SUSTAINABILITY AND ECO-FRIENDLY TEXTILES

Developments that will define the next decade for the textile and printing industry

In spite of the pandemic, or perhaps even accelerated by it, issues of sustainability have continued to dominate the psyche of the consumer. As the collective mindset has developed further, encouraged by the universal challenge of the COVID19 virus, increased importance has been attached to sustainable fabrics: how they are made, what innovations have occurred and what new regulations have arisen to monitor this progress. Navigating the current sustainable textile landscape is no easy task.

In 2020, we witnessed heightened activity in the development and launch of sustainable fabrics as the marketplace accelerated to meet the requirements of the consumer and increasingly the inevitable reality of the eventual application of legislation across the globe. Much of this activity has been seen at the product, materials science and technical levels, but pressure mounts for industry change from numerous NGOs.

As we look forward to 2021, the enormous strides made by textiles on the sustainability agenda in 2020 have created an impetus for change that cannot be ignored. As the groundswell of public opinion has shifted irreversibly to embrace sustainability and all its aspects, so too, has the textile industry risen and doubled down to meet the many challenges that face it.

Looking back as we move forward into the next decade, and perhaps a decade of historic change within the textile industry, we recognize and round up some of the significant innovations, new product launches and campaigns by NGOs of the last year.

Eastman Naia and Dupont Biomaterials collaborate to launch a new sustainable fabric collection.

To meet a growing demand for sustainable fashion options, Eastman Naia and DuPont

Biomaterials announced the launch of a fabric collection made with sustainable, biobased materials. The collaboration blends Naia from Eastman and DuPont Sorona fibers to create garments with exceptional stretch and recovery, luxurious drape and a smooth, soft hand feel.

Duvaltex Launches its new Clean Impact

Textiles, the industry’s first recycled biodegradable textiles for commercial interiors.

This not only represents the first recycled

biodegradable polyester textile for commercial interiors, but also a major step forward in establishing an advanced bi-circular economic model for textiles in which polyester fabric, at the end of its useful life, can flow through either a biological or technical cycle. This innovative technology allows Duvaltex to create high-performance fabrics that are long-wearing in commercial interiors, but that can biodegrade in landfills and wastewater conditions at a rate similar to that of natural fibers (tested under ASTM D5511). This is achieved through the addition of a biocatalyst in the yarn extrusion process that enables anaerobic digestion in landfill and wastewater treatment conditions.

Hyosung and Lenzing collaborate to launch the new sustainable “Home Everywhere” collection.

Nowadays, more consumers look for comfortable, versatile and sustainable apparel that can be worn for multiple occasions and last longer. Riding on this trend, global fiber producers Lenzing and Hyosung have teamed up to develop a Home Everywhere collection of performance fabrics that feature their renowned fibers and yarns to offer consumers comfortable, sustainable and attractive loungewear and activewear.

Premier Digital Textiles announces their environmentally certified textile collection.

In tune with industry trends and demands, and in partnership with their longstanding connections amongst the world’s most prestigious mills, the textile specialists and fabric technologists within the Premier Digital team have created a substantial offering of fabric print bases that offer the manufacturer viable, sustainable alternatives to the world’s most popular woven and knitted textiles. Certification is paramount, and as we move into an era of transparency within the global supply chain, sourcing confidence is essential. Premier Digital Textiles has worked tirelessly to provide accurate certification, and importantly, a collection with the provenance that the consumer now demands.

Recycled and sustainably sourced materials take center stage in the new H&M dress collection.

The majority of pieces in the collection has been made entirely from recycled or sustainably sourced material, such as organic cotton, Tencel or recycled polyester and pieces in blends are made from at least 50% sustainably sourced materials.

Teijin Frontier’s new high-stretch SOLOTEX ECO-Hybrid Fiber is made with plant-derived and recycled materials.

SOLOTEX ECO-Hybrid represents a new line in Teijin Frontier’s polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) fiber SOLOTEX family. SOLOTEX ECOHybrid filament yarn and textile was introduced as a featured product for 2020 autumn/winter fashion apparel, offering many possibilities for enhanced sportwear, uniforms and more.

Esprit selects Earthcolors By Archroma for its newest “I am Sustainable” Capsule collection.

Esprit creates laid-back, high-quality essentials that reflect its core values of sustainability, equality and freedom of choice. The brand developed its first eco-conscious collection made of 100% organic cotton, back in the early 90s.

Spinnova—Bergans’ Circular & Reusable “Collection of Tomorrow” is awarded the Sustainability Achievement of 2020 by ISPO.

Spinnova and Bergans of Norway has been awarded Sustainability Achievement of the Year 2020 for their Collection of Tomorrow by ISPO, the world’s largest trade fair for sporting goods and sportswear, as well as the by the Scandinavian Outdoor Award jury. The award-winning SpinnovaBergans collaboration called “Collection of Tomorrow” is a fully circular, subscription-based takeback and reuse concept that’s revolutionary in the apparel industry.

Toppan of Tokyo launches the sale of gamechanging recyclable event banners.

Toppan Printing, a global leader in communication, security, packaging, décor materials and electronics solutions launched sales of “ecocracy,” a recyclable fabric for banners and signage developed

Debbie McKeegan is the CEO of TexIntel. As a multi-disciplinary creative and renowned digital print pioneer, she holds over 25 years’ experience within the Textile manufacturing industry.

by combining Toppan’s processing technologies with Dow’s plastics expertise. Ecocracy adds to Toppan’s line-up of increasingly eco-friendly solutions for a sustainable society by enabling banners and signage recovered after events have concluded to be re-pelletized as a recycled resin, which can then be blended with timber from wood waste to produce wood-plastic composite materials for such items as benches, floors and plant pots.

Huntsman’s ERIOPON E3-SAVE advances sustainable polyester production saving 130 million liters of water in one year.

As global interest in sustainable textile production continues to soar, mills that have adopted Huntsman Textile Effects’ all-in-one ERIOPON E3-SAVE textile auxiliary for polyester processing, which launched a year ago, have collectively saved more than 130 million liters of water.

Siegwerk’s UV/LED de-Inking technology receives APR recognition for Improving the recyclability of PET bottles.

With its AQUANTUM Alkali Strippable Primer and SICURA UV/LED ink technology, Siegwerk sets a new standard for the recycling of PET bottles. It significantly facilitates the deinking of UV/LEDprinted PET shrink sleeves, further improving the quality of recycled PET bottles, according to the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR).The technology has been accredited as the first UV/LED solution of its kind by APR, the national trade association of the U.S. plastics recycling industry, that meets its guidelines for the quality improvement of recycled PET bottles.

Dupont adds Ligasep degasification to water treatment solutions through exclusive partnership with Sun Chemical and DIC Corporation.

To better serve its diverse global customers, DuPont Water Solutions has entered into an exclusive global partnership with Sun Chemical and its parent company, the DIC Corporation, to bring membrane degasification modules to market. The degasification of liquids is becoming increasingly critical to several water treatment processes, including industrial demineralization, oil and gas production, microelectronics manufacturing, textile and pharmaceutical production, and drinking water treatment. The membrane degassing modules—branded Ligasep—are now part of DuPont’s leading portfolio of water purification and separation technologies, including ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis and ion exchange resins.

Sustainable Greentex Print Sytem Trademarked by Standfast & Barracks

Standfast & Barracks has now trademarked its innovative direct-to-fabric Greentex pigment printed collection, Ecofast, which is sustainable and has the highest lightfastness in its class.

Jeanologia’s eco-efficient technologies reshape the denim industry.

Innovations in textile finishing improve the denim manufacturing process by reducing water consumption and environmental impact. The Jeanologia laser, G2 ozone and e-flow system offer design possibilities and garment finishes, while saving water, energy and chemicals, and eliminating waste and toxic emissions.

Tejidos Royo waterless denim dyeing process is adopted by Gap and Wrangler.

Aware of the need for change in the textile industry, Tejidos Royo, in collaboration with Gaston Systems Inc. and Indigo Mill Designs (IMD), has managed to modify the process of conventional indigo dyeing, creating a unique dyeing process capable of dyeing without water, minimizing significantly its environmental impact and obtaining a unique color in the market.

The European Commission adopts the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability.

The Strategy is the first step towards a zeropollution ambition for a toxic-free environment, announced in the European Green Deal. The Strategy will boost innovation for safe and sustainable chemicals and increase protection of human health and the environment against hazardous chemicals. This includes prohibiting the use of the most harmful chemicals in consumer products such as toys, childcare articles, cosmetics, detergents, food contact materials and textiles, unless proven essential for society, and ensuring that all chemicals are used more safely and sustainably.

Leading international chemical companies unite to accelerate sustainability for the textile industry.

Seven of the world’s leading chemical companies

have come together to launch Sustainable Chemistry for the Textile Industry (SCTI). With a commitment to collaboration, innovation and transformational change, the new alliance aims to lead the textile and leather industries towards a more sustainable future.

UN officials call for action to preserve the natural world.

During the United Nations’ 75th General Assembly, streaming dialogues and interviews focused on the power of science, solutions and solidarity to transform our world. UN officials working to preserve the natural world are also urging “action now” ahead of the crucial biodiversity summit where world leaders are expected to declare their countries’ commitments to nature and a post-2020 biodiversity framework.

Leading NGOs unite as the Fashion Conveners to Accelerate Sustainable Transformation of the Apparel and Accessory Industry.

Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), Fashion for Good (FFG), Global Fashion Agenda (GFA), Fashion Makes Change (FMC), Responsible Business Coalition at Fordham University (RBC), Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), Textile Exchange, Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action and ZDHC announced a new collaboration. The industry’s leading subject matter experts have united as the Fashion Conveners. Spurred by the vulnerabilities the global pandemic brought forward, the group recognizes the urgency to accelerate the transformational changes needed to reduce the environmental and social impacts across fashion. The Fashion Conveners will function as a global coalition, working individually and collectively to accelerate action through high-level partnerships, developing strategies and initiatives across the various sub-sectors of industry.

The Global Fashion Agenda & McKinsey Report says that the fashion industry will produce double the Paris Agreement emission levels by 2030.

A report from Global Fashion Agenda, working with McKinsey, says that if the fashion industry does not accelerate its response to climate change, by 2030 it will produce around twice the volume of emissions required to align with Paris Agreement global warming pathways. From rising sea levels to extreme rainfall and more powerful heat waves, the consequences of climate change can no longer be ignored, either Read More… by society or the fashion indus- Find article at try, which will see many impacts PrintingNews. on its operations in the years com/21148786 ahead. Contributing nearly 3% of the global GDP, fashion’s long-term success is wholly dependent on a healthy planet and people, the security of natural resources, and the safety, health and prosperity of its workforce and their communities.

World Wildife Fund and Google partner on a fashion sustainability platform.

A brand new, data-enriched, decision-making platform will help drive responsible sourcing decisions in the fashion industry. Google announced a partnership with WWF Sweden to help create an environmental data platform that will enable more responsible sourcing decisions in the fashion industry. This collaboration will bring together projects from each organization, drawing on the unique strengths of both. Now more than ever, the fashion industry is answering the call to sustainability.

Amazon launches its “Climate Pledge Friendly” labelling scheme as it ramps up its sustainability agenda.

The company has labelled more than 25,000 of its products as “Climate Pledge Friendly,” indicating that each of those products align with Amazon’s “Climate Pledge,” a commitment to having a netzero carbon footprint by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.

Messe Frankfurt and the U.N. will work together to promote sustainability in the textile Industry.

One hundred guests from the press, business, politics and associations met at the headquarters of the United Nations to learn how the Texpertise Network of Messe Frankfurt, the Conscious Fashion Campaign and the United Nations Office for Partnerships (UNOP) plan to collaborate in furthering the implementation of their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the fashion and textile industry.

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