with suppliers and notifies linked converters, enabling them to provide valuable input.
BSI carefully manages access to audit reports and non-conformities (NCs), with suppliers having full access to their data and the ability to decide which converters can view their reports. This ensures a secure and controlled flow of information.
QAP audits are efficient and focused, lasting three days regardless of site size, with an emphasis on evaluating the quality system rather than physical scale. Following each audit, the auditor provides a preliminary verbal report, followed by a formal written report on the BSI Connect Portal, which includes NCs, a rating sheet, and a summary statement.
Transparency and confidentiality are prioritized. Audited suppliers own their findings and can selectively share them with chosen converters. Audit reports maintain confidentiality, omitting details that could reveal specific supplier-converter relationships.
In February 2024, the EDANA QAP Expert Panel and BSI revised the rating system to address discrepancies between the overall scores and the perceived audit outcome. While the QAP has no minimum score, the rating system provides valuable feedback. The new system, with a 0-100% rating, better reflects audit results. EDANA oversees the QAP through the QAP Expert Panel, ensuring smooth operation and relevant deliverables, such as reports and corrective actions for the industry.
The Path Forward
While the QAP has made significant progress, continued improvements are necessary, particularly in ensuring more consistent auditor evaluations, refining technical oversight, and expanding the program’s reach. As the program continues to evolve, potential future refinements may align with BSI’s upcoming commitments, such as finalizing auditor coverage in key regions and appointing a technical leader for audit oversight.
While regulatory pressures have played a role in driving quality standards across industries, the EDANA QAP stands as a testament to the nonwovens industry’s proactive and voluntary commitment to product safety and consumer trust.
This program, developed in parallel with the EDANA Stewardship Programme for absorbent hygiene products, demonstrates a collective dedication to responsible product stewardship and continuous improvement. While primarily designed for the AHP and wipes sectors, it offers potential applications for sub-suppliers and other areas within the hygiene industry.
The QAP’s benefits extend beyond regulatory compliance, building confidence among stakeholders and consumers while driving advancements in product safety and efficiency. By harmonizing standards and streamlining auditing processes, the QAP unlocks valuable efficiencies and promotes a collaborative approach to quality assurance.
Despite the significant progress, the journey toward achieving the QAP’s full potential is ongoing. EDANA recognizes the challenges ahead, including expanding the program’s global reach, overcoming language barriers, and ensuring a sufficient pool of qualified auditors.
The commitment to the QAP remains steadfast, celebrating the achievements made while acknowledging the work that lies ahead. The QAP stands as a testament to the industry’s
unwavering dedication to product stewardship, consumer safety, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.
For further details contact: marines.lagemaat@edana.org or Ralf Veltram ralf.veltram@bsigroup.com
Marines Lagemaat is the Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Director for EDANA, the international Association representing the nonwoven and related industries, a position he has held since September 2014.
Based in Brussels, Marines is responsible for managing internal and external activities related to scientific and technical affairs, supporting the nonwoven industry in all its applications, including personal and household hygiene, medical protection, filtration, automotive, and construction. In this role, he’s involved in the development and implementation of standards and their related test methods that serve as a reference for the industry and for fair trade. Marines also manages various training and education programmes designed to provide technical and application-oriented support.
Prior to EDANA, Marines spent 18 years in the FMCG industry, primarily dealing with personal and homecare products for brand owners. He has wide experience in quality assurance, product development, operations management and packaging technology.
The UN Plastics Treaty Negotiations: What Geneva Means for Nonwovens
By Wes Fisher, Director of Government Affairs, INDA
Introduction: A High-Stakes Process for Plastics and Policy
Plastic pollution has firmly taken its place in the global policy spotlight. At the same time, companies dependent on plastic inputs, including those in the nonwovens sector, face pressure from consumers, regulators, brand owners, and their own corporate sustainability goals to explore alternative inputs, lightweighting, and the use of bioplastics, among other efforts.
The United Nations’ ongoing negotiations for a global plastics treaty aim to address these pressures. The goal is a legally binding instrument that addresses plastics across their entire lifecycle, from production through design, use, and disposal, with a particular emphasis on Ocean litter. The process has spanned multiple negotiating sessions since 2022, culminating most recently in the INC-5.2 talks in Geneva, held from August 5 to 15, 2025. The recent INC-5.2 negotiations in Geneva, which were a continuation of a process intended to conclude in November 2024 in Busan, Korea, were billed as a watershed moment for global plastics regulation, but ended in yet another bitter stalemate.
How UN Treaties Are Made
To understand the negotiations on plastics, it is useful to step back and review how UN treaties are developed. Typically, a treaty begins with a UN resolution establishing a mandate to negotiate. The UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) adopted such a resolution in March 2022, tasking an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) with drafting the treaty by the end of 2025.
Negotiations proceed through multiple INC meetings. These sessions gather delegations from UN member states, supported by observers from industry, NGOs, and intergovernmental organizations. All UN member nations are able to attend these talks and decisions are traditionally made by consensus. Observers must be sponsored by an organization accredited with the United Nations Environment Program or another UN body (INDA and EDANA both gained UN accreditation in 2023 and have sent delegations to most sessions). Draft texts are circulated, amended, and debated—sometimes line by line. Because of the UN’s longstanding tradition of making decisions by consensus, any country can block proposals and request amendments; however, in some processes, voting mechanisms are eventually introduced to break deadlocks.
Once an agreed text is finalized, it is adopted at a diplomatic conference. Countries then sign the treaty and proceed to ratification through their domestic processes. The treaty enters into force after a specified number of ratifications.
This is a slow and sometimes frustrating process. Still, it is the mechanism through which the international community addresses cross-border challenges such as ozone depletion (Montreal Protocol), climate change (Paris Agreement), and biodiversity loss (Convention on Biological Diversity). The plastics treaty aims to be the next such instrument.
Looking Back: The INC Timeline
The Geneva session is best understood in the context of earlier negotiations:
• INC-1 (Uruguay, 2022): The first negotiating session, held in Uruguay in 2022, established the broad goals of the treaty and agreed on the rules of procedure for the process.
• INC-2 (Paris, 2023): The second session in Paris in 2023 was marked by disputes over process, particularly on whether decisions should be made by consensus or by voting.
• INC-3 (Nairobi, 2023): The third session in Nairobi in 2023 introduced the “zero draft” of the treaty, which highlighted key areas of divergence among participating countries, among them definitions, financing, and global production caps.
• INC-4 (Ottawa, 2024): The fourth session in Ottawa in 2024 saw debates sharpen over issues such as production caps and financial mechanisms, with negotiating blocs clearly beginning to form.
• INC-5 (Busan, early 2025): The fifth session in Busan in early 2025 continued to feature disagreements, but it also advanced technical discussions on design standards, chemicals of concern, and financing.
• INC-5.2 (Geneva, 2025): The follow-up session in Geneva in 2025 was expected to achieve significant progress, but consensus rules ultimately enabled continued deadlock.
While frustrating, this trajectory has clarified negotiating positions, making the dividing lines more transparent.
The Geneva Outcome
The Geneva session (INC-5.2) drew over 2,600 delegates from 183 countries. Expectations were high, as negotiators hoped to resolve differences before the December 2025 deadline. Instead, discussions revealed sharp divisions.
On one side, the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) – co-led by Norway and Rwanda and supported by the EU, Small Island Developing States, and over 60 countries – pressed for lifecycle obligations, including caps on virgin plastic production and restrictions on chemical additives deemed hazardous.
On the other hand, the Like-Minded Group, comprising India, China, Saudi Arabia, and other fossil-fuel-aligned states, argued for a narrower treaty that focused on downstream measures such as recycling and waste management. They resisted binding limits on production, citing economic growth and development priorities.
With consensus rules in place, these differences proved insurmountable. Geneva ended without a consolidated draft, leaving the future of the treaty uncertain.
A First-Hand Account of the Negotiations
I had the opportunity to attend several of the treaty negotiating sessions in person, representing INDA after we secured accreditation with the UN Environment Programme in 2023. Paris (INC-2) was my first UN negotiation, and it was an eyeopening introduction to the dynamics of multilateral environmental diplomacy. Much of that session was consumed by procedural debates – particularly over whether the treaty should proceed by consensus or allow voting – but it also revealed the geopolitical undercurrents that were at hand. For INDA, being in the room meant ensuring the nonwovens sector’s voice was present as governments debated how ambitious this treaty should be.
on additives, labeling, and extended producer responsibility could impact manufacturers across multiple sectors, including nonwovens.
By the time of Ottawa (INC-4), the process had matured into substantive debate. Negotiating blocs had clearly taken shape, and discussions on production caps and financing mechanisms underscored the growing divide between countries seeking sweeping lifecycle measures and those advocating a narrower waste-management focus. For me, Ottawa underscored how technical details – like financing for waste systems in developing countries – are inseparable from broader geopolitical questions.
In Busan (INC-5), the technical work advanced further. Delegates wrestled with text on product design standards, chemical restrictions, and financial frameworks. While disagreements persisted, the session highlighted the complexity and interconnectedness of the plastics lifecycle, as well as how regulations
Geneva (INC-5.2) carried the highest expectations yet. The room felt larger, the stakes higher, and the scrutiny more intense. Over 2,600 delegates crowded the Palace of Nations, the UN office in Geneva, but consensus rules meant that entrenched divisions prevented progress. It was striking to see both the ambition of coalitions pushing for binding production limits and the determination of countries that viewed such limits as unacceptable.
From Paris to Geneva, my first-hand view of the negotiations has been that while the pace is slow and often frustrating, the trajectory is unmisßtakable: governments, businesses, and civil society agree in broad terms on the need for some international mechanism to address plastic pollution, and I still feel that an agreement will eventually be made. For INDA and our members, being part of the process ensures that the realities of nonwoven manufacturing are understood as these historic negotiations unfold.
Industry Perspectives
Business voices were also present in Geneva. The Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and WWF, includes more than 300 companies ranging from consumer goods giants to financial institutions. The coalition advocates for harmonized global rules, arguing that consistent standards would reduce regulatory fragmentation and create clearer conditions for investment in new materials and technologies.
Simultaneously, the American Chemistry Council (ACC) released a statement commending U.S. leadership at INC-5.2. The ACC emphasized support for recycling, circular economy approaches, and “innovation that protects jobs and economic growth.” However, it did not endorse production caps or upstream restrictions.
Implications for Nonwovens
For the nonwovens industry, the treaty outcome has direct consequences. Nonwovens are central to hygiene products, wipes, medical supplies, and filtration media – applications that are essential yet heavily dependent on polymer feedstocks such as polypropylene and polyester.
The failure to achieve consensus means regulatory fragmentation is likely to persist. The European Union is expected to continue advancing its own measures on single-use plastics, extended producer responsibility (EPR), and labeling. Other regions may adopt less stringent rules. For global manufacturers, this creates compliance complexity and higher costs.
At the same time, consumer brands that purchase nonwoven products are demanding greater sustainability. Companies such as Unilever, Nestlé, and S.C. Johnson have publicly urged negotiators to establish strong global rules, citing the inefficiency of navigating dozens of overlapping frameworks. Nonwoven suppliers will need to align with these expectations to remain competitive.
Industry Response: Practical Steps
The Geneva stalemate does not mean industry should stand still. On the contrary, it underscores the need for proactive planning.
INDA has continually underscored that nonwoven manufacturers are investing in material innovation – including bio-based, compostable, or chemically recyclable inputs – that reduce reliance on virgin plastics. Advances in circular design, such as products engineered for disassembly or closed-loop recycling, will help companies anticipate future requirements.
Engaging in coalitions and trade associations also remains important. Groups like INDA and EDANA provide platforms for shaping discussions and ensuring that the technical realities of nonwoven production are taken into account in policymaking. Finally, supply chain transparency is increasingly valued. Demonstrating traceability of inputs and recyclability of outputs can strengthen relationships with brand owners and regulators alike.
Will the United States Sign the Potential Treaty?
Even if the plastics treaty reaches adoption at the UN level, the question of U.S. participation remains uncertain. Under the U.S.
Constitution, international treaties must be ratified by a twothirds vote in the Senate. This threshold has historically made treaty ratification challenging, particularly in periods of partisan division.
Many global environmental agreements have faced U.S. hesitation. The United States famously signed but never ratified the Kyoto Protocol (1997), citing concerns over economic competitiveness. More recently, the U.S. has remained outside the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) and has not ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), despite broad international acceptance of both frameworks.
There are, however, notable exceptions. In 2022, the U.S. Senate ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which phases down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) used in cooling and refrigeration. The Kigali case illustrates that when a treaty aligns with domestic industry priorities – such as supporting U.S. chemical producers in transitioning to new refrigerants – bipartisan support is possible.
For the plastics treaty, much will depend on how obligations are framed. A treaty that emphasizes recycling, innovation, and infrastructure investment may be more acceptable to U.S. policymakers, as reflected in the American Chemistry Council’s position. A treaty with binding caps on production, by contrast, is unlikely to secure ratification under current political conditions.
For the nonwovens sector, this means U.S. participation cannot be assumed. Companies operating globally should anticipate a scenario where the U.S. remains outside the treaty, creating additional divergence in regulatory frameworks and compliance requirements. This will also likely create a scenario where some states decide to pass legislation implementing many of the tenets of the eventual treaty at the state level.
Conclusion: Preparing for What Comes Next
The UN plastics treaty negotiations remain unresolved, but the direction is clear: Pressure for stricter controls on plastics will continue to build, whether through a global treaty or through regional measures. As far as next steps for the treaty itself, most assume that another negotiating session will be held in December 2025 in conjunction with the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 7) in Nairobi.
By advancing sustainable materials, engaging constructively in policy discussions, and preparing for a future of greater scrutiny, nonwoven manufacturers can position themselves not only to comply with regulations but to lead in innovation. Geneva may not have delivered a consensus, but it did clarify the stakes – and for nonwovens, the imperative is to adapt and prepare for a more circular future.
Wes Fisher is the Director of Government Affairs at INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry. Reach him, at wfisher@inda.org.
Circularity on the Rise
Pursuing a Positive Path Between 'Greenwashing' and 'Greenhushing' on Both Sides of the Atlantic.
By Adrian Wilson, International Correspondent, IFJ
The last quarter of 2025 boasts three major events focusing on nonwovens supply chain sustainable initiatives.
The 2025 RISE (Research, Innovation & Science for Engineered Fabrics) conference will first take place on October 14-15th at the McKimmon Center of North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. Organized by INDA in collaboration with The Nonwovens Institute (NWI), the event has established itself as a leading forum for innovation, science, and sustainability in the field of engineered fabrics.
RISE 2025 will focus on new approaches in recycling and the circular economy, examining the efficient reuse and repurposing of raw materials to reduce waste and conserve resources. Alongside this, there will be a strong focus on the development of bio-based fibers, hybrid materials, and natural-synthetic blends, which are increasingly seen as essential for achieving higher performance with a lighter environmental footprint.
Deliver,” and “Rethinking the Thin? Tough? Built to Last? Philosophy.”
Maximizing Engagement
A variety of formats have been designed to maximize engagement. Tabletop exhibits will showcase new products and technologies, while rapid-fire ‘Lightning Talks’ will offer concise insights into research breakthroughs and early-stage innovations.
Other sessions will highlight recent progress in coatings, additives, and biobased adhesives, as well as the emerging role of enzyme technologies and biodegradation mechanisms in improving the environmental performance of nonwoven products. The transition to more sustainable packaging and the importance of machinery efficiency in cutting energy use and emissions is also on the agenda.
Some notable sessions include ”From Seaweed to Second Life: Carbon-Smart Materials for a Circular Future,” “The New Fiber Formula: Dissolve, Degrade, and
A highlight of RISE each year is the RISE Innovation Award, which recognizes breakthrough developments that address pressing industry challenges. Nominations cover raw material advances, webforming technologies, novel applications, and product development.
This year’s nominations include EsterCycle by EsterCycle, Kelsun® fiber by Keel Labs and Fentanyl Detection by Rockline Industries.
Catalyst for Change
RISE 2025 positions itself as a catalyst for change in the nonwovens sector. Its mission is to encourage collaboration between academia, industry and manufacturing, driving the adoption of circularity and biodegradability while helping to translate promising research into realworld commercial solutions.
A dedicated networking reception will feature poster presentations by graduate students and provide opportunities for delegates to connect with researchers from the Nonwovens Institute. Guided tours of the Institute’s laboratories and pilot facilities will also allow participants to see leading-edge nonwoven research and testing equipment in operation.
NWI is the world’s first accredited academic program dedicated to nonwovens and one of the leading global centers for research, education and innovation in engineered fabrics. It specializes in advancing science and technology across the entire nonwovens value chain, from fiber and polymer chemistry to process engineering and product development. NWI operates state-of-the-art pilot facilities for meltblown, spunbond, carded and hydroentangled materials, enabling both fundamental research and industrialscale prototyping. By integrating academic expertise with industry partnerships, it drives innovation in sustainable materials, novel applications and next-generation manufacturing technologies. www.riseconf.net
Absorbent Hygiene
INDA’s Hygienix 2025 will be held from November 17-20 at the Omni Orlando ChampionsGate Resort in ChampionsGate, Florida.
”Hygienix exemplifies INDA’s commitment to empowering companies in the absorbent hygiene and personal care markets to advance their businesses,” says INDA president Tony Fragnito. ”The insights and connections made at this event drive growth and enable participants to meet evolving demands and market challenges.”
Texas, respectively. Both have achieved significant reductions in CO2 emissions, driven by ambitious targets for 2030 and the innovations of their suppliers.
P&G Packaging Focus
To date, P&G has primarily focused on the packaging of its AHPs to drive resource efficiencies. Through its Ambition 2030 framework, P&G aims to make 100% of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2030, and reduce virgin petroleum-based plastic use by 50% per unit compared to 2017. Nearly 99% of the brand’s paper packaging now comes from recycled or certified virgin sources, and 75% of virgin paper packaging is FSC-certified – surpassing an initial 50% target for this year.
Recognizing breakthrough products, technologies, and solutions that are making a significant impact in the hygiene sector, the Hygienix Innovation Award will also be awarded at the event.
Last year’s winner was Austin, Texasbased Hiro Technologies, the developer of MycoDigestable diapers, which were subsequently commercialized in 2025. These diapers feature an integrated pouch containing plastic-eating fungi capable of quickly biodegrading the entire product after use.
Leaders in AHPs
Driving developments along the nonwovens supply chain is the sustainable targets of major manufacturers for absorbent hygiene products (AHPs), like baby and adult diapers, and feminine care products. At the forefront of the AHPs market in North America are Procter & Gamble (P&G) and Kimberly-Clark (K-C), headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Irving,
In forestry sourcing, P&G maintains 100% third-party certified wood pulp, with 90% of packaging in its Family Care segment for AHPs being FSC-certified. It has further pledged to invest $20 million between this year and 2030 in alternative pulp development and to enhance transparency in pulp sourcing.
Net Zero by 2030
P&G’s target is to achieve a 65% reduction in its operational Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 2010 levels, and then achieve net zero across its supply chain and operations by 2040. Over 99% of the brand’s electricity usage is already from renewable sources and its Scope 3 supply chain emissions intensity has meanwhile been reduced by 60% compared to a 2020 baseline.
In partnership with Dow Chemical, a Midland, Michigan-based Company, P&G is further developing a recycling process that transforms hard-to-recycle plastics into near-virgin quality polyethylene (PE) using dissolution technology.
An existing polypropylene (PP) resin purification process, called VersoVita, is already commercially available at scale, licensed to PureCycle Technologies, headquartered in Orlando, Florida, and is still used internally by P&G while being offered for broader adoption.
Plastics Footprint
Kimberly-Clark has committed to reducing its plastics footprint by 50% by 2030, compared to 2019, through a combination of material efficiency, renewable/recycled substitutes, reusable product formats, and circular systems.
It has also pledged to become 100% Natural-Forest-Free across its product portfolio – meaning no raw materials from untouched or regrown natural forests – by 2030.
The company has already reduced its Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by nearly 41% and launched renewable energy initiatives, surpassing its water footprint targets.
K-C has also begun introducing reusable feminine care and incontinence products in select markets, alongside sustainable packaging innovations such as the Kotex paper pouch.
In February 2022, K-C took a majority stake in New York-based Thinx, giving it a ready-made platform in reusable period underwear, teen lines and bladder-leak
Developments are being driven along the nonwovens supply chain by the sustainable targets of the major manufacturers of absorbent hygiene products (AHPs). A.Wilson/Chat-GPT
underwear. Despite some restructuring in 2024, Thinx remains the category’s most recognizable brand and has extended K-C into true reusable products.
Reusables
Away from the activities of these major brands, the reusable diapers and femcare markets are now thriving, reflecting a global shift towards sustainability, health consciousness, and product innovation. Cloth diapers – especially hybrids and absorptive fabrics – are increasingly practical and stylish and led by smaller upcoming brands such as Alva Baby (Shenzen, China), Bambino Mio (Northampton, UK), BumGenius (Chesterfield, Missouri), Charlie Banana (Hong Kong), GroVia (Seattle, Washington), and Thirstie (New York). Convenient purchasing models and eco-driven trends support this growth.
In the femcare sphere, reusable solutions such as menstrual underwear, cups, and cloth pads are gaining traction. In addition to Thinx, companies such as Aisle (Vancouver, Canada), Eco Femme (Tamil Nadu, India), GladRags (Portland, Oregon), Mooncup (Brighton, UK), and OrganiCup (Copenhagen, Denmark) are elevating the market with new ethical, transparent, and socially responsible products. Both segments converge on themes of sustainability, performance, and accessibility. www.hygienix.org
Policy Concerns
EDANA’s Sustainability & Policy Forum 2025 will meanwhile take place from December 9-10, 2025, at the Residence Palace in Brussels, with an emphasis on how policy and new regulations are shaping supply chain innovation. Smart policy making is essential, especially in the EU, towards future viable sustainable solutions for the nonwovens industry.
Shedding light on this is the event’s keynote speaker is Jessika Roswall, Commissioner, Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy – European Commission.
Dedicated sessions will address the expectations of stakeholders in respect
of circular economy topics, green claims, sustainability reporting, and corporate due diligence.
Session themes include:
• Opportunities stemming from sustainability reporting.
• Chemical recycling technologies as a key to sustainability success.
• Protecting the industry through advocacy.
The advocacy piece includes an EU Advocacy Workshop that will provide in-depth insight into EDANA’s ongoing advocacy efforts at the EU level, with an overview of our current policy efforts. This offers participants a clear picture of the main regulatory issues impacting our industry.
This session is followed by a unique visit to the European Commission, where discussions will continue to address sustainability policies.
”The EU’s shift towards balancing sustainability with competitiveness will shape not only policy but the very framework within which we operate,” says EDANA public affairs director Brieuc Lits. ”The sector must adapt to stay competitive and aligned with regulatory expectations.”
”Sustainability is at the core of organizations like EDANA, but we have seen something of a change in direction, or an adaptation of goals from within the ‘Brussels Bubble’ recently,” adds EDANA’s general manager, Murat Dogru. ”There is now a positive recognition that the safeguarding of industries is necessary, and legislation
needs to be realistic and ensure we don’t lose the competitive advantages we have. Sustainability goals are still there, but there is also an understanding that there are maybe different routes we can take to give ourselves the resources to achieve them in the right way. That said, the EU’s goals have been embraced by our industry from the beginning and there is no question of pushing any stop button.”
Green Claims
Policy issues of current concern for EDANA, however, include the European Commission’s Green Claims Directive, which in its current form is viewed by many trade associations as insufficiently workable, predictable, and harmonized. EDANA fears that it will discourage companies from communicating their legitimate sustainability efforts – a concept now referred to as ‘greenhushing’, as opposed to ‘greenwashing’ – and divert critical resources from sustainability innovation to compliance, ultimately undermining the EU’s competitiveness. www.edana.org/events/ edana-sustainability-forum
Adrian Wilson is an international correspondent for International Fiber Journal . He is a leading journalist covering fiber, filtration, nonwovens and technical textiles. He can be reached at adawilson@gmail.com.
EDANA fears the EU’s Green Claims Directive could discourage companies from communicating legitimate sustainability efforts in its current form. A.Wilson/Chat-GPT
Circularity at the Forefront
By Caryn Smith, PubLISHER & Cheif Content Officer, IFJ
Over 100 presentations in parallel sessions will be presented at the 93rd Textile Institute World Conference (TIWC 2025). The event will take place from October 7 to 10 at the Porto Palácio Hotel and Spa in Porto, Portugal.
A comprehensive and international program, highlighting the close collaboration between researchers on separate continents, showcases the continuing development of technologies and practices for advancing fibre-to-fibre recycling as a means of accelerating a circular textiles economy.
These interlocking themes will define this year’s conference.
Circularity will be one of the most prominent concepts underpinning the program, and researchers from Manchester in the UK, for example, will share their evaluation of end-of-life garments, showing how almost half of those currently sent to waste could be channelled into advanced recycling.
From Chemnitz in Germany, a new knitting technology will be presented that allows higher proportions of recycled content in cotton fabrics while retaining softness and durability.
Most significant at TWIC 2025 will be the attention given to the human dimension of sustainability. In Sri Lanka, small and medium-sized apparel manufacturers will be shown to face critical health and safety risks as climate change brings rising temperatures, air pollution, and extreme weather. A new assessment tool will be introduced, which helps firms build resilience and protect workers.
Furthermore, the Textile Institute, in collaboration with Aquitex, is pleased to announce that António Braz Costa, Citeve, Portugal, (at right) will be delivering a keynote address at the upcoming Textile Institute World Conference (TIWC).
The conference will also explore but not be limited to the following sub-themes:
• Digital Fashion Futures
• Sustainable Fibers and Materials
• Circular Economy in Textiles
• Smart Textiles and Wearable Technology
• Digitalization in Textile Manufacturing and in the Fashion Supply Chain
• Advanced Recycling and Upcycling Technologies
• Sustainable Practices for Textile Processing Research teams working on different continents are arriving at strikingly similar solutions – circularity, digital integration, cleaner chemistry, and human-centered reform are all critical.
Meanwhile, case studies from Bangladesh and Pakistan will explore how local enterprises are already adopting closed-loop systems and circular business innovations, with recycled yarns reaching the supply chains of major global brands.
Taken together, the numerous presentations addressing circularity will demonstrate how waste is shifting from a burden to a new raw material, while also highlighting the infrastructure and policies required to make such systems commercially viable.
Alongside this, the conference will also highlight the revolution now taking place in digitalization.
Far from being a niche domain of design software, digital tools are becoming the backbone of sustainability itself. On the agenda are presentations on blockchain, digital product passports, and RFID systems that trace garments throughout their lifecycle, strengthening consumer trust and helping businesses meet new regulatory requirements.
New methods of digital textile printing and open-source knitting software will also be discussed, offering designers the ability to localise production and work with greater creative agency.
The Sustainable Fibre Alliance will also demonstrate how cashmere herders, traders, and processors in Mongolia are being engaged in a collective effort to reduce rangeland degradation and safeguard livelihoods.
UK fashion educators will further share approaches to preparing the next generation to adopt circular models and ethical consumerism, equipping future designers to strike a balance between profit and responsibility. At the consumer end, new research will reveal misalignments between brand recommendations for garment care and the behavior actually adopted by wearers, showing that communication must evolve.
“These examples will remind delegates that technology and recycling alone cannot deliver sustainability without parallel shifts in culture, education and policy,” says Textile Institute CEO Stephanie Dick. “The global nature of the challenges facing textiles is already widely acknowledged and climate change, waste, toxic chemicals, unsafe labour practices and consumer overconsumption have combined to make fashion and textiles one of the world’s most scrutinised industries. What will emerge from this conference, however, is an unmistakable sense of convergence and solid progress.”
www.textileinstitute.org/events/ tiwc
Review the full conference program at https://www.textileinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Author-List-2.pdf
INDA Announces Finalists for the 2025 RISE® Innovation Award
INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, announced the three finalists for the 2025 RISE® Innovation Award. A highlight of the RISE® (Research, Innovation & Science for Engineered Fabrics) Technology Conference, this award recognizes groundbreaking nonwoven-based innovations with the potential to advance the industry.
The 2025 RISE® Technology Conference will take place October 14-15 at the McKimmon Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC. Technology scouts, product developers, and business leaders from across the nonwovens value chain will gather to discover the latest research, connect with thought leaders, and see first-hand the technologies competing for the award.
The three finalists will present their groundbreaking technologies to conference participants on Tuesday afternoon, October 14. The winner of the 2025 RISE® Innovation Award will be announced on Wednesday afternoon, October 15.
Meet the 2025 Award Finalists:
EsterCycle by EsterCycle
Hospitals and laboratories generate enormous amounts of PPE nonwoven plastic waste, most of which is incinerated. Polyethylene terephthalate is used extensively in nonwovens, and there is significant interest in using biobased polyesters such as polylactic acid and polyhydroxyalkanoates to reduce the footprint of these essential materials. EsterCycle is a low cost and emissions chemical recycling technology that can handle biohazard contamination and break down mixed polyester nonwovens for circulation back into the supply chain.
Kelsun® Fiber by Keel Labs
Kelsun® Fiber, developed by Keel Labs, is the world’s first highperformance seaweed-based fiber. Plastic-free and tree-free; the combined properties of Kelsun® allow it to outperform all other fibers without shedding harmful microplastics. This break-
Lenzing Introduces “Lenzing Pro” Digital Platform
Global regenerated cellulosic fiber producer Lenzing Group recently launched Lenzing Pro, its one-stop digital platform for the textile and nonwovens supply chains.
Designed as a centralized hub for business users, the platform streamlines certification and branding processes, improves access to technical fiber information, and strengthens collaboration with Lenzing’s partners. This marks a significant step as the industry looks for ways to accelerate the integration of sustainable materials into products more easily.
through material brings extreme softness, high absorptivity, inherent flame resistance and antimicrobial properties, in addition to unmatched biodegradability. Engineered to integrate into existing nonwoven manufacturing, Kelsun® Fiber delivers a revolutionary material that combines performance with sustainability for next-generation consumer and industrial products.
Fentanyl Detection by Rockline Industries
Rockline Industries has developed a revolutionary fentanyl detection wipe that rapidly changes color from orangish to deep red upon contact with miniscule levels of fentanyl, enabling first responders, law enforcement, and others to identify the presence of toxic opioids safely. The wipe contains a novel formula with color indicators and a specific starch bound to viscose fibers, ensuring the reaction occurs on the wipe itself. It has been tested successfully with pharmaceutical and street-grade fentanyl and other dangerous opioids at various U.S. labs and police departments. The single-use sachet offers a convenient presumptive test with broad applications including military, airports, schools, and penitentiaries, with ongoing patent filings and potential for detecting other dangerous opioids. www.riseconf.net
Combining deep expertise in Lenzing’s trusted fibers with tools that enable swift, informed decisions across the global textile supply chain supports the shift toward lowerimpact fiber sourcing.
Lenzing Pro is a strategic evolution of the established and trusted Lenzing E-Branding Service, offering expanded functionality through a streamlined, multilingual and 24/7-accessible experience. Guided by the ethos of “One Platform. Numerous Possibilities”, it plays a vital role in supporting Lenzing’s global network of customers and
partners in their decision-making and marketing. In addition to core services such as Lenzing’s Fabric Certification and Brand Licensing, the platform also features a comprehensive fiber product catalog, including detailed specifications, technical properties and recommended applications for each fiber type. www.lenzingpro.com
Inaugural Textiles Recycling Expo USA 2026 Gains Industry Backing
Textiles Recycling Expo which debuted in Europe in June and attracted 126 exhibitors from 67 countries is coming stateside. The North American version, Textiles Recycling Expo USA is gaining industry backing and will be organized by Applied Market Information (AMI) at the Charlotte Convention Center in North Carolina in 2026.
It aims to address the current challenges in the sector by promoting dialogue, innovation, and collaboration for a more circular industry model. The list of exhibitors for the event includes companies such as Syre, Beyond Retro, Bank & Vogue, Valerius, Circ, and Debrand.
Syre, a founding exhibitor will align closely with the U.S. event as it is preparing to open its first plant in North Carolina, which will have the capacity to produce 10,000 metric tons of circular polyester each year. Syre’s involvement is supported by major retailers like H&M, Target, Gap, and Houdini Sportswear.
The event has also attracted sponsors, including American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) and a dedicated VIP area sponsored by ReJu. The expo has also formed partnerships with associations including Accelerating Circularity, which serves as a structural partner and collaborates with organizers to develop a conference program that addresses critical industry challenges and explores scalable solutions for textile-to-textile recycling.
The Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association (SMART) has joined as a founding partner, contributing its experience and networks to highlight best practices and foster collaboration across the industry.
Other supporters include the Southern Textile Association, Fashion Takes Action, North American Linen Association and the Carolina Recycling Association. events.amiplastics.com/textiles-recyclingexpo-usa/about-AMI
Indorama Ventures’ Certified Supply Chain Enables Bio-Based Textiles at Scale
I
ndorama Ventures Public Company Limited, a global sustainable chemical company, is accelerating the textile industry’s transition to lower-carbon materials with its scalable, high-performance bio-based PET fibers and yarns under the deja™ Bio portfolio.
At the upcoming Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress on September 10-12, Claire Mattelet, Global Sustainability Program Head for Indorama Ventures’ Fibers Business, will share the company’s experience in developing a fully certified, low-carbon supply chain at scale.
Her presentation will explore several challenges, such as
• Securing reliable sources of renewable feedstocks to produce bio-based PTA and MEG inhouse or sourcing bio-based chemicals such as bio-based MEG from trusted partners;
• Converting feedstock into PET chips, yarns, and fibers; and
• Navigating complex certification requirements.
As a result, Indorama Ventures is now able to offer customers and brand owners an integrated, fully certified supply chain through mass balance at scale.
Using a mass-balance approach means that renewable feedstocks, such as used cooking oil, are blended with fossil-based raw materials in existing production systems. The renewable content is then allocated to final products using certified methods like ISCC+, ensuring traceability throughout the value chain and compliance with chain-of-custody requirements.
By leveraging existing infrastructure, coupled with R&D capabilities and proven technologies, Indorama Ventures enables rapid market deployment of bio-based PET fibers and yarns that are chemically identical to their fossil counterparts. This ensures customer processes remain the same, performance metrics such as durability, dyeability, and strength are equal to virgin solutions, and brand owners and converters can speed up qualification lead times and immediately reduce Scope 3 emissions to seamlessly upgrade their existing product lines. www.indoramaventures.com
Milliken Acquires Highland Industries
Global diversified manufacturer Milliken & Company has acquired the assets of Highland Industries, Inc. in Cheraw, South Carolina. The transaction strengthens Milliken’s domestic operations and position in technical textiles.
“This acquisition bolsters the capabilities of Milliken’s technical textiles business to benefit our customers,” said Halsey Cook, president and CEO of Milliken. “We remain committed to the U.S. textile industry and grounded in our belief that precision manufacturing of innovative, high-performance materials is crucial for industrial resilience.”
The Highland facility will become a hub for Milliken’s technical textile weaving and knitting capabilities in the region.
“In addition to reinforcing current operations, acquiring Highland adds new offerings to the technical textiles portfolio,” said Allen Jacoby, EVP and president of Milliken’s technical textiles business. “Highland provides important assets to help us better serve our customers and opens the door to new growth opportunities.” www.milliken.com
American Textile Company’s Reid W. Ruttenberg Passes
Reid W. Ruttenberg, who steered family-owned American Textile Company from a regional manufacturer to a global utility bedding supplier, passed away peacefully on Aug. 7. He was 89.
Ruttenberg was the second generation to lead the business that had was founded in 1925 by his father and four uncles. During his life, he held numerous leadership roles, becoming President in 1964 and Chairman of the Board in 1991. From 2000 until his passing, he remained an active member of the board.
Ruttenberg was a lifelong Pittsburgher who never lived more than a mile from where he was born. Nonetheless, he had an expansive vision for the family business. Under his leadership, American Textile Company became one of the largest basic bedding companies in the United States and expanded its reach to more than 20 countries. Today, its products are carried in more than 40,000 stores and online retailers worldwide. www.americantextile.com
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Samsara Eco Opens Plant to Scale Circular Plastics
Biotech innovator Samsara Eco in Australia has opened its first plant to scale circular plastics, representing a significant milestone in the fight against plastic waste. The new plant will exponentially increase the company’s ability to produce virgin-identical, low-carbon circular materials like recycled nylon 6,6 and polyester with broad applications across apparel, packaging and automotives, at scale.
Located in Jerrabomberra, Australia, the new headquarters and plant houses EosEco, Samsara Eco’s breakthrough enzymatic recycling technology. The technology uses AI-crafted enzymes to break down mixed plastics destined for landfill into recycled raw materials, ready for brands to incorporate into their next product line. The facility also houses expanded enzyme production facilities, allowing Samsara Eco to further build out its proprietary AI-powered enzyme discovery and development platform to find recycling solutions for a broader range of plastics.
The circular materials made at Jerrabomberra will feature in upcoming product lines for global brands like lululemon, as well as pilot programs and trials with brands across textiles, automotive and packaging. The facility will also host world-first research including finding recycling solutions for the likes of spandex with The LYCRA Company, and their collaboration with Deakin University’s Recycling and Clean Energy Commercialization Hub, part of the Australian Government’s Trailblazer Universities Program.
Today, only 10% of plastics are recycled and less than 1% of textiles are recycled into new textiles, perpetuating a linear economy. Samsara Eco aims to rewrite those numbers by recycling the unrecyclable to keep high-value materials out of the landfill. www.samsaraeco.com
Navis TubeTex Partners with Mascoe Systems
Navis TubeTex, a global leader in dyeing and finishing machinery and technology for the textile industry, announced a strategic partnership with Mascoe Systems to manufacture, sell, and service Mascoe’s line of coaters across the industrial, upholstery, and apparel markets. This powerful alliance marks a major step forward in expanding Navis TubeTex’s already extensive portfolio of advanced coating technologies.
Mascoe Systems, a respected and trusted brand in the coating industry, brings decades of proven innovation and performance to the table. Through this partnership, the wellknown Mascoe coater designs will now be backed by the global reach, manufacturing excellence, and customer service strength of Navis TubeTex.
The Mascoe product line adds yet another dimension to the company’s offering that includes customized solutions in foam application, rotary spray, dry impregnation, slotdie, knife-over-roll, gravure, and other coating technologies. www.navisglobal.com
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October 28-29, 2026
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