From the Sector

Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, a global sustainable chemical company, is accelerating the textile industry’s transition to lower-carbon materials with its scalable, high-performance bio-based PET fibers and yarns under the deja™ Bio portfolio. 

At the upcoming Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress later in September, Claire Mattelet, Global Sustainability Program Head for Indorama Ventures’ Fibers Business, will share the company’s experience in developing a fully certified, low-carbon supply chain at scale. 

Her presentation will explore several challenges, such as 

• securing reliable sources of renewable feedstocks to produce bio-based PTA and MEG inhouse or sourcing bio-based chemicals such as bio-based MEG from trusted partners 
• converting feedstock into PET chips, yarns, and fibers 
• and navigating complex certification requirements 

As a result, Indorama Ventures is now able to offer customers and brand owners an integrated, fully certified supply chain through mass balance at scale. 

Using a mass-balance approach means that renewable feedstocks, such as used cooking oil, are blended with fossil-based raw materials in existing production systems. 
The renewable content is then allocated to final products using certified methods like ISCC+, ensuring traceability throughout the value chain and compliance with chain-of-custody requirements. 

By leveraging existing infrastructure, coupled with R&D capabilities and proven technologies, Indorama Ventures enables rapid market deployment of bio-based PET fibers and yarns 
that are chemically identical to their fossil counterparts. This ensures customer processes remain the same, performance metrics such as durability, dyeability, and strength are equal to virgin solutions, 
and brand owners and converters can speed up qualification lead times and immediately reduce scope 3 emissions to seamlessly upgrade their existing product lines. 

Indorama Ventures invites brand owners, manufacturers, and industry partners to explore the deja™ Bio portfolio and join the movement toward a lower-carbon textile industry. 
The technology is proven, the supply chain is built. 

Rieter at ITMA Asia 2025: The Fully Automated Spinning MillPrecision, speed and cost efficiency are all indispensable, especially in challenging times. Rieter has put together a powerful portfolio for ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025 that gives spinning mills the chance to actively shape the future through intelligent automation. By applying smart machine networking, process optimization and increased production efficiency, the portfolio facilitates the comprehensive transformation of spinning mills while reinforcing their competitiveness. This, in turn, enables customers to further consolidate their leading market positions. At the same time, the portfolio is a key milestone on the way to achieving Rieter’s vision 2027 – the fully automated spinning mill.

Automation and digitization – the smart gateway to the future 
Rieter will be presenting solutions that enable the step-by-step implementation of the fully automatic spinning mill for the production of ring and compact yarn. Highlights include efficient bale transport, automated can transport and fully automatic packaging solutions, such as steaming, palletizing and labeling. In the field of digitization, Rieter offers various ESSENTIAL modules to meet different requirements. This gives spinning mill employees – from management to machine operators – a solid basis for making decisions on how to optimize yarn production. 

Combing preparation – the OMEGAlap E 40 
The new combing preparation machine OMEGAlap E 40 produces 800 kg/h, 33% more than its predecessor – thanks to the rapid lap changing. At the same time, it boasts 30% lower energy consumption and 63% lower compressed air consumption. Maintenance and cleaning are especially easy, representing a clear advantage for operating personnel. 

The precision winding machine NEO-BD – faster and better 
The new precision winding machine NEO-BD produces packages twice as fast as the previous model – and to a higher quality. Absolute precision is guaranteed: from the optimally adjustable package density and the yarn length that can be defined and reproduced with maximum accuracy to the exact weight of each individual package.

Efficient air-jet spinning of carded cotton 
The air-jet spinning machine J 70 is designed for cost-effective carded fiber spinning – a unique feature made possible thanks to a newly developed twist element: it takes the production speed to a new level and ensures maximum return when it comes to raw material utilization. Spinning mills also benefit from the use of this innovation in other raw material applications. 

The spindle that saves energy – eNASA 
The new Novibra spindle eNASA reduces a spinning machine’s power consumption by 2% to 4% compared to conventional spindles. The high-precision technology is particularly effective at high speeds. The new spindle is compatible with all Novibra clamping crowns. 

Technological expertise in recycled yarn 
Rieter works closely with partners and fiber manufacturers on the topic of recycled yarn. As part of this, different projects and end products will be presented. One new way to significantly increase the recycled content of ring yarn involves the use of sustainable, synthetic cellulosic fibers – described in detail in a new technology publication. 

New Rieter Webshop – the smarter, faster way to source spare parts 
The state-of-the-art platform is a smart solution enabling customers to procure spare parts for spinning and winding machines, upgrades and retrofit solutions. The one-stop shop experience simplifies and optimizes ordering for every spinning mill.

With the publication of its first sustainability report, Freudenberg Performance Materials has reached a major milestone on its path toward greater environmental responsibility and corporate transparency. Until now, information about the company’s sustainability performance was only included in the sustainability report of its parent company, the Freudenberg Group. The newly released report, however, focuses specifically on the business of technical textiles.

Sustainability at Freudenberg is deeply rooted in the company’s 175-year history. Freudenberg Performance Materials also aligns with the UN Brundtland definition and aims to minimize waste and emissions while reducing the use of energy, materials, and water. By 2045, the goal is to achieve CO₂ neutrality at all sites (Scope 1 and 2).

In 2024, Freudenberg Performance Materials made significant progress: 

• CO₂ emissions (Scope 1 & 2) were reduced by another 3% – 29% less than in the base year 2020.
• Despite higher production levels, energy efficiency improved by 10%.
• 30% of all purchased electricity came from renewable sources, powering 25 production lines with green energy.
• The share of green energy in the total energy consumption rose by 26% to 13.5%.
• The company’s biggest gas-powered asset was replaced with wet-scrubber technology, resulting in a reduction of approximately 4,000 tons of CO₂.

In addition, Freudenberg Performance Materials has defined medium- and long-term sustainability goals that serve as guidelines for short-term planning and decision-making. In preparation for the upcoming EU regulation “Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation” (ESPR), the company has begun implementing software to calculate the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF).

The automotive industry is facing a profound transformation that goes far beyond electrification. Key future trends include software-defined vehicles, autonomous driving, connected mobility and the ongoing decarbonization of supply chains.

Autoneum is responding to these developments with a clear focus on innovation and sustainability. The company's products are not only suitable for all types of drive systems, but also for the requirements of software-based vehicle architecture. With NVH solutions for quiet interiors, thermal shielding for battery modules, and fully recyclable materials, Autoneum is helping to make the mobility of tomorrow safer, more comfortable and more resource efficient and is now also developing specialized components for battery-powered mobility – with a focus on occupant protection and battery safety.

Sustainability – circular economy in action
Sustainability is a key focus. Autoneum processes over 30,000 tons of recycled PET annually – equivalent to around three billion 0.25-liter bottles. Products such as Flexi-Light PET, Di-Light, and the fully recyclable N-Join1 carpet consist of over 90% recycled material and thus make a measurable contribution to decarbonization and resource conservation.

Flexi-Light PET, a particularly malleable and durable polyester-based acoustic material, provides effective sound insulation in the vehicle interior and is fully recyclable. Thanks to its thermal formability and structural properties, Di-Light not only offers good noise insulation for vehicle carpets, but also a high degree of design freedom – ideal for large-area applications. With N-Join1, Autoneum has also developed a mono-material system that does not require any latex or adhesives. It is made entirely from recycled materials and can be easily recycled at the end of its product life cycle.

"Sustainability is an integral part of our strategy," says Eelco Spoelder, CEO of Autoneum Management AG. "With innovative materials and resource-saving processes, we are actively contributing to the transformation of the automotive industry – and demonstrating that economic success and ecological responsibility go hand in hand." 

New mobility needs new materials
According to forecasts, global sales of electric vehicles will rise to around 20 million units in 2025 – an increase of 35 percent over the previous year. The industry’s transition is also reflected in Autoneum's product strategy. By 2024, more than 115 electric models worldwide were equipped with Autoneum components – and this figure is expected to rise to almost 150 in 2025. Sixty percent of all new orders last year were for purely electric vehicles; a significant increase compared to 35 percent in 2023. 

The company develops highly specialized components for the next generation of vehicles – especially for electric vehicles with new battery architectures. With components such as the Impact Protection Plate, the mica-free E-Fiber Shield, and the acoustically efficient Ultra-Silent, Autoneum demonstrates how safety, lightweight construction and sustainability can be combined in forward-looking materials that meet the requirements of modern electric vehicles. 

The Impact Protection Plate is a newly developed protective plate made of composite materials that combines mechanical strength with thermal insulation. It protects battery systems from impact and contributes to the safety and efficiency of electric vehicles. The E-Fiber Shield is a mica-free flame-retardant material that increases the safety of vehicle occupants in the event of thermal runaway of the battery. It offers high heat resistance (up to 1400°C), electrical insulation, and geometric flexibility. And Ultra-Silent is a robust, lightweight material for frunks and underbodies that consists of up to 70 percent recycled fibers. It combines high acoustic performance with sustainability. 

Local production for global resilience
In an increasingly challenging market environment, Autoneum relies on proximity to customers as a strategic success factor. With its "local-for-local" strategy, the company manufactures at around 70 locations worldwide, right where the vehicles are produced – efficiently, sustainably and independently of global supply chains. "Our local production strategy makes us resilient – even in an environment characterized by trade barriers," emphasizes Spoelder. "Manufacturing directly in the market significantly minimizes cross-border risk and strengthens our operational stability."

International and domestic exhibitors are relishing the chance to present their curated products at Cinte Techtextil China, when the fair opens from 3 to 5 September 2025, spanning three halls and 32,000 sqm at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. As Asia’s only dedicated show for the full spectrum of technical textiles and nonwovens, Cinte Techtextil China is set to present a comprehensive roster of global exhibitors across the three-day show period.

The International Hall W5 will feature a debut zone for textile chemicals and dyes, the returning European and German Zones, as well as first-time and prominent exhibitors in key application areas of technical textiles and nonwovens. 

Several domestic pavilions will be set up in Halls W3 and W4, highlighting noteworthy products in automotive, medical & hygiene, and filtration & separation segments. Meanwhile, the fair’s upgraded fringe programme will include the Econogy Tour and Sustainability Forum, the forward-looking AI Panel Discussion, the annual China International Nonwovens Conference (CINC) and more, adding insights to the platform’s business exchange.

Speaking ahead of the show’s opening, Ms Wilmet Shea, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, said: “In general, China’s textile industry has maintained stable performance despite international economic turbulence. Like its host country, Cinte Techtextil China has exhibited its resilience, with increased overseas visitor pre-registration numbers. Hosting a number of leading exhibitors this year, we invite visitors to take advantage of the unique sourcing opportunities, and the range of international experts who will present as part of our fringe programme – as we navigate uncertain times, this fair remains as important as ever to drive innovation and business exchange in the industry.”
 
Enhanced fringe programme to complement fair’s product offerings
Committed to innovation and sustainability, Cinte Techtextil China organises a number of fringe events every year to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing. On Day 2 of the fair, key events will centre around the theme of sustainability, starting with the Econogy Tour in the morning, and ending with the Sustainability Forum in the afternoon.
 
The Econogy Tour (10:30 – 11:30) will begin with a presentation on Techtextil Frankfurt 2026 by Ms Sabine Scharrer, Director of Brand Management for Technical Textiles & Textile Processing of Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH, at Econogy Talks. The attendees will then be guided by sustainability expert Mr Karl Borgschulze, to explore exhibitors who have passed the Econogy Check, which is a stringent third-party audit that checks the suppliers’ sustainability certificates.
 
At the Sustainability Forum (13:30 – 16:00), participants will be able to discover insights and practical case studies, featuring experts from academia and well-known brands, led by Dr Guoxiang Yuan, Graduate Supervisor of Donghua University and Research Fellow of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
 
The Technical Innovation Exchange Conference on Automotive Textiles will also take place on Day 2, following a brief tour of three key Mobiltech exhibitors, namely Swisstulle AG, JCT Industries and Dr Karl Wetekam GmbH & Co KG. There will also be an automotive textiles showcase at W4, displaying key products such as automotive interior materials, lightweight composite materials, smart sensing fabrics, and acoustic insulation materials.
 
Events on Day 1 include the AI Panel Discussion hosted by AiDLab, discussing the challenges and opportunities involved when applying AI technology for automated textile material inspection; the China International Nonwovens Conference (CINC), aiming to shed light on the industry’s efforts to evolve its competitive landscape; the Innovation Product Award and Presentation; and more.
 
Meanwhile, the number of overseas visitor pre-registrations has already exceeded last year’s total, and includes 95 VIP buyers from 32 countries and regions. Leading visiting companies include Alpha Engineered Composites from Singapore, Delfim from Brazil, Lazwi Engineering 8 from South Africa, and Milliken Europe from Belgium.
 
The fair is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; and the China Nonwovens & Industrial Textiles Association (CNITA).

More than six million visually impaired people in Brazil have a new way to experience color thanks to a sensory innovation developed by AkzoNobel’s Coral brand.

Working together with VML Brasil and the Dorina Nowill Foundation for the Blind, the Touching Colors project draws on neuroscience studies, which show that colors also manifest themselves in the brains of blind people through emotions, memories and sensations.

The project uses braille and sound to translate RGB, CMYK and HEX color codes into so-called Cromopoems®, which reimagine a set of 70 colors into a unique sensory experience. For example, Citrus Orange is described as: “That urge to bite into a fresh fruit in the playground. Letting the juice run down your chin and spending the day with its scent on your hands. That color is Citrus Orange, a vibrant, warm shade of orange.”

Touching Colors was recently shortlisted in the Industry Craft category of this year’s Cannes Lions.  

“We’re giving blind and visually impaired people access to experiences that were previously restricted within the visual universe,” says Alexandre Munck, Executive Superintendent of the Dorina Nowill Foundation for the Blind. “By transforming color into sensation, poetry and sound, Coral is contributing to broadening horizons and reinforcing the importance of accessibility as an essential part of innovation.”

Adds Daniel Geiger Campos, Global Director of AkzoNobel’s Decorative Paints business and member of the Executive Committee: “This project has taken a crucial step on the path to inclusion to ensure that more people can feel and choose colors in an innovative way, going beyond sight to explore new forms of sensory connection.”

The 70 colors were selected from nine chromatic scales in AkzoNobel’s portfolio. From these, initials were created in braille, adding graphic value and establishing a unique creative path for the project's visual language.

The next step was to assemble the Cromopoems into a color fan that’s accessible to blind and low-vision people. It’s based on three essential elements: color, braille and the sensitivity of the visually impaired person. Printed on black cards, each color in the fan is delivered through the emotions and sensations evoked by the braille text. Spoken audio versions of the Cromopoems are also available.  

Explains Gabriel Sotero, Executive Creative Director at VML Brasil: “Our challenge was to create an experience that transcended vision, combining accessibility with the beauty of poetic expression.”

The initiative was launched to coincide with Coral’s 70th anniversary in Brazil, hence the palette of 70 colors. To ensure the Cromopoems are also accessible to those who don’t have access to the braille color fan, audio versions of the descriptions (in Portuguese) have also been made available via a dedicated YouTube playlist.

Allbirds presents the latest addition to its leading-edge lineup of footwear: Remix. Born from a pioneering partnership with Blumaka, a leader in converting recycled foam into footwear products, and Circ®, a leading innovator in textile-to-textile recycling, Remix styles give second life to manufacturing waste by transforming blended textile waste and foam scraps into brand new shoes.

With billions of shoes produced annually, the footwear industry generates a staggering amount of manufacturing waste–trimmings, shavings, and dust from the cutting and shaping processes. In midsole foam alone, the industry produces 344,000 tons of waste annually—enough material to craft 2.5 billion midsoles—yet much of this high-quality foam goes unused and discarded. The materials, which are often non-biodegradable and notoriously difficult to recycle, are then routed to landfills where they take decades to decompose and emit harmful chemicals like methane. In an industry-first, Allbirds, Blumaka and Circ are intervening in the process by taking the landfill-bound waste and refashioning it into two Remix styles: the Runner NZ Remix and Cruiser Remix.

The Remix styles incorporate Blumaka midsoles, crafted from reclaimed foam scraps from athletic footwear manufacturing that are ground and molded into a high-performance, recycled foam blend. Not only does this process use 99 percent less water and emit 65 percent fewer carbon emissions than traditional foam production, but it also creates a product that exceeds the expectations of durability, comfort and performance. Blumaka’s approach challenges assumptions about sustainability: these reclaimed materials are not just recycled; they are revitalized into elite, performance-ready components that deliver all-day comfort and cushioning.

Additionally, Remix styles are the world’s first-ever footwear to utilize textile-to-textile recycled materials derived from polycotton waste, using Circ’s proprietary hydrothermal recycling process that separates and recovers cotton and polyester fibers from blended garments. The resulting textile lends a luxurious look and feel, with like-new quality that meets and exceeds virgin synthetics.

The materials combine to create two artful, visually distinct silhouettes that require no compromise on comfort, sustainability or style–offering consumers a fresh look that they can feel good in, and feel good about.

“To us, ‘better things in a better way’ means that we’re not tied to one technology or one method of making–we have a limitless curiosity that inspires us to explore unexpected approaches,” said Adrian Nyman, Chief Design Officer, Allbirds. “Remix is the next step in our innovation journey, delivering on sustainable design that enhances both look and feel.”

The launch of Remix follows a decade of sustainable innovations from Allbirds, including the likes of: Futurecraft.Footprint, an ultra-low carbon running shoe created in collaboration with Adidas; and most recently, M0.0NSHOT Zero, the world’s first net zero carbon shoe made with carbon-negative regenerative wool.

“Allbirds is demonstrating that the world doesn’t need more foam — it needs smarter use of existing resources,” said Stuart Jenkins, CEO of Blumaka. “We don’t recycle trash — we reclaim the most advanced foam ever made and improve upon it. Our process produces elite-level products with proven durability and comfort. Allbirds Remix shows that waste foam isn’t a problem — it’s an opportunity. Better for people. Better for the planet.”

“This collaboration with Allbirds marks a major milestone in proving that textile-to-textile recycling can scale beyond apparel and into high-performance footwear,” said Peter Majeranowski, CEO of Circ. ““By using Circ® Filament Lyocell from recycled textile waste as part of the upper for the Remix, we’re showing that circular materials don’t require compromise, they can look better, feel better, and do better for the planet. This is the future of fashion, and we re proud to help lead the way.”

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc., a leader in spider silk technology, announces that its second production rearing center in Southeast Asia is now fully operational.

With two active production facilities, the Company has established parallel operations designed to ensure continuous rearing cycles of its specialized recombinant spider silk silkworms. This dual-site capacity increases resilience and scalability, providing greater consistency in material output as Kraig Labs advances its commercialization strategy.

Teams are now active at both rearing centers, working with the company’s established parental lines for BAM-1 production hybrids, as well as three additional parental lines introduced earlier this summer. These new genetic lines represent a significant expansion of Kraig Labs’ breeding program and are expected to further enhance production efficiencies.

These facilities are designed to create efficient redundancy to avoid bottlenecks the company experienced in the past. This is a major leap forward in terms of creating sustained production.

“Becoming fully operational at our second rearing center is a milestone that strengthens the foundation of our spider silk production platform,” said Kim Thompson, Kraig Labs founder and CEO. “Having parallel operations allows us to maintain continuous cycles of rearing, diversify our breeding program, and accelerate the development of next-generation hybrids. This expanded capacity is essential as we push forward in scaling production and bringing our recombinant spider silk to market.”

The opening of this second rearing facility reflects Kraig Labs’ ongoing commitment to building a robust, reliable, and scalable spider silk production system in Southeast Asia, positioning the company to meet growing demand from diverse markets and industries.

Girbau has been recognized with an Honorable Mention at the Clean Show 2025 Innovation Awards for Sortech, the automation solution for smart garment sorting. This recognition reinforces the company’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and efficiency in industrial laundries. The awards ceremony was held on Sunday, August 24, at the Orange County Convention Center (Orlando), as part of Clean Show 2025

Sortech provides a clear improvement in productivity and operational continuity by enabling fast and accurate garment sorting, reducing the physical workload of operators, and optimizing energy consumption.

“This recognition reflects Girbau’s commitment to transforming the industry through solutions that improve the experience of workers and the competitiveness of our clients. Sortech is another step toward a safer, more efficient, and sustainable future,” says Mercè Girbau, CEO and Managing Director of Girbau.

The project is the result of a joint innovation process with clients: it originated from their needs and today offers benefits to the entire industry.

The Lenzing Group, a provider of regenerated cellulose fibers for the textile and nonwoven industries, expands its photovoltaic capacities at its Lenzing site. Together with VERBUND, a new PV plant with a capacity of 1.3 megawatts peak (MWp) has been commissioned, increasing the total capacity of the PV plant park to 8.3 MWp. Lenzing is thereby investing in a stable and diversified energy supply and is also making an active contribution to the energy transition. VERBUND is accompanying Lenzing on its path to energy independence and, as a partner, is providing significant support for the expansion of renewable energies. 
 
In recent years, Lenzing has continuously invested in the expansion of renewable electricity and energy sources. In addition to its PV plant park, the company operates numerous other sustainable energy projects, including three small hydropower plants with a total output of 2.3 MW. In addition, several supply contracts have been concluded in recent years, for example with WLK energy for the purchase of around 13 MW of wind energy, and with green electricity producers Enery and Energie Steiermark to finance a photovoltaic plant with a capacity of 5.5 MWp in the district of Deutschlandsberg. 
 
“To ensure our long-term competitiveness, we are focusing on a sustainable energy mix of biomass, photovoltaics, wind energy, and hydropower. Investments in renewable energies and production that is as energy autonomous as possible are central components of our strategy. Political support – for example, through electricity price subsidies – is equally essential in order to achieve our ambitious sustainability and climate goals,” explains Christian Skilich, member of the Lenzing Group Executive Management. 
 
Martin Wagner, Managing Director of VERBUND Energy4Business, emphasizes the importance of this strategic cooperation: “The partnership with Lenzing is an important step for us toward a sustainable energy future. Together, we are not only shaping energy independence of companies, but also actively contributing to the energy transition. The new photovoltaic system is further proof that we are driving forward the transformation of the energy market through cooperation. VERBUND remains a reliable partner in supporting companies such as Lenzing on their path to a more sustainable future.” 
 
Lenzing is thus also steadily moving closer to its net-zero target. The group updated their climate targets for 2024 to align its commitment to climate protection with the goals of the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), the leading authority on climate-related target setting, reviewed and confirmed the target increase. Lenzing is the only producer of regenerated cellulose fibers with a scientifically confirmed net-zero target.