Participants from 16 countries attended a conference hosted by the European Association for Textile Polyolefins (EATP) in Istanbul, from May 7-8. The theme was ‘Challenges and opportunities in the changing world of polyolefin textiles’.

Textile polyolefins are a major sector of the European textile industry, producing polymers, fibres, fabrics and a wide range of other products from polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE). European output of polyolefin textiles exceeds €3 billion ($4 billion) a year. There is a vast range of applications for these products including sportswear, home textiles, hygiene and medical products and packaging.

17 presentations were given by industry representatives, including five from Turkish speakers. Themes included: the Turkish economic framework; polyolefin feedstocks and polymers; developments in fibres and yarns in Spain and Slovakia; growth of polyolefin textiles in Turkey; the future of the European textile industry; and supply chain management.

The next EATP Executive Seminar will be held in Vienna from May 19-20, 2008.