From the Sector

The undersigned associations, representing several European industrial sectors, call on EU institutions to maintain the current legal text of the Single-Use Plastic Directive (SUPD), adopted in 2019. While the signatories recognise the importance of ensuring that the SUPD delivers measurable and meaningful environmental outcomes, reopening the Directive now will create legal uncertainty, add disproportionate burden for economic operators that are already navigating partial and often divergent national transpositions, and increase the risk of regulatory overlaps or contradictions with existing and upcoming legislation. Moreover, there is currently insufficient evidence on the effectiveness of the current SUPD to justify a revision, as described below: 

• Insufficient evidence to inform a revision of the SUPD. 
  An impact assessment of the SUPD cannot be carried out at a moment when several of its provisions are not yet in place. While a first report on the state of implementation of the SUPD was published in April 2026, it remains partial, and reporting is not harmonised, preventing meaningful comparison of data across countries. Taking the example of consumption reduction targets, Member States and other EEA countries only reported data on SUP products placed on the market in 2022 and, even for this report, did so using different indicators. Crucially, since the target on consumption reduction is set for 2026, no data are yet available on whether that target has been achieved. In summary, the partial application of the SUPD and the limited data available suggest that a revision of the SUPD would be premature at this time. 
• Preventing further fragmentation and gold-plating. 
  The transposition of the SUPD has produced significant regulatory fragmentation, uneven enforcement, and widespread instances of gold plating, creating persistent uncertainty for companies active across multiple Member States. The result is a patchwork of national rules that undermines the integrity of the Single Market, inflates compliance costs, and fails to deliver proportionate environmental benefits. These structural shortcomings must be fully recognised in the evaluation of the SUPD and effectively addressed prior to considering a reopening of the Directive. 
• Ensuring legal certainty for economic operators. 
  A revision of the SUPD would create legal uncertainty for companies and Member States that are still implementing several of its provisions. While the SUPD entered into force in mid-2021, the date of application for most of its provisions is at a later stage. Furthermore, the EU Commission has only recently adopted some of the implementing decisions and guidelines on the current SUPD. Any change to the SUPD at a moment when companies are still adapting to new obligations, and Member States are still in the process of implementing some key provisions, would create legal uncertainty for economic operators who do not know whether targets or the scope of the SUPD may change. Legal uncertainty carries significant economic costs for economic operators, notably in terms of investment delays likely to persist throughout the entire SUPD revision process (2–3 years). 
• Avoiding overlaps with other legislation. 
  Revising the SUPD while the Ecodesign and Packaging Regulations are still being implemented, and as negotiations on the Circular Economy Act (CEA) begin, increases the risk of regulatory overlaps and contradictions. These frameworks cover intersecting areas and a revision of the SUPD in parallel with the CEA would almost inevitably lead to duplicative or conflicting provisions. Even if the EU Commission ensured full coherence in its proposal, the co-legislators could still introduce provisions that diverge from or contradict the SUPD framework, further undermining legal certainty and the functioning of the Single Market. 

At a time when EU leaders have made regulatory simplifications and a fully integrated Single Market central to Europe’s competitiveness agenda, we urge EU policymakers to focus legislative efforts where they are most needed and avoid reopening a framework that has yet to deliver concrete results.

ROICA™, the premium stretch fiber developed by Asahi Kasei, today announced the launch of its new global brand identity, including a new key visual and a fully redesigned website. 

This milestone initiative marks the beginning of a new phase in ROICA™’s evolution as a global brand. 

“This brand update marks an important step as ROICA™ enters its next phase of evolution,” said Takaaki Kondo, Senior Executive Manager of the ROICA™ Division at Asahi Kasei. 

“Building on over 50 years of expertise, we are strengthening our technologies while enhancing collaboration across the supply chain. 
Through our new visual identity and digital platform, we aim to clearly communicate ROICA™’s core values—premium quality, continuous innovation, and solutions designed to reduce environmental impact.” 

A New Brand Expression for the Next Phase 
The new brand identity is designed to reflect ROICA™’s next stage as a global brand under the message “STRETCH YOUR FUTURE.” 

At its core, the visual concept focuses on the human body, capturing the dynamism of movement and stretch to express the functionality of ROICA™. 

Layered graphical elements inspired by extending threads highlight the presence of the premium stretch fiber, while bold composition and the brand’s signature blue create a refined and distinctive visual language. 
As part of this update, ROICA™ has launched a fully redesigned website aimed at delivering a more intuitive and engaging user experience. 

The platform integrates design and content under a consistent direction, supporting stakeholders in gaining a deeper understanding of the brand’s philosophy, technologies, and initiatives. 

It is designed to present a clearer view of ROICA™’s approach to quality, functionality, and innovation with environmental considerations. 

Responding to Market Transformation and Strengthening Value 
The stretch materials market is undergoing significant change, driven by increasing expectations for respon-sible production and value creation across the supply chain. 

In this ever-changing environment, ROICA™ continues to strengthen its product quality, functionality, and service, while advancing developments that contribute to solutions designed to deliver less environmental impact. 

Leveraging its proprietary technologies and global network, the brand aims to advance co-creation, working closely with partners to address emerging needs. Guided by its core philosophy and four perspectives—WITH COMFORT, WITH AWARENESS, WITH UTILITY, and WITH ENDURANCE—ROICA™ is aligning its development, partnerships, and communication under a unified global direction. 

Driving Growth through “One ROICA™” 
This brand update represents the first step in ROICA™’s next phase of growth. Looking ahead, ROICA™ will continue to explore new approaches beyond conventional thinking, advancing materials and solutions to help meet changing market demands. Under the banner of “One ROICA™,” the brand brings together its accumulated expertise and collaborative spirit to expand the possibilities of premium stretch fiber alongside partners around the world.

Leading Japanese computerized knitting solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD., along with its Italian subsidiary SHIMA SEIKI ITALIA S.p.A., will exhibit at the 99th edition of the Pitti Immagine Filati exhibition in Florence, Italy. It will once again exhibit as part of the CustomEasy section, which explores various aspects of customization in the presence of textile machinery and design software, realized at the SHIMA SEIKI booth through its lineup of WHOLEGARMENT® knitting machine, design and knit software, as well as various web services. 

MACH2®XS173 
SHIMA SEIKI will be exhibiting its WHOLEGARMENT® knitting technology whereby an item can be produced in one entire piece on the machine without linking or sewing. The MACH2®XS173 WHOLEGARMENT® knitting machine in 8L, featuring 4 needle beds and SHIMA SEIKI’s original SlideNeedle™, is capable of producing high-quality WHOLEGARMENT® knitwear in all needles. While fine gauges have remained popular, there has been renewed interest in coarser gauges, which is why the machine will be featured in 8L knitting a Norwegian sweater. 

APEXFiz® 
APEXFiz® subscription-based design software supports the creative side of fashion from planning and design to colorway evaluation, realistic fabric simulation and 3D virtual sampling. Virtual sampling is a digitized version of sample making, accurate enough to be used effectively as prototypes. By replacing physical samples, virtual samples reduce time, cost and material that otherwise go to waste. APEXFiz® thereby helps to realize sustainability and digitally transform the fashion supply chain. 

SDS® KnitPaint-Online 
KnitPaint is proven software used by knitting companies across the globe to create knitting data for programming SHIMA SEIKI computerized flat knitting machines. Previously available only as part of SHIMA SEIKI's SDS®-ONE APEX series all-in-one design system, with SDS® KnitPaint-Online, KnitPaint becomes available as standalone software that carries over the same familiar KnitPaint functions, but enhanced with basic planning and design functionality as well. 

SHIMA SEIKI Online Services 
The product planning capability of APEXFiz® is enhanced by several web services featured as part of the SHIMA SEIKI Online Services (SHIMA online) web platform. These include yarnbank® digital yarn sourcing web service that offers digitized yarn data by yarn companies from around the world available for free download and use in virtual sampling, SHIMA Datamall™ digital content web service that allows users to search, browse and purchase a variety of useful data for streamlining the planning and production of fashion items, as well as SHIMANAVI® e-learning system. 

The booth also features several companies exhibiting in collaboration with SHIMA SEIKI ITALIA, including specialty yarn and fabric manufacturers. In addition, SHIMA SEIKI will be exhibiting under the concept "The New Generation" to emphasize the need for nurturing future designers and creatives through the synergy of corporations and educational institutions. Samples produced by students from schools with which SHIMA SEIKI ITALIA is collaborating will be exhibited on site.

June 15 marks the official commencement of the World Continence Week. To honour this global awareness initiative, EDANA has published a comprehensive report titled "The Central Role of Absorbent Hygiene Products in the Management of Adult Urinary Incontinence: Benefits, Costs and Environmental Impact." 

The World Continence Week (WCW) is an annual global initiative dedicated to raising public awareness about incontinence and bladder or bowel health issues. Traditionally held in June, this awareness week aims to shed light on a condition that affects millions of people worldwide but is frequently kept secret due to widespread social stigma, embarrassment, and taboo. 

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a widely prevalent condition affecting millions worldwide across all age groups, with an escalating incidence among older demographics. As global populations age and lifestyle-related risk factors such as obesity and reduced physical activity continue to scale up, the need for reliable, long-term care management frameworks has never been more pressing. This new landmark report provides an essential, multi-dimensional analysis of how Absorbent Hygiene Products (AHPs), and more specifically, continence products, act as a vital lifeline for individuals, macro-economies, and public healthcare systems alike. 

Urinary incontinence is a complex condition 
The report establishes that UI is a deeply nuanced clinical reality. It primarily manifests in three main forms—urge, stress, and mixed incontinence—each driven by distinct physiological mechanisms. Other variations, such as functional incontinence caused by cognitive or physical mobility impairments, further highlight that UI is not a single, uniform issue but an intricately layered medical challenge. 

Urinary incontinence has a major impact on society 
Driven by global aging trends, rising obesity rates, and the expansion of chronic diseases, the global footprint of UI is growing rapidly. Beyond the estimated 465 million adults currently affected worldwide, the macro-economic burden is staggering. Unmanaged UI accounts for billions in direct healthcare costs and tens of billions in indirect costs, creating massive financial strains due to reduced workplace employment, elevated absenteeism, and heavy institutionalization burdens. 

People with urinary incontinence manage their condition in a variety of ways 
A clear majority of individuals manage UI privately due to lingering social stigma, with up to 80% navigating symptoms without ever consulting a clinician. For those who do seek formal primary care, assistance is not always guaranteed. Clinical pathways dictate a stepwise management sequence—ranging from lifestyle adaptations to specialized surgeries—but for the millions who cannot be fully cured, daily containment remains the primary solution. 

Absorbent hygiene products have a significant part to play in managing urinary incontinence 
AHPs are heavily proven, effective tools that directly elevate health-related quality of life and preserve user dignity. These purpose-made products are regulated medical devices engineered to the highest performance standards specifically to handle urine loss. Clinical evidence demonstrates that the utilization of high-quality bodyworn AHPs drastically reduces caregiver laundering demands, supports professional workforce participation, and cuts the risk of secondary medical complications like pressure ulcers by up to 67%. 

Absorbent hygiene products are a worthwhile expenditure for the public payer 
By keeping individuals socially and economically active while preventing severe skin breakdowns or unnecessary hospitalizations, disposable AHPs deliver exceptional socio-economic returns. Public healthcare systems across nations like the UK, the Netherlands, and Australia actively endorse this value by integrating these essential containment products into official public reimbursement and payment schemes. 

Industry initiatives are reducing the environmental impact of absorbent hygiene products 
The report highlights ongoing sector-wide efforts to lower the ecological footprint of these vital solutions. Through continuous material science innovation and cradle-to-grave Life-Cycle Assessments (LCAs), products have become lighter and down-gauged via advanced superabsorbent polymers (SAP), optimizing resource efficiency while strictly maintaining skin safety. Concurrently, various exploratory initiatives are evaluating mechanical separation, chemical recycling, and anaerobic fermentation pilots to help advance scale-level circular economy solutions for the end-of-life stage.

As a valued Monforts customer for many years, Türkiye’s Kipaş Textile has just installed a new Thermex dyeing range and a Monfortex sanforizer at its new dyeing and finishing plant in Kahramanmaraş.

Founded in 1984, Kipaş has grown into the largest vertically-integrated textile manufacturer in Greater Europe and now employs some 5,500 people throughout its operations. It produces 400 tons of yarn on a daily basis, with annual capacities of 48 million metres of denim and a further 36 million metres of non-denim fabrics.

“Türkiye offers fast logistics to European markets thanks to its strategic location, while its strong textile heritage and qualified workforce enable us to produce high-quality products,” says Kipaş CEO Halit Gümüser. “Our R&D capacity – especially in sustainable and technical textiles – makes Türkiye an indispensable solution partner in the global supply chain.”

Fully operational
Kipaş already operates a number of Monforts lines and the two latest machine systems have been operating 24/7 since the first day they were commissioned.

Thermex continuous dyeing ranges are well known for their ability to deliver high productivity, excellent dyeing quality and significant energy savings. The Thermex system combines precise application technology with advanced process control to ensure highly uniform dye penetration and outstanding colour reproducibility across long production runs, while also enabling smaller lot sizes to be rapidly executed.

Monfortex sanforizers are meanwhile designed to deliver minimum residual shrinkage with excellent fabric hand and highly reproducible quality. Their enlarged shrink cylinder and optimised rubber belt technology enable enhanced shrinkage performance at lower contact pressures, extending rubber belt life while reducing production costs.

“We are extremely satisfied with the installation process of the two Monforts machines installed in our new fabric dyeing and finishing plant, and with the professional support provided by the technicians,” says Mr Gümüser. “In particular, the uninterrupted remote support they provided to ensure operational continuity played a major role in quickly resolving any potential problems.”

Recycling platform
At the end of 2025, Kipaş announced the launch of its fibR-e recycling platform designed to tackle the hurdles that have stopped polyester from becoming truly circular.

In a partnership with fellow Turkish company, Adana-based Meltem Kimya, waste garments containing 70% or more polyester are now being regenerated and turned into certified, high-quality filament yarns and staple fibres ready for new collections.

“Recycling has barely scratched the surface of the polyester problem,” says Mr Gümüser. “With fibR-e, we can take real post-consumer waste in all its complexity and return it to the market as certified, high-quality filament yarns and staple fibres. This is how the industry moves from linear to circular, not through pilots but through commercial scale.

“As the global market’s expectations for sustainability and circularity increase day by day, we at Kipaş see this process not just as an adaptation phase, but as an area where we can assume leadership. With our innovative investments such as fibR-e and strong technology partnerships with companies like Monforts, we are ready to meet these demands at the highest level.”

“Ahead of this year’s ITM exhibition in Istanbul, we are very pleased to be able to highlight one of our latest showpiece projects for an industry leader in Türkiye,” adds Monfort Marketing Manager Nicole Croonenbroek. 

Goldwin Inc., Neste, Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., and Toray Industries, Inc. have established a supply chain for nylon fiber made from renewable raw materials. Neste supplies Neste RE™, a renewable raw material that enables the production of high-performance renewable nylon fiber and reduces the reliance on fossil feedstocks. The nylon fiber produced through this project is scheduled to be used by Goldwin for a part of THE NORTH FACE products in August 2026. 

Renewable naphtha, or Neste RE, is made from bio-based raw materials such as used cooking oil and other renewable raw materials. It is a lower-GHG-emission alternative to conventional fossil feedstocks. With the use of neat (i.e., unblended) renewable Neste RE, over 85%* of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the raw material are reduced compared to the use of virgin fossil raw materials. Bio-based plastics derived from Neste RE are of identical quality to those made from virgin fossil feedstocks and can be turned into exactly the same products and used for the same applications.

“Renewable materials made from Neste RE meet the performance standards of global brands like THE NORTH FACE operated by Goldwin Inc. This project with Goldwin, Idemitsu, and Toray shows how the fashion industry's dependence on fossil resources can also be reduced for high-performance products. It demonstrates how our drop-in solutions can rapidly transform complex value chains to help brands work towards their climate targets,” says Maiju Helin, Director of Polymers and Chemicals at Neste.

Fossil-based feedstocks, like naphtha, can be replaced with Neste RE without changes to the polymers and chemicals manufacturing infrastructure or processes; it is a seamless drop-in solution. In building this supply chain, the participating companies utilized existing facilities and applied the mass balance** approach.

Mitsubishi Corporation coordinated the participating companies in establishing the supply chain for renewable nylon fiber in Goldwin's products.

This collaboration marks Neste’s second supply chain collaboration for THE NORTH FACE products, following a similar partnership in July 2024.