Materials & Production News
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Friday, 18 October 2019Agencies fear impact of diluted Bangladesh water policies
DHAKA - The International Development Organisation (IDO) fears the impact of Bangladesh's garment industry on the country's water supplies is becoming "alarming" despite policies put in place to protect them. The use of groundwater for textile… -
Friday, 18 October 2019Sexual harassment costs Cambodian garment industry dear
PHNOM PENH - Sexual harassment in the workplace could be costing the Cambodian garment industry as much as US$89 million per year, according to the Care Cambodia development organisation. Jan Noorlander, the organisation's acting country director,… -
Thursday, 17 October 2019Textile Exchange announces new 2030 sustainability strategy
VANCOUVER – At its annual conference, non-profit Textile Exchange announced its new Climate+ sustainability strategy which includes a bold ambition to help the industry reduce its CO2 emissions from textile fibre and material production by between… -
Thursday, 17 October 2019Wool, viscose the focus of Textile Exchange blockchain project
VANCOUVER – Textile Exchange has partnered with blockchain technology provider TextileGenesis in a pilot scale study that will assess the feasibility of mapping the chain of custody in wool and viscose supply chains. TextileGenesis is once again… -
Thursday, 17 October 2019Brands boycott Xinjiang cotton over forced labour fears
XINJIANG - Fashion brands Cotton On and Target Australia have stopped sourcing cotton from China's Xinjiang province over concerns about mass human rights abuses there - including forced labour by prisoners. Cotton On has now completed an internal… -
Thursday, 17 October 2019Nirapon and BGMEA locked in talks on factory safety
DHAKA - Nirapon, the body set up to continue the work of the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, has announced that it is still in talks with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on factory safety. The two bodies… -
Wednesday, 16 October 2019Textile Exchange debut for Spinnova’s straw fibre
VANCOUVER – On the opening day of this year’s Textile Exchange sustainability conference, here in Vancouver, Canada, Finnish fibre innovator Spinnova is showcasing a newly developed textile fibre based on wheat straw. The company has on display a… -
Tuesday, 15 October 2019Research flags up extent of textile waste
PARIS – New research from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) calculates that the issue of textile waste costs the industry around £414 million per annum, due to clothing underutilisation which is subsequently discarded.… -
Tuesday, 15 October 2019Birla Cellulose produces viscose from cotton waste
MUMBAI - Textile manufacturer Birla Cellulose claims to have achieved a breakthrough in manufacturing viscose fibre using pre-consumer cotton fabric waste. The company, part of the Aditya Birla Group, says the new line of viscose is already being… -
Tuesday, 15 October 2019RGE invests US$200m in textile fibre innovation
SINGAPORE – Manufacturing group Royal Golden Eagle (RGE) has announced plans to invest US$200 million in cellulosic textile fibre research and development over the next 10 years. The investment, revealed ahead of the Textile Exchange Sustainability… -
Monday, 14 October 2019Deforestation sparks concerns over wood-derived textiles
AMAZON - Amidst concern over a surge in the number of wildfires in the Amazon rainforest this year, questions are being asked about what deforestation means for ‘sustainable’ wood-derived textiles. Illegal deforestation is more commonly linked to… -
Monday, 14 October 2019Vietnam's garment industry told to clean up its act
HANOI - Vietnam's garment industry has been told to clean up its act in terms of its huge water and energy use and the substantial pollution caused by the discharge of toxic chemicals. Le Hong Thang, the Director of the Department of Industry and… -
Monday, 14 October 2019California bans the sale of fur
LOS ANGELES - California has become the first US state to ban the sale and manufacture of new fur products. The law will prevent the sale or manufacturer of clothing, shoes or handbags made with fur from 2023. The bill was supported by some of the… -
Monday, 14 October 2019Birla Cellulose claims carbon neutral emissions
MUMBAI - Textile manufacturer Birla Cellulose says it has become the first viscose manufacturer to declare carbon neutrality in Scope 1 and Scope 2 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. It comes after the company, part of the Aditya Birla Group, evaluated… -
Friday, 11 October 2019Fibre Council to promote organic message
VANCOUVER - The Organic Trade Association’s Fibre Council is to focus on organic supply chain integrity and best labelling practices for organic textiles when it participates in the 2019 Textile Sustainability Conference. The Fibre Council, which is… -
Friday, 11 October 2019Costco children's pyjamas among blocked imports
NEW YORK - Children’s pyjamas and baby sleepers sold by wholesaler Costco - believed to have been made with forced labour by ethnic minority groups held at an internment camp in China - were reportedly among imports recently blocked by US officials… -
Thursday, 10 October 2019Questions raised over Bangladesh Accord successor
DHAKA - Workers rights NGOs are questioning whether Bangladesh is ready to take on responsibility for workplace safety six years on from the Rana Plaza disaster. The Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh has been described as one of few… -
Wednesday, 09 October 2019Investment takes Spinnova towards upscaling
JYVASKYLA - Finnish fibre company Spinnova has raised new growth capital of 11 million euros which it says will enable it to look towards commercialising what it claims will be the world’s most sustainable textile fibre. Spinnova has patented a… -
Wednesday, 09 October 2019Lenzing invests €40M to lower carbon footprint
AUSTRIA – As it looks to become carbon neutral by 2050, man-made cellulosic fibre supplier Lenzing has earmarked €40 million to optimise its self-sufficiency on raw materials such as sulphuric acid, improve filtration and reduce its use of fossil… -
Wednesday, 09 October 2019HeiQ technologies bolster circular ambition
ZURICH – Twinery, the technology arm of apparel giant MAS Holdings, has partnered with Swiss innovator HeiQ to bolster its ambition of creating a circular value chain for its Truecycled synthetic yarn. Both HeiQ’s Clean Tech and Eco Dry products are… -
Tuesday, 08 October 2019Textiles microfibres leak past wastewater treatment
VANCOUVER – New research estimates that around 878 tonnes of textile microfibres are washed into North American waterways every year from home laundering even after wastewater treatment, which usually catches around 95 per cent of total microfibre… -
Monday, 07 October 2019Inaugural World Cotton Day opens in Geneva
GENEVA – Leading figures in the global cotton industry have converged on the Swiss city of Geneva for the first ever World Cotton Day. The event is being held at the World Trade Organisation’s headquarters following a request by the 'Cotton-4'… -
Friday, 04 October 2019Garment and textile agreement proving 'effective’
The Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile is proving to be a relevant and effective way of improving sustainability in the sector, according to a new independent report. Research consultants Avance Impact say companies participating in… -
Friday, 04 October 2019Scientists create water-resistant natural wax coating
HELSINKI – Scientists in Finland have developed a new, natural wax coating which they say makes an affordable water-resistant and breathable coating for garments without the use of harmful chemicals. It comes amidst growing concern over the use of… -
Thursday, 03 October 2019Soil Association launches organic cotton report
LONDON - The Soil Association has launched a new report - Thirsty for Fashion - in support of its 'Cotton On' campaign in support of organic cotton. The launch, at the Devonshire Club in London, was attended by leading brands, including Arcadia,… -
Wednesday, 02 October 2019Bluesign Technologies joins forces with ZDHC
AMSTERDAM - Swiss-based Bluesign Technologies is to become a contributor to the ZDHC Roadmap to Zero Programme which aims to substitute hazardous chemicals for safer ones in textiles and clothing production. It comes 17 months after Bluesign, which… -
Tuesday, 01 October 2019EOCA support boosts funding potential
KENDAL – The European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) now counts 150 companies as members, and says that with this, it can provide greater support and funding to projects the world over. EOCA says that with more companies and organisations… -
Tuesday, 01 October 2019New fibre hopes to be classed as paper
OSLO – Two Finnish companies working on a new class of cellulose-based fibre, claimed to be the ‘most sustainable’ in the world, have been talking about their hopes for the product. Spinnova, which recently announced a long-term product development… -
Monday, 30 September 2019Rival integrity initiatives compete in wool industry
SYDNEY – The new head of Australia’s first industry-owned wool integrity scheme says it’s already gaining traction among sheep farmers and other industry players. Dr Paul Swan, a former research chief with the Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) who… -
Monday, 30 September 2019
Birla Cellulose to halve water use by 2025
MUMBAI - Textile manufacturer Birla Cellulose has set a target of reducing its water use, compared to 2015 levels, by 50 per cent by the year 2025. The company, the world's largest producer of viscose staple fibre (MMF), says it will achieve the… -
Monday, 30 September 2019Cordenka receives biodegradability certification
OBERNBERG - German textiles manufacturer Cordenka has received certification from TÜV Rheinland confirming the biodegradability of its cellulose-based natural fibres. It confirms that the company's technical multifilament yarns are biodegradable in… -
Friday, 27 September 2019Firms team up for sustainable yarn development
MUMBAI – Thai Acrylic Fiber Co. (TAF), of the Aditya Birla Group, has partnered with Bangladeshi textile manufacturer Simco; a collaboration through which the duo will combine the former’s Radianza fibre with recycled Cyclo cotton. Bringing together… -
Friday, 27 September 2019Success in tackling slavery among garment workers
TAMIL NADU - A five year programme to eradicate bonded labour among workers in India - including garment factory employees - has succeeded in reducing modern slavery, according to a new report. The Freedom Fund initiative has been trialling two… -
Friday, 27 September 2019Brands join pilot scheme to pay garment workers digitally
NEW YORK - Levi Strauss, Marks & Spencer, and the VF Corporation have joined forces with Mastercard in a pilot scheme to pay garment workers digitally in Egypt and Cambodia. The aim is to ensure factory workers - especially women who make up 68 per… -
Friday, 27 September 2019Report on BCI's work in India notes weaknesses
ANDHRA PRADESH - A new report on the work of the Better Cotton Initiative to encourage sustainable farming practices among smallholder cotton producers in India has highlighted a number of weaknesses. The report, commissioned by the ISEAL Alliance,… -
Friday, 27 September 2019New Toray brand markets recycled PET fibres
TOKYO – Japanese material innovator Toray has announced the launch of a new brand that will be used exclusively to market synthetic fibres derived from recycled PET plastics. The company has developed contaminant filtering technology which it says… -
Thursday, 26 September 2019Pertex propagates sustainability with new targets
MUNICH – Fabric producer Pertex has announced new sustainability commitments off the back of the release of its first report on the matter. The company says it wants to minimise its environmental impact through more considered business practices,… -
Thursday, 26 September 2019Delicate wash settings release more microfibres
NEWCASTLE - Scientists have revealed the surprising results of new research which reveals that washing clothes on a delicate setting is more environmentally damaging as it releases hundreds of thousands of extra microfibres into rivers and oceans.… -
Thursday, 26 September 2019Fears for brands amidst Myanmar genocide threat
GENEVA – A new UN report highlights that ethnic minorities in Myanmar are “under the threat of genocide,” from the country’s military; this, as brands re-evaluate supplier relations. Last month, fashion firm Esprit said it would sever ties with… -
Wednesday, 25 September 2019Elevate Textiles establishes 2025 commitments
CHARLOTTE – Elevate Textiles, which owns the brands American & Efird, Burlington, Cone Denim, Gütermann and Safety Components, has laid out 2025 commitments which address its use of materials, water and the emission of greenhouse gasses (GHG). The… -
Wednesday, 25 September 2019BlockTexx, Infinited Fiber amongst ’50 to watch’
SAN FRANCISCO – Research and consultancy firm, the Cleantech Group, has announced a ‘50 to watch’ list of innovators from across industry, the technologies of which are said to represent impactful solutions to the environment’s most pressing issues.… -
Tuesday, 24 September 2019
Tracing tech adopted for cotton ginning season
STONY BROOK – Molecular technologies specialist Applied DNA Sciences (ADNAS) has received an order of US$1 million to supply its SigNature T tagging technology for the 2019/20 cotton ginning season which begins in October. The Company’s SigNature T… -
Tuesday, 24 September 2019Alarming levels of toxic chemical found in textiles hub river
SURAT - A new study has found alarming levels of nonylphenol - a toxic chemical widely used in the textiles industry - in the Tapti River in the Indian city of Surat. The study, by the Delhi-based Toxics Link non-profit organisation, found… -
Friday, 20 September 2019
Cambodia increases garment workers' pay amidst EU pressure
PHNOM PENH — Cambodia has raised its minimum wage for textile workers by 4.4 per cent amidst pressure from the European Union over its record on human rights. The increase, which comes into effect in January, increases the legal minimum salary paid… -
Thursday, 19 September 2019
Textile factories face closure over river dumping
DHAKA - Seven textile and dyeing factories in Bangladesh will be ordered to shut down production in three months unless they establish effluent treatment plants (ETPs) to stop dumping untreated waste into the badly-polluted Buriganga River. The… -
Thursday, 19 September 2019Textiles firm develops new eco-fabric from cork
GUIMARES - Portuguese textiles firm Têxteis Penedo is developing cork into a new eco-fabric for home textiles. The firm has opened a factory at its headquarters in the city of Guimarães to manufacture its new 'Cork-a-Tex' fabric which is made of 30… -
Wednesday, 18 September 2019
New campaign aims to inspire shoppers to buy organic cotton
LONDON - A new campaign aimed at boosting consumer understanding of organic cotton and the benefits it brings to the planet is to be launched next month. The campaign, run by Soil Association Certification in partnership with environmental charity… -
Wednesday, 18 September 2019Podcast: here come the robots!
Advances in robotics and automated technology could potentially reduce the impact of textile and garment manufacture, but how does this play out for impoverished workers in developing nations? In our latest Planet Textiles Podcast, former… -
Tuesday, 17 September 2019Social auditing 'protects brands but lets down workers'
AMSTERDAM - The multi-billion dollar social auditing industry protects brands' reputation and profits but is failing to protect the safety of garment workers, according to a new report from the Clean Clothes Campaign. The report, Fig Leaf for… -
Tuesday, 17 September 2019Scientists combine spider silk and wood to replace plastic
HELSINKI - Scientists say they have found a way of combining the silk protein found in spider webs with wood cellulose fibres to make an biodegradable alternative to plastic for a variety of uses including textiles. Researchers at Aalto University…
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