Materials & Production News
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Friday, 06 December 2019Brands urged to reduce supply chain GHG emissions
BEIJING - Brands and retailers need to redouble their efforts to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in their global supply chains if they are to meet the targets of the 2015 Paris Agreement, according to a new report. The 2019 Supply Chain… -
Friday, 06 December 2019Nike, Gap supplier pays out “largest ever” severance sum
SEOUL – A 2,000 strong Indonesian workforce will share what’s believed to be the largest ever severance sum paid in the garment manufacturing industry, after its employer has been urged to pay US$4.5 million by customers including Nike, Gap and… -
Thursday, 05 December 2019M&S reveals viscose suppliers with digital map
LONDON - Retail giant Marks & Spencer (M&S) has extended its digital map revealing the suppliers in its global supply chain to include information about where it sources its man-made cellulosic fibres. The online map lists both raw material… -
Thursday, 05 December 2019Leading companies reduce GHG emissions by 35%
MADRID - As world leaders gather in Madrid to discuss the climate crisis, a new report reveals that leading players in the private sector - including the apparel industry - are on course to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement. The report, by the… -
Wednesday, 04 December 2019HSBC to study 'sustainability' in Sri Lanka
COLOMBO - HSBC Sri Lanka, in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), has begun a study aimed at reducing the impact of the country's apparel industry on the environment. The project will focus on small and… -
Wednesday, 04 December 2019Vaude aims to be carbon neutral globally
TETTNANG - German mountain sports equipment manufacturer Vaude has joined the Science-Based Targets initiative and committed to carbon-neutral production throughout its global supply chain. The company has been climate neutral at its Tettnang… -
Tuesday, 03 December 2019Jeans Redesign initiative attracts new members
COWES - More brands have joined the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's Jeans Redesign programme to improve the durability, recyclability and traceability of their products, while the guidelines have also been extended to admit denim mills for the first… -
Tuesday, 03 December 2019Nirapon loses appeal against High Court ban
DHAKA - The Nirapon safety monitoring organisation has lost its appeal against a court order temporarily banning it from representing the interests of North American brands which source from garment factories in Bangladesh. The Appellate Division of… -
Tuesday, 03 December 2019Viscose supplier completes Canopy audit
XINXIANG – Chinese viscose producer Xinxiang Chemical Fiber, otherwise known as Bailu, has completed an audit of its operations in-line with environmental NGO, CanopyStyle. Findings indicate that Bailu has “taken immediate action to remove known… -
Tuesday, 03 December 2019Tencel ‘breakthrough’ uses post-consumer cotton waste
AUSTRIA – Lenzing has for the first time used post-consumer cotton waste in its ‘Refibra’ Tencel lyocell fibres – a move which comes shortly after the company increased the amount of recycled cotton waste used in this lyocell pulp from 20 to 30 per… -
Monday, 02 December 2019Global sustainable cotton challenge launched
GENEVA - Prize money of €135,000 (US$149,000) is being offered in a new global challenge to find innovative ways to improve sustainable cotton farming practices around the world. The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), the Sustainable Trade Initiative… -
Monday, 02 December 2019Foursource platform links up with Oeko-Tex
BERLIN - Digital platform provider Foursource has teamed up with Oeko-Tex to incorporate the organisation's certificates into its database of suppliers and manufacturers in global apparel supply chains. The partnership offers new ways for brands and… -
Monday, 02 December 2019Levi to use recycled water at Cape Town factory
CAPE TOWN - Levi Straus & Co has linked up with water treatment officials in the South African city of Cape Town to ensure its manufacturing facility in the city uses only recycled water. A pipeline from the city's Athlone Wastewater Treatment Works… -
Monday, 02 December 2019Opposition to freeze branding alternative to mulesing
SYDNEY - Animal welfare groups are maintaining their opposition to sheep freeze branding despite growing support among farmers for it to be used as an alternative to the controversial practice of mulesing. Thousands of wool producers across New… -
Monday, 02 December 2019Enzyme could keep polyester from landfill
BRISBANE - Scientists at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) say they have found a commercial enzyme capable of dissolving wool fibres in polyester and wool mix fabrics without damaging the polyester. Professor Robert Speight and Dr Laura… -
Friday, 29 November 2019Tanatex develops micro-encapsulated finishes
EDE – Tanatex Chemicals has developed a new micro-encapsulation garment finishing technology which will host cosmetic solutions, said to improve skin conditions and have slimming effects. Microcapsules made from natural polysaccharides (sugars) and… -
Friday, 29 November 2019Recycling of PET bottles falling in SE Asia
A new report reveals that only 54 per cent of the PET plastic bottles sold in cities are recycled in six Southeast Asian countries where 660,000 tonnes of PET bottles were landfilled or dumped last year. GA Circular carried out the new report,… -
Friday, 29 November 2019Has Primark cracked cotton’s traceability problem?
LONDON - Fashion retailer Primark, which recently announced a five-fold increase in its sustainable cotton programme, claims it can now trace its cotton from farmer’s field to the garments in its stores. Industry experts have long maintained it is… -
Friday, 29 November 2019Spinnova and Bergans unveil first 'circular' textile concept
OSLO - Finnish fibre company Spinnova and Norwegian outdoor brand Bergans have revealed plans to launch a fully circular, subscription-based takeback and reuse concept. The two companies are collaborating on the service, entitled the Collection of… -
Thursday, 28 November 2019Institutes team up for new circular fashion project
NEW DELHI – New Zealand’s Massey University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India’s National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) as the pair plan to establish a research agenda focused on sustainable fashion. The partnership,… -
Thursday, 28 November 2019Worker account calls out Uniqlo, cautions UN
JAVA – An impoverished Indonesian garment worker which formerly produced for Uniqlo has written an account of her experiences within the lowest rungs of fashion supply chains, pleading with both the United Nations and the International Labour… -
Wednesday, 27 November 2019Compostable packaging innovator targets fashion brands
LONDON – Sustainable sourcing platform SupplyCompass has developed new compostable packaging for fashion brands, providing an alternative to conventional plastic packaging that often cannot be recycled and thus ends up in landfill. According to the… -
Wednesday, 27 November 2019
Power struggle over worker safety in Bangladesh
DHAKA - Six years on from the Rana Plaza building collapse, fresh fears have been expressed for the country's garment workers with a rift emerging between factory owners and one of the main bodies representing brands on safety. The American Apparel… -
Wednesday, 27 November 2019Finisterre rides new wave with recyclable wetsuits
CORNWALL – Cold water surf brand Finisterre has developed the world’s first recyclable wetsuits in collaboration with both the University of Exeter and Innovate UK’s Knowledge Transfer Partnership. The team eliminated both the wetsuit’s outer and… -
Wednesday, 27 November 2019Carpet incinerated in bulk as recycling efforts lag
UTRECHT – A new Changing Markets Foundation report has flagged up the extent of greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution within the carpet industry, as it’s found that – despite a shift from landfilling – 73 per cent of an estimated 256 million m2 is instead… -
Wednesday, 27 November 2019Pod: textile innovator transforms upcycled cotton
BARCELONA – As part of this year’s Planet Textiles sustainability summit Spencer Null, director of product development at Natural Fiber Welding, sat down with the Sustainable Fashion Academy’s Michael Schragger to discuss how his company upcycles… -
Tuesday, 26 November 2019Global fibre production reaches all-time high
TEXAS – Global fibre production has doubled in the last 20 years to reach an all-time high of 107 million tonnes in 2018 and is expected to grow to 145 million tonnes by 2030 if current trends continue, according to a new report. The figures are… -
Monday, 25 November 2019Texon joins Sustainable Apparel Coalition
SKELTON - Fabric manufacturer Texon has joined the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) – the alliance for sustainable production in the apparel, footwear and textile industry. Texon provides 'eco-friendly' materials used in shoes, clothing, luggage… -
Monday, 25 November 2019Police search finds undocumented garment workers
NAPLES – The boss of an Italian manufacturer said to supply leading luxury brands Armani, Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) and Fendi, has been arrested after authorities discovered the firm to be employing undocumented workers. The site of Moreno Srl,… -
Monday, 25 November 2019BCI changes 'misleading' product logos
GENEVA – The Better Cotton Initiative has introduced a new on-product logo which stresses that its members' garments do not necessarily include any 'better cotton' under its mass balance system. The BCI has previously been criticised in some… -
Friday, 22 November 2019Award for biodegradable waterproof cotton-jute fabric
FRANKFURT - Two researchers are to be presented with an award for developing a biodegradable cotton-jute fabric with a waterproof coating that can substitute for non-biodegradable PVC-coated polyester. Professor Debasish Das, of the University of… -
Friday, 22 November 2019Delilah Home launches 100 per cent hemp bed sheets
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - Textiles brand Delilah Home has become the first in the US to offer an extensive collection of 100 per cent hemp sheets. The company also offers organic cotton towels and sheet sets certified to the stringent Global… -
Thursday, 21 November 2019Blockchain and markers shine in traceability pilot
AMSTERDAM – A multi-stakeholder initiative which has brought together brands and technological innovators has successful tested the in-field efficiency of using both blockchain and authentication markers to trace organic cotton from farm to fashion.… -
Wednesday, 20 November 2019Gucci boss issues carbon neutral challenge to CEOs
FLORENCE - Marco Bizzarri, the president and chief executive of luxury fashion brand Gucci has challenged CEOs of other major companies to commit to achieving carbon neutral status through energy reductions and offsetting. Launching the 'CEO Carbon… -
Wednesday, 20 November 2019Brands ranked on viscose sustainability progress
UTRECHT – The Changing Markets campaign group has today published a new report in which it ranks industry leading brands based on their commitments and actions to responsibly source viscose. The latest in the Dirty Fashion series, the Dutch… -
Tuesday, 19 November 2019Textiles ranks EU's fourth biggest environmental pressure
COPENHAGEN - The consumption of textiles is Europe's fourth biggest cause of pressure on the environment after demand for food, housing and transport, according to a new report. The European Environment Agency (EEA) says the consumption of clothing,… -
Tuesday, 19 November 2019Microfibre shedding test launched for textile industry
LEEDS - The Microfibre Consortium (TMC) has launched what it claims is the world’s first thoroughly tested, validated and internationally-aligned method for measuring microfibre material loss from textiles. Developed at the University of Leeds, the… -
Tuesday, 19 November 2019Lycra fibres receive GRS certification
WILMINGTON – The Lycra Company has secured certification to the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) for two varieties of its EcoMade fibre, types 166E and 162E. Textile Exchange’s GRS sets requirements for third-party certification of recycled content,… -
Tuesday, 19 November 2019EOCA relaunches Plastic Pledge ahead of ISPO
KENDAL – The European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) has called on exhibitors at the upcoming ISPO trade show in Munich to run single-use plastic free stands. EOCA’s Plastic Pledge was introduced at this summer’s Outdoor by ISPO showcase,… -
Monday, 18 November 2019Australian wool under pressure over mulesing
PERTH - The Australian wool industry has come under further pressure over the controversial practice of mulesing after retailers Kmart and Target committed to stop selling products containing mulesed wool. The news prompted the president of the… -
Friday, 15 November 2019Organic cotton production up by 56 per cent
LAMESA - The global production of organic cotton has increased by 56 per cent to reach the highest levels seen in eight years, according to Textile Exchange's 2019 Organic Cotton Market Report. The report shows that production of organic cotton… -
Thursday, 14 November 2019Sympatex spotlights circularity at Performance Days
MUNICH – After debuting the product at last week’s A+A trade show in Düsseldorf, Sympatex has shifted across Germany to showcase its new circular jacket concept at the Performance Days event in Munich. Sympatex partnered with Schoeller Textil,… -
Thursday, 14 November 2019ISKO creates fabric blend with reused cotton
MUNICH – Textile manufacturer ISKO is set to launch its new 'R-Two' fabric which comprises both recycled polyester and re-used cotton that’s otherwise lost during production. Speaking at the ongoing Performance Days trade show in Munich, the company… -
Thursday, 14 November 2019Brands challenged to reveal lowest wages
NASHVILLE - Ethical fashion companies Nisolo and ABLE have launched a human rights campaign with a difference - in which they challenge other brands to reveal the lowest wages paid to workers in their supply chains. The Lowest Wage Challenge urges… -
Wednesday, 13 November 2019PODCAST: Lenzing CEO talks up environmental prospects
WAKEFIELD – Stefan Doboczky, the CEO of wood-based fibre supplier Lenzing, sat down with Mike Schragger from the Sustainable Fashion Academy to give a largely optimistic view of the big social and environmental challenges the textile industry faces… -
Wednesday, 13 November 2019Customer demand drives Pertex’s sustainability ambition
MUNICH – Following the launch of its first sustainability report, Ecotextile News caught up with fabric supplier Pertex to gain greater insight into the company’s outlook on the outdoor industry and its aim to meet various sustainability targets by… -
Wednesday, 13 November 2019Prince Charles in sustainable fashion training project
AYRSHIRE - Italian online fashion retailer Yoox Net-a-Porter has linked up with Prince Charles to launch a new project which gives students from the UK and Italy the chance to help design a sustainable fashion line. The Modern Artisan project is a… -
Wednesday, 13 November 2019Patent awarded for textile dyeing effluent treatment
LUDHIANA - Indian textile and paper manufacturer Trident Ltd has been awarded a patent for a new process to treat industrial effluents discharged from the textile dyeing process. The company, the world's largest manufacturer of terry towelling, and… -
Tuesday, 12 November 2019Sympatex recycled share reaches 80 per cent
MUNICH – Functional textile developer Sympatex has expanded its share of unmixed, recycled polyester laminates in its apparel line to 80 per cent as it looks to develop a range of products that can be upcycled, and as part of its strategy to offer… -
Tuesday, 12 November 2019230m garments unsold each year in Germany
BERLIN - At least 230 million items of clothing a year remain unsold in Germany each year and end up going to waste, recycling plants or being sold cheaply overseas. The figure is based on statistics from market research firm Euromonitor…
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