Recycling mixed-fibre garments: RadiciGroup, The LYCRA Company and Triumph for circular fashion

The process, which is both economically and environmentally sustainable, has enabled the production of an underwear set made from 100% recycled nylon and LYCRA® fibre in a closed-loop system.
      

ECHA: One out of three of substances in mixtures was missing a REACH registration

An EU-wide targeted enforcement project checking imported substances found that one out of three of substances in mixtures was missing a REACH registration. In addition, restricted hazardous substances were present in some of the imported consumer products above the allowed limits.

Inspectors in 29 EEA countries performed 2 603 targeted controls to check imports for compliance with the registration, restrictions and authorisation requirements of the EU chemicals legislation REACH. 

Enforcement actions and recommendations  
Henrik Hedlund, Chair of the Enforcement Forum’s working group, said:
“Many inspections were conducted in cooperation with customs and national enforcement authorities, helping us to develop the most appropriate methods for controlling compliance of imported products with EU chemicals legislation. This will strengthen future controls and make them more efficient.

Archroma & Lilienweiss join forces to deliver faster and localized color management services

Archroma, a global leader in specialty chemicals focused on sustainable solutions, today announced its partnership with Lilienweiss, who will begin offering Archroma Color Management solutions across Europe starting January 2026.

Through this partnership, Lilienweiss will provide direct distribution across the region as well as custom color standards creation. European brands, retailers, suppliers and vendors will benefit from the shorter lead times, reduced shipping costs and easier access to Archroma Color Management’s full portfolio including the award-winning Color Atlas by Archroma®, supported through Lilienweiss’ local team of specialists.

Chris Hipps, Head of Archroma Color Management said: “Archroma and Lilienweiss share the same vision: helping brands, designers and retailers significantly reduce the time and costs associated with developing colors. By offering direct, local access to our solutions in Europe, we enable customers to win in their markets while minimizing environmental impact. Working with a trusted partner like Lilienweiss is a win-win for brands and their suppliers.”

New Recycling Platform: Solution for Fashion's Polyester Problem?

• New technology removes barriers to recycling polyester-based garments at scale
• System combines Meltem Kimya’s patented molecular recycling and Kipas’ thermomechanical recycling to remove colours and accessories
• Platform cuts emissions by 73 percent

KIPAS Textiles, Europe's largest fully integrated textile manufacturer, is launching fibR-e, a new recycling platform designed to finally tackle the hurdles that have stopped polyester from becoming truly circular.

Every year, the fashion industry produces millions of tonnes of polyester-based clothing. Less than 1 percent is recycled back into new garments. Most ends up in landfills or incinerators. It is a waste crisis hiding in plain sight.

Fashion is now facing a reckoning. Regulations across Europe and other regions will require brands to take responsibility for the full lifecycle of their products, and consumers are asking harder questions about sustainability.

Global Fashion Agenda: Combating Textile Waste through New Initiative in Türkiye

Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) announced the launch of the Circular Fashion Partnership: Türkiye, a new initiative that aims to support the development of a circular textile system in the country by capturing and recycling post-industrial textile waste. Announced during Sustainability Talks Istanbul, the partnership is led by GFA in collaboration with national lead Rematters, supported by implementation partners Reverse Resources, Closed Loop Fashion, and Circle Economy Foundation and funded by H&M Foundation.

Set to commence in early 2026, the Circular Fashion Partnership: Türkiye aims to establish textile waste management systems within factories, enhance traceability through digital tools, and connect manufacturers with recyclers to ensure higher-value recovery of post-industrial textile waste. The programme will also provide supplier support on compliance with evolving policy frameworks and foster national collaboration to drive systemic change. GFA is now calling on brands producing in Türkiye to participate in the programme.

Lenzing AG: New leadership and Executive Committee

December 9, Lenzing AG announced that Rohit Aggarwal, Managing Board Member and Chief Executive Officer of Lenzing AG, has informed the Supervisory Board of his decision to resign from his position due to personal reasons, effective 31 January 2026. To support a smooth transition, Mr. Aggarwal will remain with Lenzing AG as an advisor to the company until end of September 2026. 

Following Mr. Aggarwal’s departure, Lenzing AG will be led by a three-member Managing Board. As part of the company’s continued organizational development and in support of its refined premiumization strategy, Lenzing AG will establish an Executive Committee (ExCo) consisting of six members. The ExCo will include the three members of the Managing Board and will be complemented by Lenzing's senior commercial managers Patricia Sargeant (Nonwovens Fibers), Yann Lepage (Textile Fibers) and Anton Putz (Pulp). The introduction of the ExCo is designed to support Lenzing’s strategic focus on commercial opportunities in high-performance fiber segments with the objective of reinforcing the company’s position as the leading integrated premium supplier of regenerated cellulosic fibers. 

RUDOLF PCF Program certified under PACT

RUDOLF, a leading provider of innovative specialty chemical solutions for textile, construction, coatings, and consumer care industries, has received one of the first Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) Program certifications from TÜV SÜD based on the PACT Methodology V3: Methodology for Calculating and Exchanging Cradle-to-Gate Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs). In addition, the RUDOLF PCF Program is aligned with the global chemical sector-specific methodology: Together for Sustainability (TfS) PCF Guideline V3.

The certification applies to all chemical products covered by the RUDOLF PCF Program. This pioneering achievement not only confirms the methodological integrity but also demonstrates how reliable data can guide design-stage decisions, helping us and our partners identify realistic opportunities early in the development process and turning transparency into actionable impact across the value chain. We are committed to expanding the RUDOLF PCF program across our global operations, creating a solid foundation for meaningful change.

Autoneum announces repayment of 1.125% fixed-rate bond at maturity

Autoneum today announced it repays in full its 1.125% fixed-rate bond due December 8, 2025, with a nominal value of CHF 100 million. The Swiss franc public bond was issued in 2017 and served, among other purposes, to finance the company’s medium-term growth.

Autoneum repaid the bond using existing credit lines on favorable terms. The repayment reflects a sustainable reduction of the company’s net debt over recent years, driven by significant free cash flow generation.

“With the repayment of this bond, we reaffirm our financial solidity and our clear commitment to further reducing debt in the future,” says Bernhard Wiehl, CFO Autoneum. “We thank our bond investors for their long-standing trust in Autoneum.”

Urgent clarification needed on scope of Textiles EPR for PPE and Medical Devices

EDANA, the voice of nonwovens, alongside fellow industry associations CIRFS (European Man-Made Fibres Association), EURATEX (The European Apparel and Textile Confederation), ESF (European Safety Federation), and EuroCommerce (Retail & Wholesale), has issued a joint statement raising critical concerns regarding the transposition of Directive (EU) 2025/1892, the targeted revision of the Waste Framework Directive. 

As Member States begin implementing the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for textiles, a lack of distinction within the Directive’s Annex IVc is causing confusion. Currently, the specified CN codes do not distinguish between standard apparel and essential Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) or Medical Devices (MD). 

The joint statement highlights that PPE and Medical Devices are engineered to protect users from hazardous environments, including chemical, biological, and radiological risks. Consequently, these garments often become contaminated and are classified as hazardous waste, requiring incineration—often with energy recovery—rather than recycling, to ensure safety. 

New Publisher - Chief Content Officer for INDA Media

INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, announces the hiring of Rachael Davis as the new Publisher / Chief Content Officer for INDA Media, effective January 5, 2026. Davis will provide strategic leadership for the International Fiber Journal and International Filtration News, guiding the publications into their next phase of growth, engagement, and industry impact.

Davis brings a strong blend of technical expertise, editorial leadership, and deep knowledge of the fibers, textiles, and nonwovens sectors. Before joining INDA, she served as Executive Editor for Textile World, Textile World Asia, and Textiles Panamericanos within the Textile Industries Media Group, LLC. A graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology, she holds a Bachelors of Applied Science in Polymer and Textile Chemistry and began her career working directly in the textile industry before transitioning into publishing. Over the past two and a half decades, she has advanced through a variety of editorial roles, earning a reputation for clarity, accuracy, and thoughtful industry reporting.