Specialty Fabrics Review November 2022 - 16

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industry news
Textile manufacturers turn to mono
material fabrics and cellulosic fibers
T
he textile and apparel industry is facing mounting pressures to improve
the recyclability of its products in order to move toward a circular
economy, and these pressures are being exacerbated by the introduction
of new EU laws. In particular, regulations relating to Extended Producer
Responsibility (EPR) will come into force in the 27 EU member states
from December 2024 and will require manufacturers to take on significant
responsibility for the treatment or disposal of post-consumer products.
The recyclability of textile products is problematic because, generally,
conventional fabrics and textile products are made using complex mixtures
of fibers, dyes and finishing chemicals. But existing recycling plants are
unable to work with complex mixtures. Consequently, 73% of apparel ends
up in landfills or is incinerated at the end of its useful life. Only 1% of textiles
are recycled into new fabrics.
Mono material fabrics, by contrast, are easily recyclable because they
are made entirely from a single type of fiber. But it has been difficult to
achieve the levels of comfort, function, style and performance expected by
consumers in mono material fabrics.
At the European fabric fairs for spring/summer 2023, some exhibitors had
overcome the challenges of developing mono material fabrics and showcased
innovations in advanced mono material fabrics that offer environmental
sustainability and high levels of performance. In order to optimize the
recyclability of textile products, some exhibitors had developed fabrics made
using cellulosic fibers rather than developing mono material fabrics.
Recent advancements in recycling technology mean that cellulose can
be recovered easily from cellulosic fiber textile waste and used in the
manufacture of pulp for producing new fibers.
Milliken & Company has promoted David
Smith to executive vice president and
president of Milliken's Textile Business.
Stepping into this new role after more than
40 years with Milliken, Smith will oversee
the company's diverse textile portfolio.
INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven
Fabrics Industry, has named operations
and development officer Ryan Ragan
as its new director of membership and
industry relations to retain and grow
memberships and enhance member
values. Ragan will work with members
to help identify opportunities and work
internally to determine how INDA can
be a resource for solutions.
Advanced Functional Fabrics of America
Inc. (AFFOA), a non-profit public-private
partnership focused on invigorating the
American textile industry, announced
the promotion of Michelle Farrington
to chief technology officer (CTO).
In this new role, Farrington will be
leading AFFOA's integrated technology
development team, with responsibilities
spanning business development, program
management and engineering.
Culp Inc. announced that Forrest Buck
has been named vice president of
information technology for the company.
Buck's new role involves overseeing the
information technology needs of the
company's entire global operation. Teresa
Huffman has also been named senior
vice president, chief human resources
officer. Huffman has served as the senior
vice-president of human resources since
2018. Buck and Huffman will report to Iv
Culp, president and chief executive officer
of Culp Inc.
The Haartz Corporation, a provider of
highly engineered textile materials and
Green Theme Technologies Inc. (GTT),
a provider of waterless and PFAS-free
textile finishing, announced a partnership
to revolutionize how textiles are finished
in the United States. The first of its kind
in the North American market, GTT's
PFAS-free and waterless EMPEL™ textile
finishing platform eliminates harmful
chemicals from all levels of textile
finishing without the use of water.
Avient Corporation, a provider of
specialized and sustainable material
solutions, has completed its purchase
of the protective materials business
of DSM (including the Dyneema®
brand), which will now be called Avient
Protective Materials and reported within
the company's Specialty Engineered
Materials segment. The business
includes six production facilities, four
R&D centers and approximately 1,000
employees located around the world.
16 SPECIALTY FABRICS REVIEW / November 2022
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2022

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