From the Sector

REMONDIS and H&M Group formed a joint venture, Looper Textile Co, an independent company that collects, sorts and enables reuse and recycling of textiles. Rhenus 4PL Solutions GmbH, a Rhenus Group company, is supporting the venture as REMONDIS' contractual partner by providing advanced logistics solutions – including the centralized coordination of transport flows, end-to-end supply chain visibility, and the implementation of a digital 4PL Control Tower tailored to the specific requirements of circular textile logistics.

Smart Solutions for Circular Textile Flows
Looper Textile Co. is an independent joint venture owned by H&M Group and REMONDIS. The company has set itself the goal of collecting and sorting used clothing and textiles for reuse and recycling in order to make the best possible use of these valuable resources. “The need for collection and sorting solutions has never been greater, and Looper is uniquely positioned to drive meaningful change,” says Erik Lagerblad, CEO of Looper Textile Co.

“Used textiles are one of the largest material flows in the world. We rely on digital solutions and our expertise in the circular economy to efficiently coordinate the movement of collected volumes of 150 million pieces per year. Together, we want to take the sustainable use of textiles into the future,” commented Simon Bodmer, Head of Logistics Department at REMONDIS Recycling GmbH & Co. KG.

Enabling circular flows: Over 70 million garments sorted in 2024
Looper Textile Co. enables circular textiles through reuse and preparing for recycling. Operating out of two sorting facilities in Germany and one in Poland, while working with a global network of partners, Looper sorts into over 200 categories based on material and garment type. In 2023, the first year of operations, Looper helped extend the life of over 40 million garments, and over 72 million garments in 2024, 65% reuse, 25% recycling, and <10% responsibly disposed due to contamination. A commitment to innovation within Looper includes a pilot line for automated sorting using near-infrared and optical sensor technology, meeting the precise material requirements of emerging textile-to-textile recycling solutions.

Rhenus 4PL Control Tower for transparency in Looper’s supply chain
As part of the project, Rhenus 4PL Solutions GmbH is deploying its 4PL Control Tower – a central digital platform that enables real-time coordination and monitoring of all logistics activities across the supply chain. As a Fourth Party Logistics (4PL) provider, Rhenus assumes overarching responsibility for managing logistics partners and processes. The system has been specifically tailored to support the requirements of the circular economy, ensuring full transparency, optimized material flows, and efficient, data-driven supply chain operations. In a circular project like Looper Textile Co., the Control Tower plays a key role in enabling textile reuse and recycling by seamlessly coordinating all stakeholders and creating end-to-end visibility.

“Our 4PL Control Tower provides a central platform for the coordinated and integrated management of all logistics activities and increases visibility along the entire value chain. This is crucial to achieving Looper Textile Co.'s goals,” explains Chris Gerfertz, Managing Global Director at Rhenus 4PL Solutions.

SANITIZED AG, a global leader in hygiene function and material protection technologies, and the global specialty chemical company Rudolf Holding SE & Co. KG, announce a new exclusive distribution partnership. Effective February 1, 2026, RUDOLF will become the exclusive distributor of Sanitized® textile additives worldwide. A transition period will begin on September 1, 2025, during which both the current and new distributors will ensure continuity of supply and support to customers. 

This strategic collaboration brings together two family-owned companies that share common values: a deep commitment to customer proximity, a sustainable business mindset, and the ambition to drive game-changing innovation in the global textile industry. With SANITIZED’s trusted expertise in hygiene management and odor control and RUDOLF’s world-leading capabilities in textile finishing, the partnership unites two highly competent and respected industry players in service of the global textile industry. 

The shift comes at a time of increasing market complexity. Evolving customer requirements, trade barriers, and structural overcapacity are placing new demands on the industry. In response, SANITIZED and RUDOLF are joining forces to deliver even greater value through close collaboration, global availability of products and technical support, and ongoing innovation aligned with the latest technological and sustainability standards. 

With more than 2,000 employees, 18 production sites, and 50 sales offices across Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Asia, RUDOLF offers market access and customer support at a global scale. Its “One-Phase to the Customer” mindset ensures that service, technical consulting, and customer needs are handled with a seamless, integrated approach. 

Customers will benefit from global availability, strong local support, and broad range of trusted high-quality products. The Sanitized® Seal of Confidence further builds consumer trust and helps customers differentiate their offerings, showcasing proven effectiveness and lasting product reliability. Sanitized® technologies will be available through RUDOLF from September 1, 2025, onward. As of February 1, 2026, RUDOLF will assume full exclusive distribution rights.

“We are very much looking forward to working with our new distribution partner,” said Michael Lüthi, CEO of SANITIZED. “RUDOLF shares the same long-term values as SANITIZED – a deep commitment to partnership, trust, and delivering added value to the textile industry. Together, we are ready to take the next step in serving our customers worldwide and striving to be the industry’s preferred partner.” 

Marcos Furrer, CEO of RUDOLF, added: “With over a century of experience in textile chemistry, we deeply value the importance of trusted partnerships and staying close to the customer. This new exciting collaboration with SANITIZED is a strong strategic fit that allows us to combine technical excellence with a shared ambition to use our common understanding of customer’s needs. We are thrilled to embark on this journey together.” 

Vehicle manufacturers are increasingly looking for recycling solutions for end-of-life vehicles to meet sustainability targets and comply with new regulations that are accelerating the automotive industry’s transition toward a circular economy. In response, Autoneum has developed the N-Join1 carpet. This innovative, monomaterial carpet system, made from recycled materials, eliminates the need for latex and adhesives, thereby offering an eco-friendly solution for vehicle interiors.

The N-Join1 employs a unique process that joins the carpet surface together with the substrate in a single step. The substrate can be made from various materials including Autoneum’s Pure technology components made of 100 percent polyester, making N-Join1 easier to recycle without limiting customers’ design freedom. 

The new carpet system offers multiple benefits for vehicle manufacturers. As with other Autoneum interior floor products, N-Join1 is designed to ensure driving comfort with optimal noise protection in the passenger cabin. This innovation can be used together with the Di-Light carpet, which offers an attractive appearance even in highly curved carpet areas due to its uniform surface finish. 

Additionally, its monomaterial construction enables waste-free production and full recycling at the vehicle’s end-of-life. By eliminating the use of latex, which is water and energy-intensive, N-Join1 reduces resource usage and ensures cleaner production, supporting the automotive industry’s move towards more sustainable practices. 

Overall, the new carpet system achieves a significant reduction in the carbon footprint when com-pared to traditional carpet systems of equal weight. The greatest contribution comes from the end-of-life recycling potential enabled by the monomaterial system. 

N-Join1 is suitable for a wide range of vehicles, including both internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and battery electric vehicles (BEVs). It is currently available in Europe and North America.

The Award honours charity shops that significantly benefit their communities. Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd. (SATCoL), which manages over 260 shops on behalf of the charity, picked up the award in recognition of its broad and far-reaching work.

The award category focuses on how charity shops provide significant benefits to people in local communities, volunteers, colleagues, shoppers and donors. Highlights include the provision of over 6,000 free clothing vouchers for those in need (an increase of 28% year-on-year). A successful trading year saw SATCoL open 13 large format donation centres, refurbish 5 high street shops and serve 6.9m customers in their stores (a 15% increase on the previous year). 

SATCoL also runs a number of social impact initiatives including a partnership with HMP Five Wells which has seen over 9,000 denim bags made from unwearable jeans, by prisoners, and sold in its charity shops. An IT Reuse Scheme has seen over 4,000 devices collected, with around 20% refurbished and offered at affordable prices.

In supporting paid and volunteer colleagues, SATCoL has continued to invest in wellbeing, training and benefits. The Charity Shop chain has 10 dedicated wellbeing champions, and 228 managers have completed certified Mental Health England Training with a further 58 trained as Mental Health First Aiders. SATCoL’s award-winning e-learning platform, The Learning Booth, delivers free, bespoke and certified courses to all colleagues. In the past year, a further 12,000 courses have been completed by paid and volunteer colleagues, an increase of 20% year-on-year). 

This recognition adds to the previous CRA awards won by SATCoL: Outstanding Charity Retailer of the Year in 2024 and 2022, and the Environment and Sustainability Award winner in 2024.  

The award was presented at the CRA Annual Conference held at the Harrogate Convention Centre on 25thJune 2025.

SATCoL, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of its parent charity, exists to ‘enable mission and provide resources to help the work of The Salvation Army’. In the past ten years alone, SATCoL has raised over £90m for The Salvation Army. 

Suominen Corporation’s Board of Directors has appointed Mr. Charles Héaulmé, current Chair of the Board, as the company’s new President and CEO. Mr. Héaulmé will start at the latest August 11, 2025.  

Mr. Héaulmé brings with him decades of executive leadership experience across various industries. His strategic insight and proven track record in driving performance and transformation have earned the full confidence of the Board to lead Suominen into its next phase of financial improvement and sustainable growth.   

Mr. Héaulmé will continue to serve as Chair of the Board until the next Annual General Meeting of Suominen 2026. He will step down from his position as a Chair and member of the Personnel and Remuneration Committee of the Board of Directors as of today.  

The Board of Directors of Suominen Corporation and Mr. Tommi Björnman, have mutually agreed that Mr. Björnman will step down from his position as the President and CEO. Mr. Janne Silonsaari, currently Chief Financial Officer, has been appointed as interim President & CEO, effective June 30, 2025. 
“We thank Mr. Björnman for his dedication and leadership during his tenure,” says Andreas Ahlström, Deputy Chair of the Board of Suominen. “Under his guidance, Suominen has continued to focus on its vision to be the frontrunner for nonwovens innovation and sustainability.”  

“The past two years at Suominen have been both challenging and rewarding. I am proud to see that we have elevated commercial excellence, sustainability, and innovation to the next level,” says Tommi Björnman.  

“I am honored to step into the CEO role at a pivotal time for Suominen. I look forward to working closely with our talented team to build on the company’s strong foundations, drive sustainable growth, and deliver long-term value to our shareholders, customers, and communities,” says Charles Héaulmé.

Patrick McDowell, the renowned British brand at the forefront of sustainable luxury fashion, has announced a new collaboration with Sparxell, the world-first, nature-inspired colour platform technology company founded by University of Cambridge scientists Dr Benjamin Droguet and Professor Silvia Vignolini. The company creates high-performance, biodegradable colourants that are free from plastic and toxic chemicals using plant-based cellulose. This collaboration will unveil a couture printed gown and a commercially available shirt dress, marking a defining moment as Patrick McDowell becomes the first brand to integrate Sparxell’s cutting-edge innovations into fashion.

Known for advancing the boundaries of circular and eco-conscious design, McDowell continues to reinforce his brand’s commitment to a more responsible fashion industry. This collaboration showcases the potential for innovation to redefine luxury, with the collection making its debut at Future Fabrics Expo 2025, the world’s leading platform for sustainable materials for the fashion industry. The launch signals a broader industry shift toward forward-thinking practices that will shape the future of luxury as well as mainstream fashion.

“This is about making sustainability tangible. One piece shows what’s possible at the highest level of craft, the other makes that possibility part of everyday life,” said Patrick McDowell, Creative Director and Founder.
 
Unlike conventional synthetic materials, Sparxell’s bio-inspired approach creates natural yet high-performance products. The company pioneers the world’s first 100% biodegradable pigments, inks and embellishments such as sequins and foils inspired by nature. Sparxell eliminates fossil-derived synthetic finishes and their associated excessive water consumption and carbon emissions, offering an alternative capable of achieving vivid colours and luxurious effects from plants. By emulating natural colour processes known as photonic colours widely seen in nature, their products deliver rich hues and durable textures with the lowest environmental harm, allowing brands to create consciously without compromise. 
 
“What excites me about Sparxell is how they're advancing what's possible in responsible luxury. Their plant-based pigments and plastic-free sequins are exceptionally vibrant yet completely non-toxic and biodegradable. It opens up entirely new creative possibilities,” said Patrick McDowell, Creative Director and Founder.
 
The collection showcases Sparxell's innovative colour technology across multiple applications. McDowell’s couture gown features two distinct shades of Sparxell's signature blue - a sophisticated matte finish and a brilliant shimmery effect that captures light through structural colour rather than traditional sparkle materials, otherwise derived from synthetic dyed plastics or mined metals and minerals. The collection also includes a bag crafted from NUVI's next-gen material made with a coating containing Sparxell's shimmers.

These represent the first commercial shades that Sparxell is launching to market, with additional colours already available for early adopter brands. Sparxell’s platform enables unlimited colour variations to be manufactured.
 
The collection is set to officially debut at Future Fabrics Expo 2025 on Tuesday the 24th of June, providing industry leaders, designers, and sustainability advocates with an exclusive opportunity to experience this next-generation innovation firsthand.

Svegea – a member of TMAS, the Swedish textile machinery association – has delivered six of its EC 200 automatic collarette machines to the Bangladesh-based Interstoff Group in the past 12 months.

Interstoff, which belongs to the Pandughar Group, was founded in 2000 as a modest garment factory with just 62 sewing machines.

Today its three divisions – Interstoff Apparels, Interstoff Clothing and South East Textile – have a combined workforce of over 10,000 people, producing around 72 million fully finished and packaged garments each year.

Interstoff is further equipped with the very latest knitting and dyeing and finishing machinery sourced from Europe and Japan to enable a daily production capacity of 30,000 kg of fabrics. Through continuous innovation in yarns and processes, the company’s fabrics consistently earn recognition for their environmental responsibility and quality. Its fabric laboratory is certified by leading brands such as H&M, M&S, Sainsbury’s and Tesco.

Two Svegea collarette machines have now been commissioned at each of the three Interstoff divisions for the high speed production of tubular apparel components such as cuffs, collars and neck tapes.

Interstoff chose the EC 200 machines over the faster EC 300 model primarily because some of its fabrics include seams. The faster crush-cutting knife system in Svegea’s EC 300 series can struggle with multiple fabric layers or seams stitched with polyester thread, since it cuts by pressure rather than slicing. By contrast, the EC 200 uses scissor-action knives – two sharp circular blades with a slight overlap – which function like scissors and handle seams without issue.

The machines run directly from turntables at speeds of up to 40 metres per minute, depending on the fabric width, material properties and optimal settings. They are equipped with Svegea’s standard drive system in an electronic master/slave configuration. Each machine has been specially equipped with a third knife set, enabling the simultaneous cutting of up to three bands. This means that total output in linear metres per minute can be significantly higher when cutting multiple bands in parallel.

Svegea will be demonstrating both semi- and fully-automatic cutting machines at ITMA Asia + CITME from October 28-31.

INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, has announced that eco-friendly wipes developed by Cookware Care, Dude Products Inc., and Magnera have been selected as the finalists for the 2025 World of WipesInnovation Award®, honoring advances in sustainable materials and next-generation wipe performance.

INDA’s Technical Advisory Board selected the finalists for their creativity, distinctiveness, and technical excellence in advancing nonwoven applications across the value chain, including innovations in raw materials, roll goods, converting, packaging, active ingredients, binders, additives, and end-use performance.

The three standout products competing for the award are Cookware Care’s Seasoning Wipes™, Dude Products’ DUDE Odor Destroyer XL Flushable Deodorant Wipes, and Magnera’s Sontara EC® Green Cotton.

The companies will showcase their products at the World of Wipes® (WOW) International Conference, July 21-24, at the Hilton Columbus Downtown in Columbus, Ohio. The winner will be announced during the closing session on July 24.

Presented annually, the World of Wipes Innovation Award recognizes breakthroughs in nonwoven product design and application. It celebrates innovation across the entire wipes supply chain, highlighting advancements in raw materials, fibers, technology, and functionality that enhance the utility and sustainability of nonwovens.

The 2025 Award finalists are:

• Seasoning Wipes™ offer a simple, convenient, mess-free solution for maintaining cast iron and carbon steel cookware. Made from 100 percent viscose and infused through a proprietary process using a combination of non-petrochemical oils and beeswax, the formula contains no water, emulsifiers, or synthetic additives. The wipes streamline and simplify traditional maintenance with a cleaner, more consistent solution. Seasoning Wipes™ sets a new standard for cookware maintenance while expanding the possibilities of nonwovens beyond traditional applications.
• DUDE Odor Destroyer XL Flushable Deodorant Wipes utilize powerful, long-lasting technology to capture and eliminate the compounds that cause body odor (including fecal odor), rather than just masking them. These wipes are proven to neutralize odor instantly and reduce it for up to 24 hours on skin, fabric, and in the air. Made with plant-based fibers, aloe vera, and vitamin E, the hypoallergenic wipes, infused with a sea mineral scent, redefine personal hygiene and modern cleanliness.
• Sontara EC® Green Cotton wipes advance sustainable precision cleaning with natural pure performance. Made from a proprietary blend of 100 percent naturally derived, biodegradable fibers—including pure unbleached TruCotton™ and sustainably sourced wood pulp—these innovative nonwoven wipes deliver superior absorbency, low lint, and a visibly natural aesthetic, perfect for industrial and critical cleaning environments demanding both technical excellence and environmental responsibility.

Lower costs, less energy intensive, and with zero waste water, the new QuantumCOLOUR™ process is set to revolutionize wool textile colouring: Woolmark, the global authority on wool, has teamed up with COLOURizd™, pioneers in dry textile colouring processes, to introduce a revolutionary new method to colour wool and wool blends. 

QuantumCOLOUR™ is a cutting-edge yarn colouring process that significantly reduces resource consumption and costs. Using just 0.5L of water per kilogram of yarn, this technology eliminates the need for bleaching, pre-treatment and wastewater discharge. This makes the COLOURizd™ QuantumCOLOUR™ a reduced resource-intense colouration process, where only the wetting agent and pigment binder system are required.

“After extensive testing on Merino wool and wool blends, we realized the team at COLOURizd™ is on to something truly revolutionary for the wool industry,” said Woolmark General Manager Processing Innovation & Education Extension Julie Davies. “The QuantumCOLOUR™ process provides durable solutions, creating faded to saturated tonal depths of colour for wool and wool blends. And since it uses very little water, suppliers can choose to colour wool and wool blend yarns without the need for wastewater processing infrastructure.”

Traditional dyeing requires a variety of chemicals, including caustic soda, acids, bleach, and salts, all washed in with between 60 and 120 liters of water per kilogram of yarn. The COLOURizd™ method uses none of these chemicals, instead utilising a bluesign® certified pigment and binder injected into a yarn fibre bundle. The result is a process that allows for a range of colours and supple textures.

“Woolmark represents the gold standard within the wool industry and they will be instrumental in helping to offer our lower impact, higher performance process to new markets,” said COLOURizd™ CEO Jennifer Thompson. “Our current clients include Kontoor Brands (Wrangler and Lee), Cone Denim, and GANT, and working with Woolmark will allow us to reach an entirely new market, bringing sustainability and performance solutions to wool manufacturers around the globe.”

Successfully validated on 100% Merino wool, as well as blends with cotton, TENCEL™ and nylon, on a range of yarn counts from 30/2NM to 80/1NM, the COLOURizd™ QuantumCOLOUR™ pigment process meets all standards for colourfastness and durability. Assessed through authorised laboratory partners, Woolmark testing was carried out on yarns, fabrics and garments, showing the technology delivers consistent colour performance and long-lasting wear.

Woolmark and COLOURizd™ will introduce this new technology during Pitti Immagine Filati.

Lenzing Aktiengesellschaft (“Lenzing AG”) intends to announce an exclusive offer to qualifying holders of the EUR 500 million undated subordinated resettable fixed rate notes with the ISIN XS2250987356 issued on December 7, 2020 (“Existing Notes”) to exchange the Existing Notes at a ratio of 90 percent x aggregate principal amount of the Existing Notes for new Euro-denominated undated subordinated resettable fixed rate notes (“Exchange Notes”) and a cash consideration in the amount equal to 10 percent x aggregate principal amount of the Existing Notes (“Cash Consideration”) subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain minimum condition (“Exchange Offer”). The maximum total aggregate amount of the Cash Consideration is limited to EUR 50 million. The exchange period is expected to run from, on or about June 16, 2025 to on or about July 2, 2025.

The intended Exchange Offer will not constitute a redemption pursuant to § 6(3)(a) or (b) of the terms and conditions of the Existing Notes. With this transaction, Lenzing AG intends to optimize its debt profile and improve its financing cost.

Concurrently with the intended Exchange Offer, Lenzing AG intends to issue new euro-denominated undated subordinated resettable fixed rate notes (the “New Money Notes” and, together with the Exchange Notes, the “New Notes”) in an intended separate offering for cash consideration.

The terms of the Hybrid Bond 2025 will be based on the terms of the Hybrid Bond 2020: it represents subordinated capital with a fixed interest rate, one-sided termination rights by Lenzing AG and an unlimited term. The Hybrid Bond 2025 will therefore be classified as equity under IFRS. The Hybrid Bond 2025 will rank senior to the Hybrid Bond 2020.