Textiles and apparel sustainability update, September 2020
Environmental sustainability is of growing importance within the global fibre, textile and apparel industry, and pressures to improve their sustainability credentials have prompted several companies to develop innovative new products and adapt their business strategies. This report provides information on the latest product developments and business developments in relation to environmental sustainability with a particular focus on: business news; carpet; contract fabrics; cotton; denim; dyeing processes; fabrics; fashion collections; fibres; insulation materials; protective accessories; standards; and workwear. Furthermore, the report includes information and insight relating to the following innovative brands, companies and other organisations: Ananas Anam, Aquafil, the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), Bioworks, Burberry, Candiani Denim (Candiani), DSM Niaga, Dyntex, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the Fairtrade Foundation, Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture (Field to Market), Freudenberg Performance Materials, Hyosung, Inter IKEA Group, Kemira, Kings of Indigo, Kering, Lenzing Group (Lenzing), Levi Strauss & Co, Manchester Manufacturing Group, Mexar, North West Textiles Network (NW Texnet), Pratibha Syntex, Promethean Particles, Sateri, Spinnova, Sunbrella, TBM, Teijin Frontier, Textile Exchange, The Welding Institute (TWI), Toray Industries (Toray), Touchpoint, the US Cotton Trust Protocol, Vaude and Worn Again Technologies.
SUMMARY
BUSINESS NEWS
Ananas Anam has achieved B Corp Certification
Aquafil has become a network member of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Inter IKEA Group and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation have entered into a strategic partnership
Kering has published a strategy to support nature conservation and reduce the impact of its operations on biodiversity
Lenzing has been awarded Gold status by EcoVadis for its commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR)
Vaude has developed a Repair Index and is using it to evaluate the reparability of its products
Worn Again Technologies has opened a new pilot research and development (R&D) facility in Redcar, UK
CARPET
DSM Niaga has developed a carpet made from recycled materials
CONTRACT FABRICS
Sunbrella has developed an environmentally sustainable contract upholstery fabric called Sunbrella Assure
COTTON
Field to Market and the US Cotton Trust Protocol have formed a partnership to help improve the environmental sustainability of the US cotton industry
The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has reported that Better Cotton accounted for 22% of global cotton production during the 2018/19 season
The Better Cotton Initiative Programme (BCI Programme) has been launched in Egypt
The Fairtrade Foundation and Pratibha Syntex are working to develop a breed of nongenetically modified (non-GM) cotton seeds
DENIM
Candiani has collaborated with Kings of Indigo on a range of biodegradable stretch denim fabrics
Levi Strauss & Co claims to have developed its most environmentally sustainable jeans ever
DYEING PROCESSES
Spinnova and Kemira are collaborating in the development of an environmentally sustainable fibre dyeing process
FABRICS
A consortium of UK-based organisations is developing environmentally sustainable water repellent fabrics
Dyntex has developed an ultra-lightweight performance fabric which is biodegradable and an ultra-lightweight performance fabric which is made from bio-based yarn
Lenzing has collaborated with Hyosung in the development of an environmentally sustainable fabric collection
Toray has developed a new version of its Primeflex stretch fabric which contains plant-based materials and polymer derived from plastic waste
FASHION COLLECTIONS
Burberry has launched an environmentally sustainable and socially responsible collection of accessories and outerwear
FIBRES
Sateri has developed an environmentally sustainable viscose fibre which is made using textile waste and wood pulp
Teijin Frontier has developed an environmentally sustainable conjugate filament yarn with “extra stretchability” called Solotex Eco-Hybrid
INSULATION MATERIALS
Freudenberg Performance Materials has launched a new biodegradable padding material as part of its comfortemp Thermal Insulation range
PROTECTIVE ACCESSORIES
TBM and Bioworks have collaborated in the development of an environmentally sustainable face mask
STANDARDS
Textile Exchange has launched the Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS)
WORKWEAR
Spinnova and Touchpoint have collaborated in the development of environmentally sustainable workwear
BUSINESS NEWS
Ananas Anam has achieved B Corp Certification
Aquafil has become a network member of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Inter IKEA Group and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation have entered into a strategic partnership
Kering has published a strategy to support nature conservation and reduce the impact of its operations on biodiversity
Lenzing has been awarded Gold status by EcoVadis for its commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR)
Vaude has developed a Repair Index and is using it to evaluate the reparability of its products
Worn Again Technologies has opened a new pilot research and development (R&D) facility in Redcar, UK
CARPET
DSM Niaga has developed a carpet made from recycled materials
CONTRACT FABRICS
Sunbrella has developed an environmentally sustainable contract upholstery fabric called Sunbrella Assure
COTTON
Field to Market and the US Cotton Trust Protocol have formed a partnership to help improve the environmental sustainability of the US cotton industry
The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has reported that Better Cotton accounted for 22% of global cotton production during the 2018/19 season
The Better Cotton Initiative Programme (BCI Programme) has been launched in Egypt
The Fairtrade Foundation and Pratibha Syntex are working to develop a breed of nongenetically modified (non-GM) cotton seeds
DENIM
Candiani has collaborated with Kings of Indigo on a range of biodegradable stretch denim fabrics
Levi Strauss & Co claims to have developed its most environmentally sustainable jeans ever
DYEING PROCESSES
Spinnova and Kemira are collaborating in the development of an environmentally sustainable fibre dyeing process
FABRICS
A consortium of UK-based organisations is developing environmentally sustainable water repellent fabrics
Dyntex has developed an ultra-lightweight performance fabric which is biodegradable and an ultra-lightweight performance fabric which is made from bio-based yarn
Lenzing has collaborated with Hyosung in the development of an environmentally sustainable fabric collection
Toray has developed a new version of its Primeflex stretch fabric which contains plant-based materials and polymer derived from plastic waste
FASHION COLLECTIONS
Burberry has launched an environmentally sustainable and socially responsible collection of accessories and outerwear
FIBRES
Sateri has developed an environmentally sustainable viscose fibre which is made using textile waste and wood pulp
Teijin Frontier has developed an environmentally sustainable conjugate filament yarn with “extra stretchability” called Solotex Eco-Hybrid
INSULATION MATERIALS
Freudenberg Performance Materials has launched a new biodegradable padding material as part of its comfortemp Thermal Insulation range
PROTECTIVE ACCESSORIES
TBM and Bioworks have collaborated in the development of an environmentally sustainable face mask
STANDARDS
Textile Exchange has launched the Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS)
WORKWEAR
Spinnova and Touchpoint have collaborated in the development of environmentally sustainable workwear
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Again carpet
Figure 2: Men’s jeans made using Bio-Stretch fabric
Figure 3: Levi Strauss & Co’s most sustainable jeans ever
Figure 4: Apparel incorporating Primeflex PET-recycled type fabric
Figure 5: Products from the ReBurberry Edit
Figure 6: Cross-section of Solotex Eco-Hybrid
Figure 7: Structure of Solotex Eco-Hybrid crimp yarn
Figure 8: Garment made from Solotex Eco-Hybrid fabric
Figure 9: comfortemp Lyocell padding
Figure 10: Bio Face mask
Figure 11: Tapio apron
Figure 1: Again carpet
Figure 2: Men’s jeans made using Bio-Stretch fabric
Figure 3: Levi Strauss & Co’s most sustainable jeans ever
Figure 4: Apparel incorporating Primeflex PET-recycled type fabric
Figure 5: Products from the ReBurberry Edit
Figure 6: Cross-section of Solotex Eco-Hybrid
Figure 7: Structure of Solotex Eco-Hybrid crimp yarn
Figure 8: Garment made from Solotex Eco-Hybrid fabric
Figure 9: comfortemp Lyocell padding
Figure 10: Bio Face mask
Figure 11: Tapio apron
