From the Sector

The 12th annual North American Nonwovens Supply Report, released today by INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, reveals continued growth and strategic transformation within the North American nonwovens industry.

For the second consecutive year, North American capacity continued to increase by over 100,000 tonnes, reaching 5.730 million tonnes in 2024, according to the report based on producer surveys and interviews.

Investments across all processing methods and diverse end-use sectors drove this expansion, according to the INDA findings. Production output continues to shift and slowed in 2024. The larger machine installations coming online promise future efficiency and capacity improvements.

The noteworthy trend is the installation of several new production lines, primarily in long-life sectors. This shift underscores the industry’s proactive efforts to achieve sustainability goals and reduce environmental impact.

Report Based on Producer Input
The annual INDA report delivers data to support industry growth and strategic planning, offering a detailed analysis of capacity, production, operating rates, and regional trade across North America, including Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Driven by extensive research, including producer surveys and in-depth interviews with industry leaders, the report provides a comprehensive picture of the nonwoven materials landscape, covering composites, roll and finished goods.

“As part of INDA’s role to be the industry’s trusted data source, this report offers valuable insights for benchmarking, strategic planning, and decision-making,” said Tony Fragnito, INDA President and CEO. “This year’s findings highlight a resilient industry expanding capacity with ongoing investments across all regions and sectors, a strategic shift toward sustainable, long-life products, and a commitment to innovation and meeting rising demand across North America.”

The entire report is provided free of charge to producers who provided information. The Executive Summary from the annual Supply Reports, the quarterly INDA Market Pulse, and the monthly Price Trends Summary are provided to INDA members on a complimentary basis as part of their membership. The data gathered for this annual report is a springboard for the biennial Global Nonwoven Markets Report, published in November 2024.

On May 23 and 24 an Open Day will be held in Rome at the Centro Apostolato Liturgico Largo Brancaccio 57, run by the Sister Disciples of the Divine Master. The event will unveil the first collection of chasubles (vestments worn to celebrate Holy Mass) made with Bemberg™ by Asahi Kasei.

The POPOLO IN CAMMINO – ON THE OCCASION OF THE JUBILEE 2025 – PELLEGRINI DI SPERANZA collection features liturgical vestments including chasubles, dalmatics and copes. During the event, Ettore Pellegrini, Marketing & Sales Manager of Asahi Kasei Fibers Italia, and Junshu Furusawa, Sales Manager & Board Member of Asahi Kasei Fibers Italia, will be present and will welcome all guests.

The choice of Bemberg™ - the brand of cupro fiber by Asahi Kasei, a regenerated cellulose fiber obtained from the closed-loop process using cotton linters -  was the result of a journey that began with a visit to Milano Unica (Italy’s premier textile trade fair) and continued with several presentations of the material in Rome. Bemberg™ stood out for its uniqueness and circular economy footprint. Thanks to its transparent and traceable supply chaih, it offers certified sustainability credentials and premium quality. The fiber respects form and drape, with a truly unique and precious feel: cool in summer, with excellent moisture control, offering superior comfort and a soft, impalpable touch on the skin.

The collection is a testimony to the Church’s commitment to sustainable conversion, made possible thanks to the work of the Sister Disciples of the Divine Master, a religious congregation of nuns who, with experience, skill, and creativity, design and craft liturgical vestments and a variety of  handcrafted items, including iconography, sculptures and ceramics. Their work is dedicated to serving the Church’s liturgy, guided by the principles of liturgical renewal: noble simplicity, dignity, and beauty in sobriety (cf. Sacrosanctum Concilium 34; 122; 124).

The fabric used for the vestments in this collection was designed by the Sister Disciples themselves and produced with textiles supplied by Brunello.

The Sister Disciples of the Divine Master present their creations through the Apostolato Liturgico, a retail point with an online shop offering religious articles—from sacred vestments to other liturgical items. Following the launch on May 23, the Apostolato Liturgico stores in Milan, Bari, Palermo, Florence, Cagliari, Rome, and others will feature window displays dedicated to the collection for the next three months.

In response to Mali’s escalating environmental crisis, three organizations— Ayuda en Acción, Indorama Ventures, and IMG Group —have joined forces to launch ‘Bamagreen,’ a transformative recycling and reforestation project in the capital city of Bamako.

This initiative is the first under the Plastic2Prosperity program, developed through the adaPETation® network by IMG Group. The project will strengthen plastic circularity while generating tangible socio-economic benefits, particularly for vulnerable communities including conflict-displaced populations, women, and young people. This partnership aims to demonstrate how recycling not only benefits the environment but also generates socio-economic opportunities in complex settings.

Creating Jobs and Regenerating Communities
At the heart of the initiative is a commitment to inclusive development. Bamagreen will directly engage around 1,950 individuals—40% of them women—in stable, dignified employment opportunities through recycling and environmental awareness efforts. In addition, more than 100,000 people are expected to benefit from city-wide reforestation and waste education campaigns.

The program will bolster the recycling capabilities of local social enterprise ECOBUILD and introduce integrated environmental education to reduce the impact of unmanaged plastic waste in Bamako, where open dumping and deforestation are accelerating pollution and desertification.

A Shared Vision for Circular Impact
“This agreement reflects our commitment to sustainability and to creating opportunities for the most vulnerable populations,” said Jean Christophe Gerard, Regional Coordinator for the Sahel at Ayuda en Acción. “We are not only addressing an environmental problem but also providing economic opportunities for those who need them most.”

“At Indorama Ventures, we believe that waste is not just a problem—it’s a powerful opportunity,” said Yash Lohia, Executive President and Chairman of the ESG Council at Indorama Ventures, a global sustainable chemical company. “By raising awareness and investing in circular solutions like Plastic2Prosperity, we can transform environmental challenges into engines of socio-economic growth. This project in Mali shows what’s possible when we work together to regenerate communities and our planet.”

Carlota Calonje, Social Impact Manager at IMG Group, added: “Bamagreen embodies everything we aim to achieve with adaPETation®: transforming environmental challenges into opportunities to empower people and rebuild communities. This is only the beginning—we aim to scale this model to other regions where plastic is part of both the problem and the solution.”

Back in February, Source Fashion hosted three full days of back-to-back exclusive seminars for fashion brands and retailers. And now, every single one of them is available to watch for free on their website.

Like:

• The urgency of transparency
  Transparency is no longer optional—it's the key to sustainability, trust, and accountability in fashion, and this session dives into how brands can lead the charge for meaningful change.
  
  Graeme Moran, Associate Editor – Drapers
  Andrew Xeni, Founder & CEO / Founder & Chairman - Nobody's Child
• Competing priorities, how can sustainability win against profitability and risk?
  This panel explores how to make sustainability work whilst facing the challenges of balancing innovation, risk, and uncertainty.
  
  Anna Berry, Co-Founder and Director - Retail 100 Consulting
  Simon Platts, Founder - SP&KO Consultancy
  Hayley Shore, Senior Design Manager - Pepsi Co
  Ella Andrew, Knowledge Exchange Manager & Policy Lead - Centre for Sustainable Fashion
  Cedrik Hoffmann, CEO - Ameba

Archroma, a leader in specialty chemicals, has won major awards in key categories at the Just Style 2025 Excellence Awards. It took home a coveted Innovation Excellence award for its bio-based PHOBOTEX® NTR-50 durable water repellent (DWR) and an Environmental Excellence award for advancing water circularity at its Mahachai plant in Thailand.

The awards recognize Archroma’s commitment to driving meaningful change in the textile and fashion sector with win-win innovations that protect the environment while delivering value for brands and mills, local communities and end-consumers.

“As an industry leader working with brands and suppliers worldwide, we feel a deep responsibility to make an impact by putting sustainability at the core of our innovations. Archroma tackles the industry’s biggest challenges head-on - such as developing cleaner and longer-lasting functional effects and reducing water consumption,” Dhirendra Gautam, VP Global Marketing and Strategy, Archroma, said. “We are honored to be recognized in the Just Style Excellence Awards, and we will continue to strive for a better tomorrow through people-centered sustainability.”

Innovation Award for DWR Breakthrough
Archroma won its Just Style Excellence Award for Innovation for developing an effective DWR that is non-PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and non-formaldehyde, as well as 50% renewable carbon content based on ASTM D6866. PHOBOTEX® NTR-50 not only provides excellent water repellence on all kinds of fibers but also achieves a soft handle that makes fabrics more comfortable to wear, along with improved longevity. This makes it ideal for sports apparel, outdoor wear and home textiles.

PHOBOTEX® NTR-50 also has excellent runnability, which ensures reproducible performance and high production safety, even at elevated temperatures. This is helpful for mills seeking to solve challenges like roller build-up, yellowing and chalk marking in mass production. As a crosslinker-free solution, PHOBOTEX® NTR-50 can also be combined with other products to improve wash and dry-cleaning resistance.

Environmental Award for Water Circularity
The Just Style Excellence Awards jury also recognized Archroma for its success in advancing water circularity with an innovative Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) technology at its Mahachai plant in Thailand, reclaiming up to 90%-95% of wastewater.

Using advanced technologies from global water treatment innovator Gradiant, the plant is capable to convert wastewater into clean water for reuse and to recover concentrated brine that industry partners can use for applications such as resin regeneration and chlorine production. This not only significantly reduces the plant's dependence on freshwater from local supplies but also creates a model for sustainable textile dye production as part of a circular economy.

The Just Style Excellence Awards celebrate the top achievements and innovations in the global textile and apparel sector to encourage companies to pursue excellence and drive positive change.

After years of giving precedence to economic growth over environmental considerations, China has set ambitious goals to tackle ecological challenges and to emerge as a global leader in green innovation.

For European SMEs, China's green transformation can unlock opportunities in sectors such as renewable energy, environmental technologies, sustainability consulting, and ESG services. However, challenges remain, and many European firms face hurdles in matters of compliance with the country’s strict and evolving regulatory landscape.

On 24 April, the EU SME Centre and European Union Chamber of Commerce in China are inviting European SMEs to a workshop on China’s green development sector, its emerging market opportunities and challenges to prepare for.

Thursday 24 April
In Shenzhen & Online
10:00 – 11:30 Brussels Time / 16:00 – 17:30 Beijing Time

Agenda: CST – China Standard Time
16:00 – 16:05 Opening remarks
- Klaus Zenkel, Vice President and Chair of the South China Board, European Chamber
- Liam Jia, Team Leader, EU SME Centre

16:05 – 16:25 Green Development in China: Opportunities and Challenges for European SMEs in China
Nathalie Ieong, Senior Project Manager and Expertise Manager, Terao Asia

16:25 – 16:45 Update on the European Commission’s Simplified Rules on Sustainability and Their Potential Impact on EU SMEs in China
Prabhu Ramkumar, Vice President and Head of Sustainaibility of TÜV SÜD North Asia

16:45 – 17:15 Panel Discussion: Industry Case Studies & Best Practices
Moderator: Filippo Pallaroni, Training Centre Coordinator, EU SME Centre

Panellists:
Nathalie Ieong, Senior Project Manager and Expertise Manager, Terao Asia
Prabhu Ramkumar, Vice President and Head of Sustainaibility, TÜV SÜD North Asia
Christian Gassner, Vice Chair of the European Chamber Manufacturing Forum
Tobias Könings, Vice Chair of the European Chamber SME Forum
Jiahui Lu, Associate Vice President of Towngas Smart Energy

17:15 – 17:25 Q&A session

17:25 – 17:30 Closing remarks

Online registration

With a clear focus on sustainability, Barmag, a subsidiary of the Swiss Oerlikon Group, is presenting comprehensive solutions from its product brands Oerlikon Barmag and Oerlikon Neumag for DTY and carpet yarn production at the Morocco Stitch & Tex Expo in Casablanca. From May 13 to 15, trade visitors can talk to experts from Barmag and the joint venture BB Engineering (BBE) at the Unionmatex booth (booth B4) to get an idea of the portfolio of the chemical fiber machine manufacturer.

Sustainable and efficient – the production of DTY yarns
Oerlikon Barmag offers a wide range of DTY machine configurations for the efficient and sustainable production of high-quality textured yarns made of various polymers – from polyester and polyamide to polypropylene, PLA and PTT. The modular machines – whether manual or automatic – produce yarns for excellent downstream processing at optimal OPEX costs.

Fancy yarns increasingly in demand
The demand for textiles with special characteristics is continuously increasing. For the production of these effect yarns, such as cotton-like DTY, linen-like DTY or wool-like DTY, Oerlikon Barmag offers a variety of processes and additional components. With its high-quality and flexible technology as well as its detailed knowledge of the yarn path and the required parameter settings, Oerlikon Barmag is the ideal partner for the successful and flexible production as well as the continuous further development of these specialty yarns.

Extended product range for carpet yarns
Thanks to its comprehensive knowledge of all relevant technologies in manmade fiber spinning, Oerlikon Barmag is the only manufacturer worldwide that can expand its range for the production of carpet yarns. The system concept, based on a POY and texturing process, is designed for the carpet and home textile sector and produces particularly soft and bulky polyester threads with BCF-like properties. The aim is to produce yarns with a titer of up to 1300dtex and over 1000 filaments, such as 1300dtex f1152, 660dtex f1152 and 990dtex f768. The machine concept includes the well-known WINGS HD POY winder and the eAFK Big-V texturing machine.

Innovative bicomponent BCF yarn for the carpet market
Quality, efficiency and performance – with its latest development in the field of bicomponent yarns for carpet production, Barmag's product brand Oerlikon Neumag is meeting the carpet market's demand for innovative BCF yarns. The new BICO-BCF yarn is characterized by a richer and higher volume and simultaneously significantly reduces the raw material consumption during carpet manufacturing.

VarioFil® – versatile compact spinning system for diverse applications and specialties
The VarioFil® system from BBE is ideal for a broad range of products, whether it be carpets, upholstery fabrics, fashion, sports, seat belts or airbags. This compact turnkey spinning line is particularly suitable for producers of small batches or specialized products. It flexibly processes various polymers such as PET, PP, PA 6, PA 6.6 and PBT. In combination with Oerlikon Barmag texturing machines, a wide range of textile standard yarns as well as textured yarns with BCF-like properties can be produced.

The VarioFil® R+ enables the direct recycling and processing of PET bottle flakes and PET waste from the start-up process into POY. This sustainable machine concept offers a high degree of product flexibility, including the production of spun-dyed yarn.

JeTex® air texturing offers a versatile product portfolio
BB Engineering also offers flexible solutions for the subsequent texturing of yarns. The JeTex® air texturing system perfectly complements the Oerlikon Barmag DTY systems and expands the product portfolio to include high-quality ATY based on POY and FDY for various textile applications. The centerpiece of the system is the texturing box developed by BB Engineering, which ensures gentle yarn treatment with reliable texturing effects and production efficiency.

“From waste to value” with VacuFil and Visco
BBE's VacuFil PET recycling system transforms textile waste into high-quality rPET melt. The technology is based on decades of experience in extrusion, filtration and spinning and combines gentle large-area filtration with targeted IV control. VacuFil processes various input materials, from bottle flakes to production waste and post-consumer waste. The patented Visco+ component removes volatile contaminants and automatically regulates the IV. The recycled melt can be added to the main melt stream, pelletized into chips or fed directly back into the spinning mill. The VacuFil system is modular and flexibly adaptable to customer needs.

Sports company PUMA and RE&UP Recycling Technologies have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to scale a fully circular textile solution, transforming textile waste into RE&UP’s Next-Gen Recycled Cotton Fibers and Recycled Polyester Chips.

Circularity is one of the focus areas of PUMA’s Vision 2030 sustainability goals and the company has already scaled up its RE:FIBRE textile-to-textile recycling program, producing millions of football jerseys made out of an increasing share of recycled textiles. RE&UP has become a key Next-Gen raw material partner in the RE:FIBRE program supporting PUMA’s ambition to reduce reliance on bottle-recycled polyester, enhancing true circularity while minimizing textile waste. Due to its previous success, this collaboration has now evolved into a broader global commitment to fully enabling circularity.

As part of the expansion, PUMA will introduce RE:FIBRE to the Americas, leveraging RE&UP’s recycled raw materials within its local supply chain. Both companies have a long-term commitment to scaling sustainable solutions in the textile industry. By 2030, PUMA aims to use 30% fiber-to-fiber recycled polyester fabric for its apparel products.

RE&UP’s revolutionary recycling technology is a key enabler of the circular transition of the industry, especially due to its unique capability to process diverse textile feedstocks, including post-consumer and post-industrial waste, as well as complex blended textiles like polycotton and polyester-elastane—materials, traditionally difficult to recycle. Powered with 100% renewable energy and leveraging advanced technologies such as decolorization processes, RE&UP sets a new benchmark for sustainable, low-impact recycled textile fibers.

Through a nationwide network of charity shops, donation centres and clothing banks the Salvation Army Trading Company (SATCoL) work with community groups, large organisations, local authorities, schools, colleges and individuals - all with a shared aim to help others and help protect our planet.

SATCoL work in partnership with brands and retailers to accept excess, returned and end-of- line stock of clothing and home-goods to be resold in its charity shops across the country.

This partnership opportunity for brands helps them to save on additional storage costs, create more room in their warehouse for new stock and divert more items away from disposal.

By extending the useful life of products, Salvation Army Trading Company and its partners make a positive contribution to reducing unnecessary waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and raising vital funds for charity work. In addition to this, SATCoL’s investment in modern processing centres and new technology means they can offer new ways of reusing and recycling textiles on a commercial scale, never seen in the UK. The trading arm of the charity also support businesses to amplify the message around their sustainable collaboration by making the public aware of their partnership goals and aspirations to create lasting change.

As a call to action, SATCoL produced a photoshoot with leading fashion industry photographer Camille Sanson and Fashion Stylist Karl Willett whose work includes styling celebrities for The Grammy’s, The Met Gala, Vanity Fair magazine and more.

Karl shared “It was a pleasure to be part of the Corporate Donations shoot, a scheme that is contributing to positive change and sustainability for the planet by diverting more everyday items away from landfill.”

The stylish images demonstrate the potential of second-hand fashion, electronic devices and home-goods, all of which the organisation is keen to receive. The Salvation Army Trading Company has received industry wide recognition for their efforts to support brand and retailers to meet their sustainability goals and encourage second-hand shopping.

Shaunacy Burne, Corporate Partnerships Manager at Salvation Army Trading Company shared: “We are partnering with businesses to receive their obsolete, end of line and faulty stock to be reused or repurposed. Not only are we helping brands to meet their CSR goals with our sustainable solutions, but the donations we receive are sold in our retail outlets to help raise vital funds for our parent charity. We’re keen to explore partnership opportunities with retailers, together we can reduce waste and divert more items away from landfill. Please get in touch, we want to hear from you.”

Eastman, global specialty materials company and manufacturer of Naia™ Renew cellulosic fibers, unveiled the most comprehensive product application matrix of its Naia™ fiber brand at the China International Textile Fabrics and Accessories (Spring/Summer) Expo. Making its debut, the innovative “Naia™ On The Move” new blending solution concept offers a fresh take on active urban fashion, redefining comfort and versatility, and reinforcing Eastman’s commitment to driving sustainable innovation in the fashion industry.

Naia™ Renew is a sustainable circular fiber composed of 60% sustainably sourced wood pulp and 40% GRS-certified recycled* waste materials. Utilizing Eastman’s carbon renewal technology (CRT), this process breaks down hard-to-recycle waste material into basic molecules to make new cellulose acetate fibers without compromising quality. This innovation offers a scalable solution to two of the world’s most pressing environmental issues: waste pollution and raw material overconsumption.

At the expo, Eastman also highlighted Naia™ Renew staple fiber's application in denim, achieving a balance between comfort and sustainability in denim. Additionally, its use in woven woolen fabrics, ranging from structured shirts to tweed coats, showcases its versatility. The fiber’s integration into home textile fillings further embeds sustainability into everyday living, demonstrating its vast potential.

Five Years of Innovation: From China Debut to Global Expansion
“Since its initial successful adoption in the Chinese market in 2020, Naia™ staple fiber has embarked on a five-year journey of innovation and persistence. As a novel fiber, Naia™ staple has not only filled a market gap but has also become a key force in helping brands achieve their sustainability goals,” said Chad Doub, global segment leader of staple fibers for Eastman’s textiles division. “Over the past five years, Naia™ staple fiber applications have expanded from loungewear to casual T-shirts, knitwear, and beyond. At our booth, visitors discovered the latest applications in activewear, denim, woven fabrics, and home textile fillings – our most extensive showcase yet.”