Materials & Production News
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Tuesday, 27 July 2021Buyer pressure puts strain on sustainability goals
ARLINGTON – Seasonal fluctuations in ‘Monthly Order Variability’(MOV) can put a strain on buyer-supplier relationships and lead to practices that have been identified as having a high impact on businesses and their sustainability efforts, according… -
Monday, 26 July 2021Lenzing invests in new wastewater treatment plant
GRIMSBY – Austrian fibre manufacturer The Lenzing Group is to invest £20 million (US$27.5m) in a new wastewater treatment plant at its site in Grimsby, England. The investment supports Lenzing’s target of reducing wastewater emissions by 2022. Phil… -
Thursday, 22 July 2021Spike in organic cotton forecast by 2030
VANCOUVER – Global industry non-profit Textile Exchange is predicting an 84 per cent increase in demand for organic cotton by the year 2030, compared to a 2019/2020 baseline. The forecast - based on a survey of Textile Exchange members and members… -
Thursday, 22 July 2021Indian retailers join Canopy initiatives
BENGALURU – Indian e-commerce platform FlipKart and fashion retailer Myntra have partnered with environmental non-profit Canopy in a bid to protect ancient and endangered forests by way of responsible sourcing practices. The companies have committed… -
Thursday, 22 July 2021Textile waste consumes London for campaign
LONDON - This eye-catching image of the streets of London piled up with textile waste is part of a new campaign - by Reckitt brand Vanish - to encourage people to wear clothes for longer. Created by the Havas London advertising agency, it highlights… -
Wednesday, 21 July 2021Latest wool declaration clarifies mulesing definitions
NEW SOUTH WALES – The Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) has published a revised National Wool Declaration (NWD), which chief executive Mark Grave says, “endeavours to create clarity and provide the market with confidence”. Key changes relate to… -
Wednesday, 21 July 2021Accelerating Circularity seeks trial partners
NEW YORK – The Accelerating Circularity initiative is seeking partners for its recently announced US trials of commercial scale textile-to-textile systems. The organisation has published a new report, Putting Textiles to Good Use, in which it… -
Wednesday, 21 July 2021Aii launches bid to bring sustainability home
SAN FRANCISCO – The Apparel Impact Institute (Aii) is partnering with sustainable finance company Bank of the West to introduce the 'Clean by Design' (CBD) programme in the garment supply chain in its native California. The company, which is already… -
Tuesday, 20 July 2021ILO reveals coup impact on garment industry
YANGON - A quarter of a million garment workers in Myanmar have lost their jobs following the military coup in February, according to a new study by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The ILO says the coup, on top of the economic impact of… -
Tuesday, 20 July 2021Microfibre research highlights potential solutions
VANCOUVER – Environmental non-profit Ocean Wise has detailed the findings of a new study into textile microfibre emissions, which suggests a combination of solutions at home, at the manufacturing stage and during design could drastically reduce the… -
Tuesday, 20 July 2021Leather industry challenges new alternatives
GLOBAL - Four organisations representing the global leather industry have issued a joint statement in which they challenge the growing use of 'sustainable' alternatives to leather. The International Council of Tanners’ (ICT), Cotance (the… -
Tuesday, 20 July 2021Garment factories could be underwater by 2030
ASIA - Many parts of garment-producing areas in Asian supply countries could be underwater by 2030, according to new research commissioned by the International Labour Organization (ILO). Two researchers at Cornell University, New York, carried out… -
Monday, 19 July 2021OCA publishes 2020 annual report
AMSTERDAM – The Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) initiative has published its 2020 annual report, in which it reflects on “a year of milestones, opportunities and successes”. The organisation, which supports farmers in cultivating organic cotton… -
Monday, 19 July 2021Cotton tracing trial shows positive signs
JERUSALEM – The Israeli Cotton Board (ICB) has provided a positive update on its trial of a chemical marker technology and blockchain platform within cotton supply chains. The organisation announced a partnership with product authentication… -
Friday, 16 July 2021Factory owners hit back on COVID-19 claims
COLOMBO – Garment factory owners in Sri Lanka have hit back against criticism from human rights campaigners who urged them to do more to protect their workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Sri Lanka Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) says… -
Friday, 16 July 2021US warns of Xinjiang risks to businesses
WASHINGTON DC - The US government has issued an advisory notice warning of "heightened risks" to businesses with links to the Xinjiang region of China because of "horrific abuses" against Uyghur Muslims and other minority groups. More than a million… -
Thursday, 15 July 2021
Li & Fung partners with Canopy
HONG KONG – Fashion supply chain logistics specialist Li & Fung has partnered with environmental non-profit Canopy to help protect vulnerable forests. The company joins the likes of Puma and LVMH in committing to the Canadian organisation’s… -
Thursday, 15 July 2021Sympatex sustainability work recognised by B Corp
MUNICH – German textile manufacturer Sympatex Technologies has been named one of the ‘Best for the World’ B Corporations for 2021. The recognition places Sympatex among the top five per cent of B Corps globally, of which there are an estimated… -
Thursday, 15 July 2021Brands 'fail to address wage theft in Cambodia'
PHNOM PENH - Cambodian workers producing apparel for companies including Adidas, VF Corp, Target, Nike and Gap were deprived of an estimated US$109 million in wages during COVID-19 lockdowns in April and May 2021, according to campaigners. This… -
Wednesday, 14 July 2021Carbon tracking company secures new investment
BERLIN – Vaayu, a German carbon tracking software company, has secured US$1.6 million in investment which it’ll use to support the fashion industry’s ongoing environmental efforts. The funding is expected to be used to optimise the firm’s platform,… -
Wednesday, 14 July 2021Partners turn carbon emissions into fabric
VANCOUVER - Athletic apparel retailer Lululemon has partnered with biotech startup LanzaTech to create what is claimed to be the world’s first fabric made from captured carbon emissions. LanzaTech is working with ‘green’ petrochemical manufacturer… -
Wednesday, 14 July 2021Lenzing partnership yields citrus-blended Tencel
LENZING – Austrian textile manufacturer Lenzing Group has partnered with Italian innovator Orange Fiber to integrate citrus by-products in the production of Tencel-branded fibre. Orange Fiber boasts a patented production process that enables it to… -
Tuesday, 13 July 2021TMC publicly releases microfibre test
BRISTOL – The Microfibre Consortium (TMC) has announced the public release of its test method that determines the level of microfibres shed from fabrics during domestic laundering. First unveiled in 2019, the globally aligned and standard test has… -
Monday, 12 July 2021
Fears raised for Sri Lankan garment workers
NEW YORK – Brands which source from Sri Lanka, along with the country's government and factory owners, should do more to protect garment workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Human Rights Watch NGO. The influential organisation is… -
Thursday, 08 July 2021
Report reveals scale of pandemic 'wage theft'
SOUTH ASIA - A comprehensive new report on the experiences of supply chain workers producing garments for major brands during the COVID-19 pandemic says the overwhelming majority suffered from 'wage theft'. Entitled 'Money Heist - COVID-19 Wage… -
Thursday, 08 July 2021Consultation opens on European PEF proposals
BRUSSELS - Proposals to create a Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) system to measure the environmental impact of apparel and footwear products sold within the European Union have gone out to public consultation. The PEF Technical Secretariat of… -
Thursday, 08 July 2021Partnership vies to boost circular fashion uptake
BANYARES DE MARIOLA – Material sciences company Recover has forged a partnership with end-to-end solution provider Happy Punt and apparel exporter Hansae Co to streamline the development of more ‘sustainable’ clothing. The trio have joined forces to… -
Wednesday, 07 July 2021
AWI chairman calls for direction on mulesing
VICTORIA – The new chairman of Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) has refused to be drawn on discussions surrounding the fate of mulesing in the country’s wool sector, saying it’s up to industry leaders to “set a clear direction”. Speaking with… -
Wednesday, 07 July 2021YKK adopts ‘sustainable’ treatment for zippers
TOKYO – Fastening solutions manufacturer YKK has entered into a licensing agreement with US innovator Green Theme Technologies (GTT), and will start using the firm’s Empel water protection treatment across its portfolio of sustainably-made zippers.… -
Wednesday, 07 July 2021ISKO to leverage HKRITA recycling solution
BURSA – Denim manufacturer ISKO has secured a licensing agreement with the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) to leverage its separation and recycling solution. The Green Machine, as it’s known, works via a hydrothermal… -
Tuesday, 06 July 2021Regenagri programme launches new digital hub
LONDON - The Regenagri regenerative agriculture initiative has launched a new version of its digital hub, Regenagri 2.0, to help textile growers monetise their carbon reduction. The new platform enables brands to manage large groups of farms and… -
Tuesday, 06 July 2021Food waste could change fashion - report
MUMBAI - Agricultural waste, such as rice straw and banana stems, from farming in South and Southeast Asia could be used to produce sustainable natural textile fibres at scale, according to a new report. The study, entitled Spinning Future Threads,… -
Monday, 05 July 2021Scientists: ‘End plastic production by 2040’
GLOBAL – Scientists have called for a global treaty to phase out the production of virgin and new plastics by 2040. Writing in the journal Science, the academics outlined the need for clear limits and controls if we’re to stop the material’s… -
Thursday, 01 July 2021Organic cotton hits global record - report
VANCOUVER – Global industry non-profit Textile Exchange has released its 2021 Organic Cotton Market Report revealing that the 2019/20 season saw the largest volume of organic cotton fibre harvested globally to-date. Some 229,280 farmers grew 249,153… -
Thursday, 01 July 2021Outland Denim makes cotton tracing ‘breakthrough’
BRISBANE – Australian jeanswear brand Outland Denim says it has reached a breakthrough in its supply chain traceability, and can now track the entirety of its products’ journeys from cotton seed to consumer. It follows progress reported in the… -
Wednesday, 30 June 2021New circular project targets textile recycling
ANTWERP - A new circular fashion project has been launched in a bid to reduce clothing waste by providing practical evidence of the potential of textile-to-textile recycling. Clothing brands Decathlon, Petit Bateau, Bel & Bo, HNST and Xandres, as… -
Wednesday, 30 June 2021BCI hits record despite Xinjiang and pandemic
GENEVA - The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has published its latest annual report in which it reveals that its 'better cotton' now accounts for 23 per cent of global production. In the 2019-2020 season, BCI retailer and brand members sourced 1.7… -
Tuesday, 29 June 2021
Industry calls for EU-wide rules on EPR
AMSTERDAM - The Policy Hub initiative, which aims to accelerate circularity in the apparel and footwear industry, has joined other players in calling for EU-wide rules on extended producer responsibility (EPR). The Policy Hub - a joint project from… -
Tuesday, 29 June 20213D design upgrade 'to reduce fashion waste'
LOS ANGELES — Garment label manufacturer Avery Dennison has teamed up with Singapore-based Browzwear, a pioneer of 3D digital solutions, to help reduce waste in the global fashion industry. The company says the cross-industry collaboration will make… -
Tuesday, 29 June 2021Good Fashion Fund strikes first deal
AMSTERDAM – Fashion for Good’s Good Fashion Fund has struck its first deal as it looks to support manufacturers in their transition to more sustainable working environments. India’s Pratibha Syntex is the beneficiary, and has been granted US$4.5… -
Monday, 28 June 2021BCI enters partnership to boost soil health
GENEVA - The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has entered into a partnership with the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) in a bid to promote more sustainable soil management in the cotton industry. Together they will undertake two pilot projects - Soil… -
Monday, 28 June 2021Bangladesh: calls to continue despite lockdown
DHAKA – Leading figures in Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector have urged authorities to keep manufacturing facilities open throughout the country’s seven-day lockdown, which starts today. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters… -
Friday, 25 June 2021OCA links up with German cohort for new pilot
AMSTERDAM - The Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) initiative has joined forces with retailer Tchibo, textiles supplier Dibella, Fairtrade Germany and the German development agency GIZ for a new pilot project in India. More than 500 cotton farmers in… -
Thursday, 24 June 2021Quick wins to boost buyers' sustainability
ARLINGTON – Brands and retailers could boost sustainability by making simple, low-cost changes to their purchasing practices, according to the Better Buying Institute (BBI). Supplier insights from the BBI's latest research reveal that some of the… -
Thursday, 24 June 2021Sri Lankan garment workers 'hit by third wave'
COLOMBO - Workers' rights campaigners are calling on brands, factory owners and government to do more to help garment workers in Sri Lanka cope with the severe effects of the third COVID-19 wave. The Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) and local worker… -
Thursday, 24 June 2021Report heralds next gen materials industry
NAPA - The search for next-gen materials to replace animal-based products in fashion, and other industries, will be worth US$2.2 billion a year by 2026, according to a new report from the Material Innovation Initiative (MII). The non-profit, which… -
Thursday, 24 June 2021
The Renewal Workshop secures US$6 million
CASCADE LOCKS – Secondhand solutions specialist The Renewal Workshop (TRW) has secured US$6 million after a successful funding round. Investments from the likes of Rubio Ventures, Shift Invest, Quadia, Closed Loop Partners, Fashion for Good and… -
Thursday, 24 June 2021ACT brands in bid to protect Myanmar workers
YANGON - Members of the ACT initiative - including leading brands such as H&M, Zara owner Inditex and Primark - have issued guidance to protect garment workers in Myanmar who struggle to attend work because of the dangerous situation on the streets.… -
Wednesday, 23 June 2021Lenzing extends tracing tech to Tencel
LENZING – Austrian fibre manufacturer Lenzing has extended its fibre indentification technology to cover its Tencel branded lyocell and modal fibres. The tracing technology offers assurances to customers of the provenance of materials by mapping the… -
Wednesday, 23 June 2021
Climate report spells out high risks to cotton
LONDON - The first-ever analysis of the threat of climate change to global cotton production reveals that half of all cotton-growing regions could be exposed to high risks by 2040. The study was commissioned by the Cotton 2040 initiative and carried…
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