January 9, 2019
At the end of 2018, the European Commission launched the Circular Plastics Alliance, which will be made up of industry stakeholders from the whole plastics value chain. The Commission described this as part of its ongoing effort to drive the European Union towards a circular economy, to stimulate innovation, reduce plastic waste and increase recycled …
December 17, 2018
A three-year, EU life-cycle assessment study to evaluate alternatives to fluorine-based durable water- and oil-repellents (DWOR) for textiles has concluded that fluorinated formulations have a negative environmental impact “10 to 40 times larger” than fluorine-free alternatives. Ecotextile News reported that the study also confirmed that fluorine-free water repellent coatings can do the same job as …
AGC Chemicals Americas has developed AsahiGuard E-Series fluorinated repellents that are free of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and made for nonwoven fabrics. Drawing on fluorine’s properties, the chemicals provide protection and durability against water, oil and dry soil without changing the texture, color or breathability of a fabric or material, the company reports. The products are …
Nanollose has created a sweater using its tree-free rayon fiber, Nullarbor FibreTM, sourced from coconut waste. The company points to the sweater as proof that Nullarbor can be used within current industrial protocol, since the fiber was spun into yarn, made into fabric and manufactured into the garment using existing industrial equipment. Nanollose’s biomaterial technology …
December 11, 2018
In response to the European Union’s call for voluntary pledges for the uptake of recycled plastics, Thrace Group submitted a pledge to substitute more than 8,500 tons of virgin raw material with recycled materials by 2025. This represents Thrace Group’s contribution to the goal of significantly increasing the quantity of plastic waste that will be …
November 26, 2018
London-based architectural and design studio ecoLogicStudio recently revealed a large-scale installation it calls “photo.synth.etica” during Dublin’s Climate Innovation Summit 2018. Created in collaboration with climate-KIC, prominent EU climate innovation initiative, the urban curtain aims to accelerate solutions to global climate change by capturing CO2 from the atmosphere and storing it in real-time: approximately one kilo …
November 12, 2018
Officina+39, an Italian textile chemical company, is preparing to scale up the production of Recycrom colour powders made from used clothing and textile waste. The new technology developed by Officina+39 uses 100 percent recycled materials to create long-lasting colors with a natural washed-out look. The product offers a range of pigment powders using textile fibers …
PrimaLoft Inc. announces that it has introduced PrimaLoft Bio, a synthetic insulation made from 100 percent recycled, biodegradable fibers. The idea was born in 2014 when a PrimaLoft product manager said during a weekly research and development meeting, “Why can’t we just make a jacket insulation that we can bury in the backyard?” PrimaLoft then …
October 25, 2018
Eastman Chemical Co. recently launched Naia, a cellulosic yarn, into the women’s wear market. Naia’s origins are traceable and sustainably sourced wood pulp; Eastman holds FSC and PEFC Chain of Custody certification. According to the company, the cellulosic yarn is produced in a closed-loop process that involves recycling solvents for reuse within the system. In …
October 8, 2018
Established two years ago, the ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX® certification serves to examine textile chemicals used as aids in production. The certification by Hohenstein supplements the existing OEKO-TEX® certifications, such as STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX. A third stage was recently added to the certification process. In the interests of sustainability, this stage will address environmental …