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A new chapter for Carbios

A new chapter for Carbios

The inauguration of a demonstration plant marks a new milestone for trailblazing, ten-year-old French biotech start-up Carbios. This will serve to further validate its enzymatic recycling process for all forms of PET, plastics and textiles, and pave the way for the next stage, a facility with the capacity to recycle 40,000 tonnes per year. It was a sunny day in late September when local officials, company managers...
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21 September 2021
Smarter thermal insulation Smarter thermal insulation
The addition of gold, graphene and aerogels is boosting the performance properties of synthetic fillers and natural down. New circular solutions are also being introduced as demand for recycled down drives research into automating the extraction of the precious clusters from used clothes.
08 September 2021
PFAS on borrowed time PFAS on borrowed time
Both the European Union and the United States plan to institute stricter legislation, which may include outright bans, for PFAS. Whether these cover the entire class of chemicals has yet to be seen, but pressure is mounting and there is now strong momentum behind calls to phase these chemicals out for good.
21 July 2021
Digging into South Korea’s Green New Deal Digging into South Korea’s Green New Deal
Famed for its technological innovation, South Korea is now also investing heavily in low-emission, climate-neutral development strategies at a typically fast pace. Moving towards circularity by nurturing a robust recycling strategy appears to be front of mind for the nation’s leading textile enterprises.
13 July 2021
The art of the sneaker on show The art of the sneaker on show
Some trendy styles may ‘run’ out of stock, some may never leave the box once purchased, but sneakers do have miles of cultural traction. A major exhibition at London’s Design Museum, Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street, focuses on this ubiquitous shoe, highlighting the sneaker as a universal design object.
07 July 2021
Passion empowered Passion empowered
Polartec is marking the thirtieth anniversary of the formal launch of the brand by celebrating fabrics and garments that, since 1991, have changed what we wear when we go into the outdoors.
30 June 2021
From tracing to closing the loop From tracing to closing the loop
New tools are making it easier to keep track of products throughout the supply chain. Used not only to certify the presence of sustainable content, such as organic cotton or ocean plastics, these tools can now trace a product’s entire lifecycle.
23 June 2021
No short-cuts No short-cuts
Compression and running garments that combine performance with sustainability and transparency are the first products to come to market from Pressio, a young company with an experienced head on its shoulders.
16 June 2021
Natural alternatives Natural alternatives
A recent report called Fossil Fashion takes synthetic fibres to task for having a substantially higher carbon footprint than alternatives from natural sources. It seems to have made a profound impression at fibre manufacturer Lenzing. Reading the report has led the group’s vice-president for the global textiles business, Florian Heubrandner, to draw three main conclusions.
02 June 2021
In the forest of fibres: Old versus new growth In the forest of fibres: Old versus new growth
Producers of wood-based fibres, a group of materials spanning viscose, lyocell and acetate, are quick to promote their plant- or bio-based raw materials. But these manmade cellulosic fibres face two key challenges. They need to prove they play no role in deforestation and they need to provide guarantees with regards to the chemicals used in the process of turning a hard yet fibrous material, namely wood, into a smooth and silky, drapeable fibre.
19 May 2021
Smart textiles step up Smart textiles step up
After some 20 years of gestation, the technical challenge of integrating electronic components into clothing has been largely overcome by a growing base of manufacturers, who have developed the necessary expertise. Electro-textiles have yet to move beyond niche applications, but there is renewed focus on actual user needs.
31 March 2021
Plans on Ice Plans on Ice
Swiss outdoor brand Mammut is concentrating all of its work on sustainability under a new umbrella term, Together For Glaciers. It says that melting glaciers serve as a reminder that, if we are to stop climate change from causing irrevocable damage to our way of life, time is running out.
25 March 2021
Keeping pace with circular connectivity Keeping pace with circular connectivity
A partnership involving an outdoor brand, its zipper supplier and a technology platform aims to establish closer, cloud-enabled connections between consumers and the companies that provide their clothing.
23 March 2021
Best tech forward Best tech forward
Hassle-free returns come at a cost but have never been more in vogue than in the current covid-19 era, for both retailers and shoppers.
18 March 2021
Solutions for a changing world Solutions for a changing world
The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textile and Apparel (HKRITA) has announced a new, five-year collaboration with the H&M Foundation.
11 March 2021
Moves to minimise microfibre shedding Moves to minimise microfibre shedding
Much is still unknown concerning the source and impact of microfibre pollution from textiles and apparel and levels of concern remain high.
09 March 2021
Sustainability – Plans on ice Sustainability – Plans on ice
Swiss outdoor brand Mammut is concentrating all of its work on sustainability under a new umbrella term, Together For Glaciers.
04 March 2021
Change of gear for membranes Change of gear for membranes
After years of incremental improvements in the performance properties of waterproof-breathable membranes, radical new technologies are coming to market.
25 February 2021
Regenerative wool Regenerative wool
Well known for its unique performance properties, wool may be a source of broader positive impacts as growers around the world begin to implement regenerative agricultural practices.
08 December 2020
Opportunities arising from the plastic crisis Opportunities arising from the plastic crisis
A new report says that, if we don't change how we do things, 2040 will see another 29 million tonnes of plastic...
01 December 2020
Enhanced awareness Enhanced awareness
By weaving better support and body awareness into a unique compression baselayer, a new London-based...
26 November 2020
Quest for the magic circle Quest for the magic circle
Houdini and Polartec's partnership has resulted in a jacket with 80% less microfibre shedding, and by publishing the details...
24 November 2020
TITAS 2020 goes ahead TITAS 2020 goes ahead
Interesting innovations on display, and creative ways of presenting them to a mixed on-site and online audience...
17 November 2020
Greener chemistry Greener chemistry
Reducing the amount of chemicals, water and energy used to dye and finish textiles is a key challenge for the apparel industry.
10 November 2020
The patchy sustainability of recycled polyester The patchy sustainability of recycled polyester
Many of the sustainability claims made by sportswear brands revolve around an...
06 October 2020
Natural reaction to Higg rejig Natural reaction to Higg rejig
The Sustainable Apparel Coalition has released a new version of the Higg Materials Sustainability Index as part...
01 October 2020
The great indoors The great indoors
Emerging from months of lockdown into a world in which competitive sports and outdoor activities are still very much limited...
29 September 2020
Crash Protection Crash Protection
Riders from Team Sunweb wore Dyneema-enabled wound-resistant cycling shirts at the 2020 Tour de France...
22 September 2020
Antibacterials up the ante Antibacterials up the ante
The covid-19 pandemic has makers of antimicrobial additives racing to find solutions that will keep face coverings and clothes virus-free.
15 September 2020
High time for hemp High time for hemp
A hemp and organic cotton fabric made by Swiss weaver Stotz won the Performance Days Eco Performance Award last April.
23 July 2020
Wisdom of the crowd Wisdom of the crowd
Fruits of crowdfunding are everywhere, though it is easy to overlook...
21 July 2020
Cotton farmers fight back against GM Cotton farmers fight back against GM
As part of its work to empower disadvant­aged producers...
16 July 2020
More time for Olympic innovation More time for Olympic innovation
As late as mid-March, with countries around the world in lockdown...
14 July 2020
Race for protection gathers speed Race for protection gathers speed
If any single positive has come out of the Covid-19 pandemic...
07 July 2020
Break down the blends Break down the blends
The problem is well-known, and the numbers staggering...
30 June 2020
Infinite regeneration of polyester Infinite regeneration of polyester
Take a batch of monomer molecules, string them together...
28 May 2020
The war on waste will continue The war on waste will continue
Programmes to reduce and even eliminate waste are well advanced...
26 May 2020
Extreme measures Extreme measures
Vollebak is accustomed to hype around product launches...
21 May 2020
When partners push each other When partners push each other
As 2020 began, cyclists around the world were pedalling through cold rainy...
12 May 2020
A biosourced polyamide renaissance A biosourced polyamide renaissance
Among the many sustainability claims brands put forward...
07 May 2020
BASF’s footwear investments bear fruit BASF’s footwear investments bear fruit
Standing on your feet all day in a workplace...
05 May 2020
Textiles for travel and wellness Textiles for travel and wellness
The wellness and travel wear trend has been quietly building...
20 March 2020
How to unlock the blockchain How to unlock the blockchain
Sourcing materials for garment manufacturing is a messy business...
17 March 2020
Plastics under the microscope Plastics under the microscope
Germany-based testing institute Hohenstein has developed...
12 March 2020
Into the dark places Into the dark places
The Woolmark Company is to be one of a number of official technical partners...

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