From the Sector

Archroma, a global leader in specialty chemicals towards sustainable solutions, will present its groundbreaking solutions for textile and fashion brands at this year's China Interdye. Archroma’s showcase will emphasize its High IQ® Lasting Color assurance program and the PHOBOTEX® range of durable water-repellent finishes, underscoring the company’s dedication to providing low impact, durable, and long-lasting garment solutions.

As the largest specialized exhibition for textile dyes and chemicals, China Interdye 2025 offers a key platform for Archroma to present its latest advancements. This year’s focus is on innovative solutions that help brands achieve not only their sustainability goals but also meet the increasing demand for high-performance, long-lasting products in the textile and fashion industries.

“China continues to play a pivotal role in global textile production, with increasing demand for lower impact and high performance solutions,” said Christine Cai, Vice President of North Asia, Archroma Textile Effects. “We are excited to bring our High IQ® Lasting Color and PHOBOTEX® solutions to China Interdye, enabling brands to deliver garments that combine outstanding functionality, durability, and sustainability.”

Brilliant colors and long-lasting garments
Archroma is evolving its well-established High IQ® performance assurance program to include its innovative and sustainable intelligent textile effects.

As the first High IQ® program to be reintroduced, High IQ® Lasting Color incorporates Archroma’s most innovative color-retention technologies to ensure that garments stay looking new for longer—with bright shades that retain their intensity and dark shades that stay dark. Powered by specially selected AVITERA® SE and NOVACRON® dyes, High IQ® Lasting Color also helps mills and brands reduce their environmental footprint by using up to 50% less water and energy in processing.

PHOBOTEX® Range: Durable Water Repellency
Another highlight of the showcase at China Interdye will be the PHOBOTEX® range of durable water-repellent (DWR) finishes. With over a decade of innovation in fluorine-free “C0” technologies, PHOBOTEX® is at the forefront of the shift toward non-PFC DWR solutions. These advanced technologies provide long-lasting protection and comfort, incorporating renewable raw materials for a more sustainable approach.

Designed to meet current and future industry standards, the PHOBOTEX® range includes fluorine-free hydro polymers and bio-based options. It is easy to apply to any substrate, offering solutions for a variety of end uses. From everyday stain protection without compromising fabric feel, to extreme environment defenses, PHOBOTEX® ensures versatility. Additionally, it enhances mill productivity with excellent runnability, enabling faster, trouble-free production and consistent results.

EIM (Environmental Impact Measuring), the leading global platform for measuring the environmental impact of garment finishing—trusted by the world's top brands and textile production centers—presents the "Innovations and Challenges in Denim Finishing: 2024 Report." This pioneering report provides an analysis based on accurate, objective data from over 115,000 denim finishing processes collected through the EIM platform, setting new benchmarks for sustainability in the industry.

The report reveals that 63% of the analyzed processes are already classified as low environmental impact, reflecting a positive shift toward more responsible practices. However, it also highlights critical challenges, such as the high use of hazardous chemicals (24% of processes), particularly pumice stones and potassium permanganate—practices that urgently require safer and more sustainable alternatives due to their negative effects on both the environment and worker health.

Progress in water consumption management is also considered, as this remains one of the key environmental challenges for the textile sector. The report shows that the current average water usage in denim finishing is 30 liters per garment—still above the recommended benchmark of 22.5 liters per garment. Effective strategies for reducing water consumption include optimizing rinsing processes, selecting fabrics that require less aggressive treatments, and implementing technologies such as ozone, e-flow, and smart foam systems.

Among the proposed improvements are also the adoption of advanced technologies to reduce chemical use and protect worker health, such as the strategic selection of ZDHC-certified chemicals and the automation and digitalization of manual processes.

Begoña García, creator of the EIM platform and co-author of the report, states: “For years, the textile industry has lacked reliable tools to measure its environmental impact, making data-driven decisions difficult. This report marks a crucial step toward transparency and continuous improvement, showing that technology is key to measuring and reducing environmental impact.”

The report aims to support informed decision-making based on verifiable data, positioning EIM as a global standard essential for transparency and ongoing sustainability improvements in the textile industry.
The full report is available for download and will be updated annually, serving as a vital tool for brands and suppliers to collaborate in reducing their environmental footprint and advancing toward a more responsible and sustainable production model.

The initiative will deploy 60 vehicles by 2030, aiming for a 90% reduction in Cavalinho’s fleet transport carbon emissions.

Solvay is advancing its sustainability efforts by partnering with Cavalinho, the leading road transport provider for its operations in Brazil. This collaboration aims to reduce the carbon footprint of Solvay's operations in Paulínia, the largest chemical complex in Brazil, which produces over 1.2 million tons of chemicals annually. Solvay will be one the first companies in Brazil to adopt biofuel-powered trucks for transportation, supporting its goal of cutting scope 3 emissions by 20% by 2030.

The project, launched on April 1, 2025, at Solvay's Paulínia site, will start operations in 2026 with an initial fleet of 20 vehicles, each with a range of 650 km. To achieve a 90% reduction in Cavalinho’s transport carbon emissions, the fleet will grow to 60 vehicles by 2030. This strategic move addresses Brazil's infrastructure challenges for long-haul electric truck travel, offering a sustainable alternative through biofuel.

This initiative is part of Paulínia's broader sustainability push. Solvay recently announced a climate project to replace two-thirds of the steam produced in its boilers, currently using fossil natural gas, with a biomass boiler initiative. Since 2005, the Paulínia site has achieved a 95% CO₂ reduction, which will reach 97% by 2027 with the biomass initiative.

At the SaigonTex 2025 textile machinery exhibition which is taking place from April 9-12 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Monforts will highlight the benefits of its advanced finishing technologies for denim.

Over 900 Monforts THERMEX hotflue dyeing systems are now operational in the main textile producing countries, with many of them devoted to denim production, and a significant number already reaping the benefits of the Econtrol® and Econtrol®T-CA processes*.

Econtrol® is a continuous process for the dyeing of woven cotton and cellulosic fabrics in which reactive dyestuffs are fixed into the fabric in a one-step dyeing and drying operation with a controlled combination of steam and air. The entire pad-dry process takes just two-to-three minutes at a temperature of between 120-130°C and a relative humidity volume of 25-30%.

Monforts denim range concepts which are successfully running worldwide enable the processing of high-qualtiy and reproducible fabrics which are stretched and skewed far more gently than with conventional range combinations. The ‘double rubber’ version of a THERMEX range comprises two compressive shrinkage units and two felt calenders in line, for super elastic and bi-elastic materials. Additionally, the combined drying, stretching and skewing functions for denim fabric are possible with the ThermoStretch unit, which can also include an EcoApplicator system for the minimum application of necessary finishing chemicals.

In 2024, Vietnam surpassed Bangladesh to become the world’s second-largest textiles and apparel exporter, trailing only China, with total export revenues reaching $44 billion. This is in part due to tariffs that are currently 10-20% lower than China’s and significantly cheaper labour costs – less than half of China’s.

Vietnam’s textile and apparel industry is poised for further expansion in 2025, leveraging cost advantages and rapid production turnaround while proactively managing rising logistics costs and adapting to shifting trade dynamics.

* Econtrol® is a registered trademark of DyStar Colours Distribution GmbH, Germany.

Fueled by robust demand, the fair wrapped up successfully on 13 March at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). Over 370 exhibitors engaged with more than 25,000 visitors from 85 countries and regions, with total visitor numbers up by 8%, and the number of international visitors more than double that of the previous Spring Edition. As consumer preferences continue to evolve, buyers increasingly sought home products that harmoniously blend style, comfort and sustainability. This trend was evident throughout Hall 5.2, highlighted by the extensive mix of exhibitors and the accompanying fringe program focused on eco-innovation and smart sleep, reinforcing the fair as an important business platform for the advancing industry.

Speaking on the final day, Ms Wilmet Shea, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, said: “The visitor flow throughout the hall clearly demonstrated the strong demand and recovery within the Chinese home textile market, with many exhibitors reporting high-quality leads. Notably, there was a significant increase in overseas visitors, highlighting the event's growing international appeal. We observed various trends, but prominent themes were sustainability and smart bedding solutions, as more exhibitors are increasingly incorporating technology and eco-friendly practices into their materials and production processes. Overall, the comprehensive selection of products catered to the varied interests of buyers across the industry.”

Eco-consciousness has evolved from being just a nice-to-have to becoming an essential aspect in the home textiles market. In the bedding sector, this has led to a growing emphasis on organic, reusable, and recyclable materials that are free from hazardous chemicals. Throughout the three-day fair, the fairground was abuzz with products that offered both comfort and environmental responsibility.

From smart bedding, featuring temperature regulation and antibacterial technologies, to sustainable home textiles using biodegradable and organic materials, exhibitors showcased a diverse collection of solutions designed to elevate the modern home. Particularly notable was CoolisT Life Technology Co Ltd, which displayed bio-based biodegradable sponges, including Zero Foam and Hydrophilic Foam. Renowned buying brands, including Sainsbury’s, Americana International, Li & Fung, and many more, proactively pursued technological innovations, sustainable solutions, and high-end products to better meet the demands of consumers.

The fringe programme also played a key role in driving industry dialogue around eco-consciousness and innovation. The Green and Low Carbon Forum explored sustainable textiles for bedrooms and homes, while the Sleeping Aid Summit 2025 discussed the integration of smart home technologies into bedding. Another event in the spotlight was Timeless and Transformative Colour: Celebrating the Rich Diversity of Modern Living for 2026, held by the Pantone Color Institute. At this event, participants discovered the vibrant colour palettes for home interiors that are expected to be popular trends in 2026.

Archroma, a global leader in specialty chemicals towards sustainable solutions, has taken sustainable and cost-effective cellulosic dyeing to the next level with the introduction of AVITERA® RASPBERRY SE.

Extending the AVITERA® SE GEN NEXT platform color of deep shades, the IP-protected brilliant trichromatic red empowers mills to achieve rich, dark and extra-dark shades while meeting the stringent fastness and sustainability requirements of leading brands and retailers. The newest element also offers significantly lower processing costs, with focus on reducing the recipe cost together with reliable right-first-time performance as well, “AVITERA® SE revolutionized the dyeing of cellulosic fibers and blends when it was introduced 15 years ago – setting a new benchmark with state-of-the-art application and fastness performance and advanced sustainability,” Dhirendra Gautam, VP Marketing, Archroma said.

“Our goal was always to offer a full range of attractive colors without limits. With AVITERA® SE RASPBERRY SE as our new trichromatic red, we are now enabling fashion and textile companies to produce differentiated end articles in consistent and long-lasting dark and extra-dark shades with the same cost-competitiveness as in pale and medium shades. This is another major step forward on our PLANET CONSCIOUS+ journey to economic and environmental sustainability for our industry,” he continued.

Substantial Savings on Challenging Dark Shades
Dyeing darker shades – such as black, navy and especially red – has traditionally been more challenging and costly than dyeing lighter colors. Achieving a deep, uniform color requires higher dye concentrations and more water and energy, and often also demands additional steps or re-dyeing. Dark shades, particularly red, also tend to fade more quickly than light colors, especially when exposed to sunlight and repeated home laundering.

With high-speed low-temperature wash-off, high process reliability and excellent reproducibility on dark and ultra-dark shades, the AVITERA® SE GENERATION NEXT dyestuffs allow mills to achieve water and energy savings of up to 50% compared to best available technology, and to slash CO2 emissions and effluent discharge by up to 50% as well. They can also increase mill output by up to 25% or more.

Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL), a global sustainable chemical producer, is preparing for a new era of growth under its IVL 2.0 strategy as it outlined a new approach to partnering with major industry peers, positioning the company to capitalize on significant expansion and consolidation opportunities unlocked by fundamental shifts in global chemical markets.

At the company’s annual Capital Markets Day in Bangkok, Mr. Aloke Lohia, Group CEO of Indorama Ventures, outlined the significant potential for Indorama Ventures—now revitalizing itself under its 3-year IVL 2.0 optimization plan—to resume its growth journey as it pivots towards a future that is being re-shaped by macroeconomic forces such as China’s push for self-sufficiency in manufacturing, the uneven impact of Peak Oil across East and West, and India’s rapid economic expansion. A few days ago, on 26 February, the company posted improved full-year 2024 EBITDA as its focused management executed their plan to transform the business through decisive ‘self-help’ actions amid one of the most severe industry downturns in recent years.

Mr. Lohia told an audience of analysts and investors, “Today, Indorama Ventures is a fitter company than we were when we announced our IVL 2.0 strategy a year ago, and we are now able to compete with the best. Our plan is designed not only to help us re-tool and re-skill to navigate the current downturn—which is expected to persist—but also to restore our historical growth trajectory. As an innately entrepreneurial family business with global scale and deep expertise, we have always been able to take advantage of change to grow our unmatched model and generate increasing shareholder returns. I am excited by new opportunities to substantially expand our business as our industry undergoes seismic, generational shifts and consequently unlocks fresh growth potential.”

IVL 2.0 Progress
At the event, senior executives provided updates on their measures under IVL 2.0 to fortify the business against prevailing market headwinds and set a new course for enhanced, sustainable earnings growth. In a year of alignment, mobilization and launch, all segments recorded improved performances in 2024 as they took concerted management steps to refine their organizations, optimize assets, and transform their business processes through modern data-led toolsets and digital enterprise systems.

Still, in light of continued industry pressures, the company fell short on its deleveraging and cash conversion targets in 2024 and has determined that further management actions are necessary to sustain progress toward the company's objectives, building on the significant measures already taken.

Strategic Growth Plan
Indorama Ventures, as a mature company with more than three decades of successful growth, is fundamentally changing its approach to generating increasing returns as it prepares a next generation of leaders to operate in a vastly different environment. In a departure from the company’s previous M&A-led model, Mr. Lohia outlined several expansion projects currently in the pipeline, all involving complementary strategic partnerships with major industry peers. This new growth approach aims to leverage Indorama Ventures’ unmatched organization, platform, processes, and systems—revitalized under IVL 2.0 and the company’s “indispensable chemistry” brand—to consolidate dominant positions and grow scale in attractive growth markets, including India.

In February, the company bought a minority stake of ~24.9% of EPL Limited, an Indian specialty packaging company and the largest global manufacturer of laminated tubes. The transformation that Indorama Ventures is undertaking under IVL 2.0 provides a critical springboard enabling the new partnerships-led growth model, Mr. Lohia explained.

In addition, Indorama Ventures is planning spin-offs of its Indovinya downstream chemicals segment and its Indovida packaging unit—as flagged a year ago—to enable them to achieve their potential as independent high-growth businesses.

Archroma, a global leader in specialty chemicals towards sustainable solutions, is introducing its enhanced High IQ® Lasting Color assurance program at the upcoming PERFORMANCE DAYS in Munich. With elevated performance standards, the program meets consumers’ growing demand for longer-lasting garments. Additionally, it will also be showcasing end-to-end solutions that empower brands to satisfy diverse sportswear, sports fashion, athleisure and workwear consumers while delivering both sustainability and performance.

Garments that stay looking new, wash after wash
Archroma is evolving its High IQ® performance assurance program to include its most innovative and sustainable intelligent textile effects. The updated program, which features refreshed hangtags and labels, shall help mills and brands deliver performance, protection and comfort while meeting rigorous industry standards.

As the first High IQ® program to be reintroduced, High IQ® Lasting Color incorporates Archroma’s color-retention technologies to ensure that garments stay looking new for longer—with bright shades that retain their intensity and dark shades that stay dark. Powered by specially selected AVITERA® SE and NOVACRON® dyes, High IQ® Lasting Color also supports mills and brands reduce their environmental footprint by using up to 50% less water and energy in processing.

Monforts has completed the installation of a Baldwin TexCoat™ G4 digital spray unit at its Advanced Technology Center (ATC) in Mönchengladbach, Germany.

It has been successfully integrated into one of the two full-size Montex stenter lines at the ATC and is now available for full customer trials, especially for making full use of the latest advanced sustainable finishing chemistries supplied by Archroma.

BW Converting’s TexCoat G4 enables softeners, antimicrobials, durable water repellents, flame retardants and many other water-based chemicals to be precisely applied to textile surfaces, and in combination with industry-leading Montex stenters can reduce water, chemistry and energy consumption by up to 50% compared to traditional pad application processes.

Monforts is providing vital support to dyeing and finishing manufacturers in their development projects, successfully boosting the quality and performance of many new finished products while at the same time maximising productivity and resource utilisation

“Our ATC houses two full Montex stenter finishing lines engineered to accommodate an extremely diverse range of processes, in addition to a Thermex range for the continuous dyeing of denim and other woven fabrics, a full color kitchen and a number of lab-scale systems for smaller batch trials,” says Monforts Head of Sales for South-East Asia Hans Wroblowski. “It enables our customers to test their own textiles and technical fabrics under fully confidential, real production conditions and using the results from these trials we are also able to make recommendations for improving many fabric finishes.

“The new TexCoat installation will make an important contribution to what we can achieve and we are excited to be working together with Archroma and Baldwin to bring further transformative change to the dyeing and finishing space.”

“This partnership is already creating a buzz in the industry and we have several textile manufacturers lining up to take advantage of running production trials at the ATC,” adds Rick Stanford, vice-president of global business development for textiles at BW Converting. “Together we are in a position as never before to accelerate the pace of transformative change in the dyeing and finishing space that will result in significantly lower energy, chemicals and water consumption with increased productivity and higher quality.”

“With the extension of our long-standing partnership with Baldwin – now including the processing expertise and knowhow of Monforts – the development of new concepts for chemical functionalisation and coloration will be taken a step further,” says Michael Schuhmann, Global Market Segment Manager for Technical Textiles at Archroma Textile Effects. “Additionally, we can now demonstrate potential savings and performance levels under actual industrial conditions, providing mill partners with clear proof of efficiency without disrupting their production.”

Devan, a global leader in sustainable textile finishes, launched an innovative sleep promoting technology, “Devan Sleep Tight”, at Heimtextil 2025. This technology enhances sleep quality and overall quality of life, as confirmed by an independent clinical trial.

Inspired by the global "Beauty Sleep" trend, Devan introduces its latest innovation in sleep wellness. The active ingredient is derived from an upcycled by-product of Australian Tea Tree oil. This active ingredient acts by two complementary pathways, inhalation and skin contact, to improve nighttime benefits and skin regeneration to provide a healthier looking skin and revitalized look by morning.

Designed for use in textiles such as bedding and sleepwear, the new solution aims to transform nightly rest into a rejuvenating ritual, perfectly aligning with modern consumers' desire for holistic self-care.

The technology boosts the melatonin action, reduces the production of ROS (reactive oxygen species), stimulates the production of antioxidant genes and protein and stimulates the collagen gene expression.

+97% Biobased microcapsules
The technology is based on microencapsulation. First the active ingredients are incapsulated. Next, the biobased microcapsules are applied to the textile. The treated textiles touch our skin and the capsules break due to friction between the body and the textile. The content of the biobased capsules is then released and absorbed by the skin, while the volatile components of the active ingredients are simultaneously inhaled.

The microcapsules are readily biodegradable (tested according to the OECD 301B guideline). Possible applications are pillows, bed sheets, bed accessories, sleepwear, ...

Clinical study
33 healthy female and male subjects, aged between 18 and 60 years, with sleep problems, were using a treated pillow cover with R-Vital NTL 10015 Sleep Tight every night for 30 days. Each subject was required to fill out the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and a quality of life (QoL) questionnaire, focused on the sleep quality, quality of life and overall well-being, before and after 30 days of using the respective product. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a scientifically validated tool widely used to reliably assess and measure sleep quality.

The data shows that after 30 days of using a pillow case treated with R-Vital NTL 10015, subjects experienced notable improvements in several key areas of sleep and quality of life. The most significant changes were seen in sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep disturbances, reduction of daytime dysfunction and quality of life.

Showcased at Heimtextil 2025 in Frankfurt
Devan’s Sleep Tight technology was prominently featured at Heimtextil in Frankfurt, both by Devan and several of its partners. Notable among them were Crispim Abreu Lda and Lameirinho, two Portuguese companies specializing in bed linen and sleepwear, as well as Naturtex from Hungary, a leading producer of quilts and pillows.

The first productions are already underway, ensuring the technology will be available on the market by the second quarter of 2025. These alliances empower Devan Sleep Tight to deliver unparalleled value to manufacturers, retailers and consumers alike.