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Environmental issues

Navigating complexity — Regulations for fluorocarbon-based finishes

As a result of increasing concern over the environmental persistence and bioaccumulation of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and the consequences of exposure to them, there has been a proliferation of both implemented and proposed regulations across the world. The variation from country to country in the scope of these regulations and their increasing stringency, however, has led to a complex situation in terms of compliance for the many industries that use PFAS, including textile finishing. Here, we present a concise overview of the current regulatory landscape.

Fibres made from viscose and lyocell cause higher mortality, and a greater reduction in growth and reproductivity, in earthworms – a species critical to the health of soils globally – than fibres m

From the bale or the silo – production routes for nonwovens

Nonwovens are produced via two very different routes, depending on whether they are made from staple fibres or extruded polymer resins. The production route taken dictates the properties of the resulting fabrics and the applications for which they are suited, explains Adrian Wilson.

Microban has formed a partnership with the developer of an additive (CiCLO), Intrinsic Advanced Materials (IAM), to develop fibres that can supress the formation of odours in textiles and will biod

Three fibre-manufacturing sites operated by Indorama Ventures (IVL), of Bangkok, Thailand, have been awarded International Sustainability Carbon Certification (ISCC) Plus certification.

In the presence of water or humidity, the bioplastic polylactic acid (PLA) will fully hydrolyse, and no persistent nano- or microplastics will remain or accumulate in the environment, according to

While consumers and policy makers are demanding more transparency along global supply chains, making responsible decisions for people and planet is more of a concern for companies than ever before.

The UK Government is to introduce legislation to ban the supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic.

Textiles made from polyester (PES) release water-insoluble oligomers, which have an unknown effect on humans and the environment, when they are laundered, according to researchers from Empa in St.

A polyamide (PA) 6 made entirely from textile waste has been launched by BASF, of Ludwigshafen, Germany, and Inditex, of Arteixo, Spain.

End-of-life options for technical textiles explored in Dornbirn

Despite some very well-established and streamlined supply chains, the recovery and recycling of technical textiles is still far from easy, according to Nonwovens Editor Adrian Wilson, reporting from the Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress  (GFC).

Acrylonitrile (AN) made from bio-based and/or recycled feedstocks is to be used by Teijin, of Tokyo, Japan, to produce its Tenax carbon fibre.

Protective clothing (turnout gear) for firefighters that is not treated with finishes based on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is not oil-repellent, reducing the protection it offers, ac

The developer of a chemical-free, biology-based method for dyeing fabrics was selected as one of fifteen finalists for the 2023 Earthshot Prize.  

A titanium oxide-based photocatalyst could be used to remove toxic dyes from wastewater according to researchers at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. 

Asahi Kasei Corp is to produce a mass-balanced elastane fibre (Roica) for apparel using a bio-based tetrahydrofuran (THF BMB) from BASF. 

A pilot collection of comfortable and durable chef uniforms made from a combination of lyocell and recycled polyester (PES) fibres has been unveiled by cellulose-fibre manufacturer, Lenzing Group,

A waterproof membrane and an elastic dual-surface knitted fabric made from biobased polyamide (PA) 6.6 (Biolon) have been launched by Polartec of Andover, Massachusetts, USA. 

A perfluorinated chemicals (PFC)-free finish (Empel) is more water-repellent than finishes based on fluorocarbons, according to testing undertaken by The Haartz Corp of Acton, Massachusetts, USA. 

A waterless dyeing technology, developed by DyeCoo and operated by CleanDye at its factory in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, has a significantly smaller carbon footprint than conventional textile-dyein

The developer of a hydrothermal process for the recycling of polyester (PES)–cotton textiles, Circ LLC, of Danville, Virginia, USA, has been selected as one of fifteen finalists for the 2023 Ea

A marine microorganism that can break-down polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in saltwater has been produced through genetic engineering by researchers at North Carolina State University (NCSU) in Ra

A decade of development: Polylactic acid and the fibres industry

2023 sees IFG International Fibres Group is celebrating the ten-year anniversary of its launch of a fibre made from the biopolymer polylactic acid (PLA). Here, the company describes the benefits of the biodegradable thermoplastic for the production of fibres, the research and development work it has undertaken over the last ten years, and the role that PLA could play in the future of the technical textiles industry.

Plastics that are used in the production of textiles and are routinely described as biodegradable, such as polylactic acid (PLA), show no signs of degradation after more than a year submerged in th

Claros Technologies forges ahead with nanoparticle treatments

A US start-up company has ambitious plans for its durable zinc nanoparticle-based treatments that can be used to make antimicrobial, odour-resistant or ultraviolet radiation-shielding textiles. US Correspondent John McCurry reports. 

Indorama Ventures (IVL) has secured exclusive rights to use a technology developed by Polymateria that enables the production of biodegradable polyolefins for use in nonwovens for hygiene applicati

A process for the production of monoethylene glycol (MEG), a starting material for the manufacture of polyester (PES), using carbon dioxide (CO2) extracted from industrial waste gases is

Milliken & Co says that it has become the first US-based manufacturer of textiles to eliminate all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from its ranges of products.  

The laundering of textiles in the UK generates microfibres weighing the equivalent of 600–1500 double-decker buses every year, according to researchers from the University of Leeds. 

Developer of halogen-free flame-retardants, FRX Polymers, reports that the listing of three common flame-retardants as substances of very high concern (SVHCs) by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA

A coating that reduces the amount of microfibres that are shed when clothes made of synthetic fabrics are washed is being developed by researchers at the University of Toronto in Ontario, Canada.

Versarien works to commercialise graphene-enhanced sportswear

While the nanomaterial graphene has attracted significant attention over the last fifteen years, its use in the manufacture of textiles has been limited. Versarien is looking to change this with a range of graphene-based inks for the production of sportswear. James Bakewell spoke to the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Neill Ricketts, to find-out more. 

The fibres industry gets its teeth into the problem of textile waste

Companies operating in every sector of the fibres, nonwovens and technical textiles industries must continue to innovate in order to make their products more environmentally sustainable. Adrian Wilson reports on the latest developments from the annual Global Fiber Congress (GFC), held most recently on 13–15 September 2022 in Dornbirn, Austria.

A range of threads that are made from recycled polyester (PES) and contain an additive that causes them to biodegrade has been launched by Coats of Uxbridge, UK. 

Lifecycle assessments (LCAs) are now being used by Teijin to determine the impact that the production, use and disposal of its carbon fibre-reinforced intermediate products have on the environment.

The latest environmentally sustainable bags for the transportation of dry bulk materials, particularly cement, will be the focus of the exhibit of the Vienna, Austria-based Starlinger Ges.mbH durin

Polyester (PES) resin recycled from fishing nets by Teijin is now being used to produce food trays for a restaurant chain in Japan. 

Techtextil shows that collaboration will be key to meet challenges

The recent staging of Techtextil, Texprocess and Heimtextil was perfectly timed, as the technical textiles industry wrestles with a long list of challenges. As Editor James Bakewell reports, the shows illustrated that strong partnerships will be vital if these problems are to be solved. 

A polymer called polycarbodiimide can remove certain dyes from water, and can be recovered and re-used, according to researchers at North Carolina State University (NCSU) in Raleigh, USA, who say t

The impacts that dyes, softeners and other finishes have on the quantity and degradation of microfibres shed by cotton fabrics are being studied by researchers at North Carolina State University (N

The need for sustainable composites to be reinforced at JEC World

When JEC World returns to Paris, France, on 3–5 May 2022, the theme of the show will be “composites for a sustainable world”. Editor James Bakewell describes a number of technologies for reducing the environmental impact of the production of textile-based reinforcements for composites that can be found on the show floor. 

Teijin Frontier Co Ltd has developed a proprietary system for calculating the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions generated by its processes for the production of polyester (PES) fibres.

The tumble-drying of a load of laundry in a vented system releases the same amount of microfibres into the air as the washing of the load releases into sewage and drainage systems.

An enzyme that is able to help break-down terephthalate (TPA) – one of the chemical building blocks of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is used to make single-use drinks bottles, clothing an

The challenge of going plastic-free in the midst of a pandemic

The combination of the human coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic and the introduction of the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) in Europe created unprecedented challenges for manufacturers of nonwoven wipes in 2021. Nonwovens Editor, Adrian Wilson, reports on the development of some potential solutions to these problems. 

Under the right circumstances, the mass-customisation of clothing can generate higher profits and could reduce the environmental impact of the fashion industry considerably, according to researcher

A single vented tumble dryer can discharge up to 120 million microfibres into the air each year - considerably more than is discharged into sewers and drains by a washing machine – according to a p

A tool (called Impact Calculator) that will enable manufacturers of textiles and textile products to gauge the impact that their operations have on the environment has been launched by the Oeko-Tex

One topic dominates discussions as industry finally convenes again

The staging of virtual conferences and the first in-person exhibitions in recent months has provided the industry with much-needed opportunities to talk about the way forward as it looks to recover from the pandemic. In debates, several key topics have emerged, but the need to make substantive progress towards sustainable manufacturing clearly overshadows them all, writes Adrian Wilson.

Manufacturer of textiles for workwear, Carrington Textiles of Adlington, UK, has launched eight fabrics that feature sustainable fibres – including recycled polyester (PES) and cotton – and synthet

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