From the Sector

Based on the annual data reported by Member States to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) under the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Regulation, the decline is mainly due to reduced volumes of exports and imports of substances containing benzene.

ECHA’s annual report on exports and imports of chemicals that are banned or severely restricted in the EU shows that substances containing benzene accounted for approximately 51% (1.1 million tonnes) of total exports and 99% (30 million tonnes) of total imports of PIC chemicals in 2024. In 2023, 64 million tonnes of substances containing benzene were exported, with imports reaching 65 million tonnes. The decrease in their trade has led to a 97% reduction in overall export volumes and a 53% reduction in overall import volumes.

If substances containing benzene are excluded from the data, the report shows a slight increase in hazardous substance trade. Exports of other PIC chemicals increased by 7% from approximately 1.03 million tonnes in 2023 to 1.1 million tonnes in 2024. Imports of other PIC chemicals rose by 2% from approximately 378 000 tonnes in 2023 to 387 000 tonnes in 2024.

The top traded chemicals were largely similar to previous years, with substances containing benzene, benzene itself and ethylene dichloride (1,2-dichloroethane) dominating both exports and imports.

In 2024, pesticide exports increased by 34% (from approximately 173 000 to 232 000 tonnes), after two consecutive years of decline. The main contributor to this increase was chlorate, which accounted for 24% of the overall rise.

Background
Exports - 553 companies from 24 EU countries provided data to ECHA on the exports of PIC chemicals from the EU in 2024. Three EU countries (Cyprus, Luxembourg and Malta) and the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) declared that they had not exported PIC chemicals.
Imports - 226 companies from 23 EU countries submitted data on imports of PIC chemicals into the EU in 2024. Four EU countries (Cyprus, Lithuania, Luxembourg and Malta) and the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) declared that they had not imported PIC chemicals.

Article 10 of the PIC Regulation requires importers and exporters to give information about the annual trade of chemicals listed in Annex I to the regulation to their designated national authorities by 31 March of the following year. Each EU country must then provide the aggregated information to ECHA so that it can be summarised at EU level and non-confidential information can be made publicly available.

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.
      
Recycling of garments made from different types of fibres has always represented a major challenge for the textile industry. In the absence of a chemical or mechanical process capable of separating and recovering the individual materials, these garments have so far become waste destined for incineration or landfill. Today, however, Radici InNova, the RadiciGroup division dedicated to research and innovation, has developed an innovative recycling process based on selective dissolution technology, capable of treating mixed textile waste — such as swimwear, tights and leggings — and recovering both nylon and LYCRA® fibre, making them available again for the production of new garments. The collaboration with The LYCRA Company and Triumph, internationally-renowned lingerie brand, has made it possible to validate the process by using the recovered fibres to create a 100% recycled lingerie set. The process, internationally patented, uses non-toxic, non-flammable and environmentally compatible solvents. It can be applied to the main types of nylon (PA6 and PA66) and is economically sustainable because it allows for the recovery of both nylon and LYCRA® fibre, regardless of their respective proportions in the fabric, as well as the solvent itself.

“Thanks to this project, textile recycling enters a new dimension, demonstrating for the first time that it is possible to recover fibers from mixed fabrics and reuse them to produce new garments. This is an unprecedented innovation that opens up revolutionary development opportunities for the textile industry. As RadiciGroup, we are proud to have conceived and achieved this important milestone together with our partners, and we are ready to take the next steps,” said Stefano Alini, CEO of Radici InNova.

“This innovative project highlights the role that elastane can have in helping to advance circularity in the apparel industry. Working closely with Radici InNova and Triumph, The LYCRA Company has demonstrated that LYCRA® fibres can retain their renowned stretch and recovery performance — providing comfort, fit and ease of movement — even when reintegrated into the spinning cycle,” commented Nicholas Kurland, Product Development Director, Advanced Concepts The LYCRA Company.

The project began four years ago, when Radici InNova launched the study of an innovative process for the dissolution and separation of mixed textile fibres. After the initial development phase, subsequent tests made it possible to recover samples of LYCRA® fibre from multi-material fabrics, which were then sent to The LYCRA Company to verify their recyclability. The next step was to demonstrate the feasibility in practice: Triumph provided its own production surplus, a fabric containing 16% LYCRA® fibre. From this material, Radici InNova succeeded in recovering both LYCRA® fibre and nylon. The LYCRA® fibre was then re-spun by The LYCRA Company, while RadiciGroup processed the recycled nylon to produce new Renycle® yarn. Using these recycled yarns (LYCRA® fibre and Renycle®), a 60-meter black fabric was created, which Triumph used to produce a coordinated lingerie set — bra and briefs — concretely demonstrating the possibility of closing the loop: from textile waste to new garments. The result achieved so far by Radici InNova, The LYCRA Company and Triumph should be considered a prototype (concept garment) designed to prove the technical feasibility of recycling mixed textiles and lay the groundwork for its future industrialization.

“Although still in its early stages, Triumph is proud to contribute to this pioneering initiative and to explore the potential of this innovative recycling technology for future applications. Our next step will focus on developing a capsule collection, while also working on solutions to ensure product identification, traceability and circularity systems, so that garments can remain in use for as long as possible and, once they reach the end of their life, can be recycled in the most appropriate way. At Triumph, we are committed to promoting innovation and collaboration in the field of sustainability. Being part of this project strengthens our belief that circularity for garments made from mixed textile fibers is possible, and we are proud to help turn this vision into reality,” said Vera Galarza, Global Head of Sustainability – Triumph.

Baptized Very Middle Ages, the new trend book from Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris outlines the directions that will guide – in a world under pressure – the Spring-Summer 2027 collections. It will be unveiled from February 2 to 4, 2026 at the Paris-Le Bourget Exhibition Center. 

Geopolitical tensions, social expectations, digital transformations, shifting markets... At a time when fashion (and the world) is going through strong turbulence, Very Middle Ages chooses to look to the future by invoking a reinvented past. Not as a nostalgic refuge, but as a magnifying mirror of our contemporary tensions. 

This new edition of the Trend Book offers ideas to help creators combine imagination and a desire for renewal while developing the Spring-Summer 2027 collections. It explores a universe often dark, mixing protection, conflict, magic, and augmented identity: a reworked, digital, imagined Middle Ages used as a metaphor for current upheavals. 

Four creative Universes to “rearm” imagination 
Directed by Louis Gérin and Grégory Lamaud, the artistic directors of Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris, this document is based on the reflections of a collective of stylists, designers, writers, and artists brought together around one question: how do you create in a world that doubts its own ability to imagine? From this question comes a vision made of four narratives showing different points of friction between reality and expectations: a return to primitive function, comforting digital illusions, warrior attitudes in the face of crises, and the constant expansion of the “digital self”. 
 
Rather than a fixed projection, Very Middle Ages offers a sensitive, instinctive (and sometimes unsettling) reading of the Spring-Summer 2027 season. An invitation to rethink clothing as a tool of protection, affirmation, resistance, or transformation, in a world where the borders between real and virtual, natural and artificial, past and future have never been so blurred. 
 
#1 Digital lordship. This first theme elevates the giants of Silicon Valley to the rank of all-powerful overlords. Individuals, voluntary vassals of these contemporary digital empires, give up intimacy and freedom in exchange for an illusory safety. Protection and control: two expectations expressed in a fashion made of layered, highly functional pieces. Symbolic shells of heavy fabrics, textile-like armor (metal-coated finishes), rigid ribbed knits treated in steel gray, charcoal black, with silver holographic accents. 

#2 Nuclear sorcery. Although this colored universe brings a form of “reenchantment,” it resembles an aesthetic of illusion. Technology (AI), which threatens to bring a new obscurantism by numbing reasoning, is paradoxically felt as an artificial comfort. The silhouettes here are full of soft deception, protective and velvety materials (iridescent organza, translucent fabrics, foamy knits, light mohair, “second skin” jerseys), in an atmosphere of techno magic, between enveloping cocoon and “digital aura.” The palette moves between spectral purples, carmine red, opaline, and “radioactive” greens. 

#3 Speculative crusade. This creative sequence calls on the (human) history of an endless quest for unsatisfied domination. A martial and dark direction built on conflict. The silhouettes are very “armored” – technical, combat-inspired – or made with hybrid materials, visceral textures in an organic and warlike palette: dark reds and browns, textured blacks, military khaki, burnt chrome... 

#4 Data inquisition. This final direction explores a society of suspects under surveillance. In this world of constant inquisition, any difference, any eccentricity or nuance is instantly condemned. Personal identities are absorbed and intimacy disappears in favor of the collective. Clothing becomes an interface, a second skin, an extension of the digital self. The garments can be adjusted with interchangeable modules. All of this in an icy blue, algorithmic aesthetic. 
 
Words to discover in February 
These four themes are enriched with moodboards and color palettes built around three “star colors” followed by six shades. Each theme, imagined as a design capsule or creative direction, will be showcased at the fair in the area dedicated to trend forums in Hall 2. This immersive setup will allow visitors to discover the looks created by the artistic directors using materials and finished products selected for each world based on strong sensory intentions. Louis Gerin will also present the full details of this work during a dedicated conference to give creators solid creative perspectives for imagining the Spring-Summer 2027 fashion season. 

INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, has released the North American Nonwovens Industry Demand & Forecast, 2024–2029, the thirteenth edition of its authoritative market intelligence series. The report provides detailed demand data from 2019–2024 and forecasts through 2029, incorporating the most recent tariff changes enacted by the current administration and their expected impacts on nonwoven market dynamics.

Redesigned to better support strategic planning and investment decisions, the report offers a reliable, accurate view of demand across all North American nonwoven end-use markets. Forecasts are built from robust analyses of key market drivers and trends, presenting the industry’s growth potential in dollar value, units, and volume (square meters and tonnage).

“This report provides insights on nonwoven demand across the short-life and long-life market segments,” said Tony Fragnito, President & CEO of INDA. “The intelligence included here is critical for business leaders responsible for asset management, operational planning, and long-term strategy.”

“The nonwovens industry is constantly evolving and innovating, and the innovation trend continues with new and more sustainable products being developed,” said Mark Snider, INDA’s Chief Market & Research Analyst. “This report will help guide both current participants and new investors as they navigate emerging opportunities.”

Key components of the report include:

• Economic and population drivers shaping market growth in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada over the next five years
• Demand analysis for Disposable, Filtration, Wipes, Medical, and other applications
• Long-life durable sectors including Transportation, Building & Construction, Furnishings, Geotextiles & Agro Textiles, and Apparel
• Key demand model drivers and historical market disruptors, including the COVID-19 pandemic
• A summary of historical patterns and future trends influencing the nonwovens sector

The new Demand & Forecast report complements INDA’s North American Nonwoven Supply Report (released May 2025), which provides capacity, production, and trade flow data. Together, the Supply and Demand reports offer a complete view of the market—past, present, and future—and serve as essential tools for business leaders seeking a comprehensive understanding of industry performance and trajectory.

Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL), a global sustainable chemicals company, has been ranked first globally with a green card in ChemScore 2025, the internationally recognized benchmark developed by ChemSec, assessing the environmental performance and chemical management of the world’s 40 largest chemical companies. The company has consistently found itself in the top three ChemScore companies and scored twice as high on average as the Asia-based companies taken together. The achievement reaffirms Indorama Ventures’ commitment to balancing business resilience with environmental and social responsibility.

ChemScore is widely used by global investors, regulatory bodies, and multinational brand owners to evaluate companies across four key pillars: responsible chemical management, development of safer and more sustainable alternatives, transparency and disclosure, and long-term stewardship across the value chain. The ranking was developed by ChemSec, an independent non-profit organization that advocates for substitution of toxic chemicals to safer alternatives. In the 2025 assessment, Indorama Ventures earned 57 out of 100 points and received a green card, including 12/25 in Transparency, 23/25 in Phase-out of Persistent Chemicals, 13/25 in Product Portfolio, and 9/25 in Safer Solutions.

Indorama Ventures is recognized by ChemSec for applying the Substitute It Now (SIN) List to systematically eliminate hazardous substances, accelerate safer alternatives, and expand bio-based and hazard-free recycled feedstocks. This approach places the company ahead of tightening global regulatory requirements, including emerging EU and U.S. restrictions on persistent chemicals, and aligns with rising demand for safer, traceable materials across consumer goods, automotive, health and hygiene, and industrial sectors.

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.

“Through such coordinated enforcement, we protect health and the environment by preventing non-compliant products from entering the EEA market. This also helps to safeguard the European single market from unfair competition, contributing to a level playing field for companies.”

Results of the project show the importance of a well-informed and well-designed sampling and targeting strategy for performing enforcement activities. The results also show that importers need to become aware of REACH duties before imports take place. They should acquire analytical reports or other evidence proving compliance with REACH. These and other recommendations are available in the report.

Almost all detected non-compliant products checked before the release for free circulation were either not allowed to enter the EEA market or allowed to enter only after corrective measures were taken. 

Registration requirements
When checking substances and mixtures for compliance with registration requirements, inspectors found that one out of three of the checked substances in mixtures was missing the required registration. For substances imported on their own, registration was missing in 7% of the cases. These non-compliance rates are higher than what has been detected in past projects. 
The Forum found that importers of mixtures containing unregistered substances often did not know what substances they were placing on the market. 
  
Restriction requirements
Inspectors also checked over 1,300 imported mixtures and consumer products for compliance with REACH restriction requirements. They found that 16% contained restricted hazardous substances breaching the conditions of the restriction – for example, the substance was present above the allowed concentration, which entails risk to human health. Most controls were on imported jewellery, checking for the presence of nickel, cadmium and lead, but many controls targeted also toys and textiles. The Forum did not see improvement in jewellery compared to earlier findings. The results show that imported jewellery persistently contains restricted heavy metals, especially nickel.  

Enforcement authorities also checked REACH authorisation duties for imported substances of very high concern which are subject to authorisation. Inspectors checked 21 such cases, and authorisation was missing or expired in four cases. 
The controls in this project were targeted at products where non-compliance was expected to be found. Therefore, the results do not directly reflect the overall non-compliance rate of products imported to the EEA market.

Background
The aim of this enforcement project was to strengthen REACH controls on imports by developing and applying a systematic use of customs data from import declarations and enhancing cooperation between national REACH enforcement bodies and customs authorities. 

ECHA did not collect the information about individual inspected products, as the objective of these projects is to enforce compliance and harmonise controls rather than collect information on individual cases. National enforcement authorities have the full details of inspections completed

Fibre pollution is a growing threat to ecosystems. Yet, key knowledge gaps on the causes of fibre shedding and uncertainties around testing fibre loss have made it challenging for brands and manufacturers to take informed action.

To help close these gaps and advance the industry’s understanding about fibre fragmentation, Fashion for Good and The Microfibre Consortium launched “Behind the Break: Exploring Fibre Fragmentation” alongside key partners.  

Alongside the comprehensive report published in March, the project delivered a landmark study which tested three fabric archetypes (Cotton Knit, Polyester Knit, and Cotton Woven - Denim) across multiple laboratories and test methods using a controlled design of experiments. Key findings revealed:

• The differences and best use cases of existing methods used to measure fibre loss 
• Consistent fibre shedding trends across laboratories, with minimal sample contamination 
• Directional insights on key variables influencing fibre loss across each fabric archetype

For a detailed breakdown of the project approach, results, and next steps, access the full closing study.

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.

As one of the world’s leading apparel manufacturing hubs, Türkiye is uniquely positioned to scale textile-to-textile recycling due to its vertically integrated industry, proximity to the EU, and increasing regulatory pressure to reduce waste and emissions. The Circular Fashion Partnership: Türkiye will build on these strengths by developing scalable models for improved waste segregation, fibre-to-fibre recycling, and domestic recovery routes that reduce dependency on virgin materials and landfill.

The programme is part of the Global Circular Fashion Forum (GCFF), a wider initiative led by Global Fashion Agenda to advance post-industrial textile recycling through local partnerships in manufacturing regions. Building on successful implementation in Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Indonesia, the Circular Fashion Partnership: Türkiye becomes the fourth national programme to deploy this model — which has already digitally traced over 21,000 tonnes of textile waste and connected more than 100 factories and 20 global brands to recycling partners across its programmes. The locally owned and led partnership in Türkiye will be customised to the regional context, while drawing on best practices from other countries. Throughout 2026, the Circular Fashion Partnership: Türkiye will engage stakeholders across the value chain via targeted activities including on-site waste management assessments, training and capacity building through a Train-the-Trainer model, recycling pitch sessions and matchmaking events, as well as roundtables and policy dialogues with key national actors. In doing so, the partnership aims to support Turkey in futureproofing its textile ecosystem, unlock economic value from waste, and contribute to a just, circular transition in one of the industry’s most influential sourcing regions.

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.

RUDOLF shares comparable PCF data as a service to customers, enabling brands to integrate carbon considerations into sourcing and innovation strategies. This approach fosters collaboration across the value chain and supports measurable progress toward climate objectives.

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. 

Including these products in standard textile EPR schemes poses significant risks: 

• Cross-Contamination: Mixing hazardous PPE waste with household textiles threatens human health and environmental safety. 
• Regulatory Conflict: Contaminated PPE disposal is already regulated under Articles 13, 17, 18, and 19 of the existing Waste Framework Directive. 
• Low Circularity Potential: PPE constitutes less than 1% of textile waste, with 80-90% treated as hazardous. The environmental benefit of recycling the remaining fraction is negligible compared to the transport required to aggregate sufficient volumes. 

The statement also calls for guidance on safety shoes. Like other PPE, these items face contamination issues that limit recyclability. Furthermore, manufacturers cannot guarantee product warranties or conformity for reused safety footwear, and the fee scaling for heavy items (e.g., steel-toed boots) remains unclear. 

Recital 28 of the Directive already suggests that products posing safety or hygiene risks should be excluded from the EPR. However, this is being overlooked in national implementations, such as in Spain and the Netherlands. 

Therefore, the signatories urge the European Commission to issue clear guidance to Member States confirming that products complying with the PPE Regulation (2016/425) and the MD Regulation (2017/745) are outside the scope of the Textiles EPR.