From the Sector

Freudenberg Performance Materials (Freudenberg) will showcase packaging materials combining high performance protection, CO2 emission reduction and waste prevention at Fachpack 2025 in Nuremberg, Germany, from September 23-25. Evolon® packaging solutions offered by Freudenberg are particularly suited for packaging automotive components with sensitive surfaces. 

Evolon® packaging materials provide superior surface protection for a wide range of automotive parts, including molded plastics and painted elements. The high-end textiles make an important contribution to the quality goals of OEMs and tier suppliers by preventing damage to transported parts and lowering rejection rates.

Recycled content and low CO2 footprint
Evolon® textiles have a small carbon footprint because their manufacturing process uses low-CO2 energy, and the fabrics are lightweight and reusable. Furthermore, Evolon® packaging materials are made of up to 85% recycled content. “By replacing virgin raw materials with recycled content, we’ve been able to cut the carbon footprint of our fabric production by 35%. We are actively exploring the possibility of manufacturing Evolon® using 100% recycled content to drive CO₂ emissions down even further,” explains Jean-François Kerhault, Director Global Sales & Marketing General Industry at Freudenberg Performance Materials. 

Although Evolon® fabrics are lightweight – from 80gsm to 300gsm – they nevertheless still provide the high mechanical strength properties required for automotive packaging applications. This conserves raw materials and reduces the weight of transported loads. In particular, the new Evolon® Ultra Force is approximately 50% lighter than PVC-based materials with similar high mechanical strength, while containing a minimum 50% recycled content and no PVC.

Waste prevention
Evolon® materials play an important role in decreasing waste when it comes to transporting automotive parts. Above all, the high-end materials provide superior surface performance which directly reduces scrap of transported parts. 
In addition, packaging waste is also prevented because Evolon® technical packaging textiles are designed for reusable packaging containers. Single-use packaging is avoided. Moreover, Evolon® packaging material lasts for the entire production cycle of a car model.

New architecture lays foundation for higher output, continuous batch production, and prepares company for spider silk delivery to european-based global luxury market leader.

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, a global leader in spider silk technology, announced the addition of a second parallel production facility, three new advanced spider silk strains, and the immediate launch of a new diapausing system for production. This marks three critical advancements in the Company’s high-performance spider silk manufacturing and commercialization to significantly increase production yields and spun silk quality.

Kraig Labs completed the development of three new spider silk strains, which are now in the field. These strains, developed over the last year, were designed to complement the Company’s existing BAM-1 hybrid by improving hybrid vigor and increasing silk yield. One of these stains was designed as a replacement for an existing BAM-1 parent lines. Two of these strains were bred to produce silkworms suitable for controlled diapause.

Diapause refers to the silkworm’s natural wintering period, a process which can be replicated with a 90-day cold treatment of the silkworm eggs. Diapausing silkworm strains are the gold standard for producing premium silk. One of the Company’s key initial target customers is a widely-renowned producer of the world’s finest fabrics and garments, crafted from the highest-quality fibers. Kraig Labs is committed to meeting those standards with its spider silk and the shift to diapausing egg production, along with the addition of a second facility, are key drivers in achieving that goal and increasing production.

Thus far, the Company’s production center has operated under a batch production model, bypassing diapause and limiting production to 8 or 9 batches per year. The shift to parallel facilities and the diapausing of eggs (artificial wintering utilizing cold storage treatment) will enable nearly continuous production. These two facilities will operate in tandem to feed that production. While egg production from one facility enters cold storage, the second facility will prepare the next rearing cycle, ensuring a continuous flow of eggs to supply production operations. This new collaborative production system will dramatically expand production capacity far beyond what any single facility could produce independently.

As Kraig Labs rolls out these significant improvements to its operations, the company is undertaking a production transition period, which includes a 90-day cold treatment cycle for the new diapausing hybrid eggs. This wintering process is widely recognized for yielding stronger, finer silk and significantly larger cocoons than non-diapausing silk. Over the next several months, operational emphasis will shift away from finished silk production and focus on expanding parent line populations and generating the next round of hybrid eggs that Kraig Labs plans to begin releasing in the fourth quarter.

“Deploying two separate rearing centers for our parent lines is a key part of our strategy to build a reliable and scalable supply chain that can address the demand for spider silk and support year-round production,” said Kim Thompson, Founder and CEO of Kraig Labs. “This plan, which is the brainchild of our chief sericulture expert, Dr. Kumar, will provide the throughput necessary to support large-scale commercial production and a buffer against potential disruption.”

In parallel with these advancements in production operations, Kraig Labs announced it has completed the latest batch of BAM-1 finished spider silk. With this newest batch of finished silk complete, the company has now accumulated approximately one-third of the total spider silk required to fulfill a material request from a globally renowned European fashion house.

“This latest batch brings us another step closer to delivering premium spider silk materials to one of the most recognized names in fashion. The shift to a diapausing hybrid system reflects our long-term vision to deliver the highest quality spider silk at commercial scale,” said Rice. “By making this investment in time, infrastructure, and production strategy, we are positioning ourselves to meet the demand we see forming.”

PureCycle Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:PCT), a U.S.-based company revolutionizing plastic recycling, announced a partnership with Emerald Carpets, a leader in trade show carpets. This collaboration aims to transform the trade show carpet industry by creating closed-loop circularity in carpet production.

As part of the partnership, Emerald Carpets signed an commercial supply agreement with PureCycle for approximately 5 million pounds annually of PureFive™ resin. PureFive Choice™ resin will be blended into Emerald Carpets' existing fiber production, enabling them to immediately exceed the current policy-mandated recycled content requirement in California. PureCycle and Emerald Carpets qualified the resin for numerous applications and are currently testing additional applications to expand the portfolio offering.

The partnership includes PureCycle recycling used trade show carpets from Emerald
Carpets, designed to transform the material into purified fiber-grade recycled polypropylene (rPP) pellets. Successful recycling of the materials would allow Emerald Carpets to then manufacture new carpets out of the rPP, creating a sustainable carpet-to-carpet solution. This should allow Emerald Carpets to meet California's carpet-to-carpet (closed loop) recycled content requirements that go into effect in 2028.

Throughout 2025-2026, Emerald Carpets and PureCycle plan to work together at their respective production facilities in Dalton, Georgia, and Ironton, Ohio, to develop, test and ultimately scale the process, anticipating the use of more than 5 million pounds annually, with the goal of delivering circular trade show carpets to the marketplace.

The partnership has experienced successful trials by Emerald Carpets using purposeformulated PureFive Choice™ resin, including Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) material. The trial demonstrated the potential of high-performance carpets made with PCR rPP content to meet the demands of trade show environments. Traditionally, sourcing drop-in PCR rPP for carpet production has been a challenge due to the complex nature of carpet fiber manufacturing and the limitations of mechanically recycled rPP material.

Currently, polypropylene represents a significant part of carpet fibers, as alternatives have been scarce. PureCycle's innovative, dissolution recycling technology enables carpet manufacturers to reduce their reliance on virgin materials in the production of high-quality carpets, paving the way for a more sustainable carpet and events industry.

The third edition of the SMCCREATE conference, organised by AVK and the European Alli-ance for SMC BMC, will take place again in Prague (Vienna House Diplomat Prague), Czech Republic, on November 04th – 05th, 2025. The event brings together international experts to discuss the latest developments and applications in the field of SMC/BMC.

SMC and BMC – Innovative materials for modern designs
SMC (sheet moulding compound) and BMC (bulk moulding compound) are high-performance fibre composites that are particularly suitable for the manufacture of light-weight, complex-shaped components – they combine structural properties with a smooth surface. For this reason, SMC and BMC are increasingly being used in a wide range of end applications and markets.

Application-oriented content for the areas of design and development
SMCCREATE will once again offer a compact and high-quality program in 2025:
Over the course of one and a half days, leading companies and research institutions such as AOC, Owens Corning, Menzolit and TU Delft will present the latest findings, best prac-tices and innovative solutions relating to the use of SMC and BMC in modern construction processes.
Participants can look forward to a total of 15 presentations on the topics of market & trends, sustainability and design.

In a constantly evolving fashion landscape, where aesthetics meets awareness and luxury evolves beyond simple beauty, where materials are called to embody wellbeing, responsibility and versatility, Bemberg™ by Asahi Kasei stands as a rare material: precious in its origin, essential to the experience.

Rare because it is produced exclusively by Asahi Kasei in Japan through a highly specialized, and closed-loop process. Rare because it originates from cotton linters — a natural derived pre-consumer material — and accounts for only 0.02% of global fiber production. Rare because it offers a one-of-a-kind aesthetic, sensorial and functional identity, recognized and valued by designers and brands worldwide.

But Bemberg™ is not simply rare — IT IS A FIBER TO LIVE. Its true value unfolds through experience: worn, touched, and explored across diverse lifestyles and when the occasion arises. With its silky softness, fluid drape, luminous appearance, moisture management and skin-friendly comfort, Bemberg™ offers an unparalleled sense of wellbeing to the wearer — ensuring freshness in summer, warmth in winter (especially when blended with other fibers), and a constant feeling of ease, elegance and comfort. This is why Bemberg™ represents not only a technical fiber, but a true partner for those who seek comfort in motion, sophistication in simplicity, and responsible elegance in every moment.

Born 94 years ago in Japan by Asahi Kasei, Bemberg™ has evolved far beyond its origins, becoming a versatile material for multiple categories and hybrid wardrobes: from high-end outerwear to intimate apparel, from fluid knitwear to athleisure and lifestyle collections. Whether in luxury tailoring, couture surfaces, performance wear or modern ceremonial dressing, Bemberg™ elevates each garment through its distinctive touch and graceful adaptability. It is a fiber that opens new creative doors, allowing designers to build collections where design, innovation and responsibility coexist harmoniously. As fashion enters a new era of fluid silhouettes, sensorial materials, and conscious luxury, Bemberg™ offers an exclusive creative platform for brands that seek not just beauty, but meaning and elevated values.

In addition, Bemberg™ carries a prestigious heritage rooted in circular economy values. Produced exclusively in Japan from cotton linters — a natural, pre-consumer material — Bemberg™ embodies a unique form of RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION. Regenerated cellulose obtained from the manufacturing process of cottonseed oil through a closed-loop process ensures transparency and traceability, delivering certified sustainability credentials, including RCS, OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, ISO 14001, and biodegradability certification (OK biodegradable MARINE certification by TÜV Austria).

At the heart of Bemberg™’s journey is a collaborative network of European partners: spinners, weavers, knitters, and finishers. Partnerships that are essential to ACTIVATE the values and the potential of the fiber, transforming it into high-end fabrics that respond to the needs of a contemporary, conscious and sophisticated wardrobe. Bemberg™ IS NOT SIMPLY  meant to be WORN, but  to be  LIVED.  

At Milano Unica, Première Vision, A Fabric Affair NYC and Feel The Yarn, Bemberg™ partners present their latest developments for Fall/Winter 2026-2027 — a collective journey where smart fiber, design, and craftsmanship converge to redefine the future of premium fashion.

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.

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS (KONGSBERG) and HEXCEL Corporation (HEXCEL) have signed a long-term partnership agreement at the Paris Air Show for the supply of HexWeb® engineered honeycombs and HexPly® prepregs for KONGSBERG’s strategic production programs over a five-year period.

HEXCEL is a leading global manufacturer of advanced composite materials and lightweighting solutions for the aerospace sector and offers a broad and evolving product portfolio, including materials designed for Defence and Space, commercial aerospace and industrial applications.

“This partnership agreement is a reflection of HEXCEL and KONGSBERG’s strong relationship over many years and the company’s joint commitment to partnering for the future. The agreement provides a solid base for Kongberg’s production program for several years to come.” says Terje Bråthen, EVP Aerostructures & MRO at Kongsberg.

Thierry Merlot, HEXCEL President, Europe Middle East Africa Asia Pacific, adds “We are delighted that Kongsberg has placed their trust in Hexcel as their advanced composites solutions partner. This partnership agreement secures business on key programs in the defence market for years to come”.

KONGSBERG Defence & Aerospace, a subsidiary of KONGSBERG, is Norway’s premier supplier of defence and aerospace-related systems and solutions. The company’s portfolio comprises products and systems for command and control, information, data handling and surveillance, communications solutions, space technology, missiles and remotely controlled systems. KONGSBERG Defence & Aerospace also has extensive capabilities within advanced composite manufacturing and maintenance, repair and overhaul within the aircraft and helicopter market.

Carbitex, a leader in flexible carbon fiber composites, collaborates with Hypetex Coloured Advanced Materials to introduce a new generation of colored Carbitex materials, now available for production products. 

Debuting with Carbitex OmniFlex carbon fiber textile technology, the lightweight and extremely durable material will be in a range of eight distinctive colors: Enzo Twill, Oak Twill, Malabar Twill, Bolt Twill, Spa Twill, Tendulkar Twill, Zidane Twill, and Titanium Twill. This collaboration represents the first time Carbitex technology will be available in colors beyond traditional black, opening new design opportunities across multiple industries.

The colored OmniFlex maintains all the breakthrough performance characteristics that define this advanced technology: zero-stretch construction that delivers the power transfer of a rigid material while preserving the flexibility of a soft material. This creates an unmatched high-performance strength-to-weight ratio that, combined with Hypetex CAM's vibrant color engineering, provides designers and manufacturers with both superior performance and unprecedented aesthetic possibilities.

“While we’ve explored colorization in the past, our core expertise lies in engineering flexibility. By working with Hypetex CAM, we get the best in color while focusing on continuing to evolve our technology. The request for color is a regular occurrence, but we wanted to wait until we knew we had a solution that met our quality expectations—Hypetex does that,” says Junus Khan, founder and president of Carbitex. “OmniFlex with Hypetex colored carbon is striking and beautiful. This collaboration will expand our material offerings into compelling new product ranges.”

The Hypetex colored OmniFlex materials are available now and will integrate into products in sport and lifestyle segments. The first products will debut in the travel and accessory categories in the coming season.

Monterey Textiles developed ECO-FYRE, an innovative recycled aramid fabric designed for the gas and oil industry. This sustainable solution tackles the growing problem of uniform waste sent to landfills by recycling soiled garments back into fiber form. Blended with virgin aramids, the fabric delivers superior flash fire protection, color fastness, and comfort while supporting environmental responsibility. Extensive lab testing and wear trials confirmed the fabric’s performance in harsh conditions without sacrificing safety or durability. 

ECO-FYRE offers a closed-loop recycling model that reduces manufacturing waste, minimizes environmental impact, and supports companies focused on sustainability—delivering both protection for workers and meaningful progress for the planet. Moreover, the integration of this technology has also allowed for a more efficient production cycle, helping Monterey Textiles offer competitive pricing without compromising quality.

General Recycled® (GR) stated that its patented aramid recycling technology played a pivotal role in the development of Monterey Textiles' new Eco-Fyre® fabric, which was honored with the Innovation Award for Sustainability at the 2025 Network Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors (NAUMD) annual conference.

"Monterey's success with Eco-Fyre® underscores the value and potential of our patented recycling process," said Ted Parker, President of General Recycled. "Partnering with Monterey and Filspec to bring this sustainable solution to market has been incredibly rewarding. This recognition highlights the growing industry demand for circular, closed-loop innovations in flame-resistant textiles."

RE&UP Next-Gen cotton fibers and Next-Gen polyester chips recognized for full-system circular design at scale. In an industry where over 99% of textile materials are still virgin and just 6.9% of the global economy is circular (2025 Circularity Gap Report, Circle Economy), RE&UP has taken a decisive step forward. The next-generation textile-to-textile recycler has become the first company in the textile industry to achieve C2C Certified® Circularity for all products, the most rigorous global standard for verifying circular product design and recovery-readiness at scale.

The certification was awarded to all three of RE&UP products by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute:

• Next-Gen Recycled Cotton (Pre-Consumer) – C2C Certified® Circularity at Platinum level
• Next-Gen Recycled Cotton (Post-Consumer) – C2C Certified® Circularity at Platinum level
• Textile-to-Textile Recycled Polyester Chips – C2C Certified® Circularity at Silver level

These levels recognize not just recycled content, but a full-system approach to circularity – from sourcing and traceability to infrastructure compatibility and reuse pathways.

“This certification demonstrates that RE&UP is ready to tackle sustainability challenges at scale for the whole industry,” said Andreas Dorner, General Manager at RE&UP. “It proves that recycled fibers can go beyond one-off sustainability claims. With Cradle to Cradle Certified® Circularity, we’re demonstrating full-system readiness from sourcing to end-of-life for the textile industry.”

Cradle to Cradle Certified® Circularity assesses whether a product is designed for continuous cycles of safe, high-value reuse. The assessment is executed by a third party accredited assessing body, Eco Intelligent Growth (EIG).

Technical indicators include:

• Percentage of compatible materials for recycling
• End-of-life recovery systems
• Publicly available circularity data and cycling instructions
• Effective integration of recycled content
• Chemical safety (tested on legally restricted chemicals and beyond)