Environmental issues

Hong Kong mill recycles cotton/polyester textile waste

1 May 2019

Although polyester (PES) is the most common fibre currently used in textiles, it does not degrade naturally.

Thermoplastic laptop cover outperforms metal version in life-cycle analysis

7 March 2019

A life-cycle assessment (LCA) has shown that a laptop computer cover made of a continuous fibre-reinforced thermoplastic from Covestro has a carbon footprint 70% smaller than that of a cover made f

FREE CONTENT: European nations adopt industry flushability guidelines

28 February 2019

Two countries in the European Union (EU) are supporting a standard for assessing the flushability of wet wipes according to its developers, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA) a

FREE CONTENT: US action plan for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

15 February 2019

In a move that could be significant for the technical textiles industry, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has unveiled its Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Action Plan

Cutting-edge coating technologies to create new applications

Delegates at the International Conference on Textile Coating and Laminating (held in Berlin, Germany, on 8-9 November 2017) learned how: acoustic energy can be exploited to coat textiles; a technology for creating three-dimensional coatings can be used to exploit a consumer’s attraction to the touch and feel, in addition to any visual appeal, of a product; biotechnology is used to engineer polysaccharides as the basis of a range of high-performance biomaterials without the need for petrochemicals.

How environmental and health issues are forcing change on coaters and laminators

Polyurethane, fluorocarbon and flame-retardant coatings have been integral parts of the textiles industry for many years, but all are based on the use of chemicals falling foul of modern legislation and standards with respect to human health and environmental impacts. Nick Butler reports how several speakers at the International Conference on Textile Coating and Laminating considered the viability of alternative technologies.

Synthetic textiles find themselves under a harsh spotlight

In the first months of 2018, plastics have continued to make plenty of unwanted headlines, with synthetic textiles entangled in an ongoing debate about sustainable manufacturing and single-use disposable products. Inevitably, this raises fears in the industry of wide-ranging legislation that will ban such products, fears that are already becoming reality in the UK, as Adrian Wilson reports.

Stricter tests and labelling guidelines for flushable products

1 June 2018

Guidelines concerning both the assessment and labelling of goods regarding their suitability for flushing away in wastewater systems have been made stricter, according to the co-publishers of the l

FREE CONTENT: European strategy to slash plastic waste

19 January 2018

The European Commission (EC) has launched its European Plastics Strategy⁽¹⁾, designed to protect

Protecting the environment from synthetic microfibres

10 January 2018

Filter technology that can remove polymer microfibres from home laundry wastewater has been launched at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (9–12 January 2018).

Calculating the environmental impact of thermoplastic composites

4 January 2018

The European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA) has added data for thermoplastics to its Eco Calculator, an online tool that enables the environmental impact of the production of a given compo

Dornbirn congress addresses the big issues for man-made fibres

Lively debates on topics of importance to the industry, together with many examples of the latest commercial innovations, held the attention of several hundred attendees of one of the sector’s most important annual conferences. Adrian Wilson reports for Technical Textiles International.

FREE CONTENT: Ocean waste used to make polyester fibre

7 September 2017

A polyester (PES) fibre (Seaqual) made from plastic waste recovered from the oceans will be exhibited during Première Vision by the yarn spinner Antex of Anglès, Spain.

Lyocell agrotextiles are wholly biocompostable

23 May 2017

Agrotextiles that are wholly biocompostable were introduced by Lenzing AG at Techtextil (held in Frankfurt, Germany, on 9–12 May 2017).

Sustainable textiles from recycled clothing

27 April 2017

Five European companies have formed a partnership to develop technologies that will enable the manufacture of sustainable textiles from used clothing.

UL joins Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals Programme

26 April 2017

UL Consumer & Retail Services (CRS) is joining the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Programme, which is promoting the widespread implementation of sustainable chemistry and best pra

Fine raw cotton for cleaning-up oil spills

1 March 2017

Micronaire – a measure of the air permeability of compressed cotton fibres that is often used as an indication of fibre fineness and maturity – plays a key role in determining cotton's ability to a

Big challenges remain in moves from petrochemical feedstocks

The oil price may be low, but as far as the growing market for biopolymers and biofibres is concerned, the prices of sugar and corn are just as significant, according to Adrian Wilson.

Unifi expands its Recycling Center

16 July 2015

Unifi Inc has begun construction of an additional facility at its Recycling Center in Yadkinville, North Carolina, USA.

Making the most of resources

11 June 2015

An aid to help textile manufacturers use chemicals efficiently will be launched at the bluesign conference, to be held in St Gallen, Switzerland, on 13–14 July 2015.

New owners to invest in carbon-fibre precursor manufacturer

26 May 2015

Austria-based Lenzing Group has sold its majority stake in European Carbon Fiber (ECF) GmbH, and its wholly owned subsidiary, Dolan GmbH.

How recycling can give spunmelt nonwovens a second life

A wide-range of initiatives are in place to eliminate waste in nonwovens manufacturing, as Adrian Wilson describes, but what can be done once they are converted into consumer products?

Hemp-based materials for the automotive industry

1 December 2014

Automotive equipment supplier, Faurecia of Nanterre, France, has created a 50/50 joint venture with French agricultural cooperative Arc Les Gray-based Cooperative Agricole Interval to develop and prod

Textile waste used to make fabric

1 September 2014

Fabric as good as or better than the original can be obtained by using solvents to break down worn-out and even heavily soiled textiles, according to the VTT Technical Research Centre (VTT) of Espo

Low-grade cotton mat can hold 50 times its own weight in oil

1 September 2014

Low-grade nonwoven cotton could become the material of choice for mopping-up oil spills, according to scientists at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA, who claim to have made a mat that can co

A plastic drinks bottle that has far-reaching implications…

The chemicals industry is rapidly introducing new polymers based on renewable feedstocks that will have a dramatic impact on the fibres, textiles and nonwovens, as well as the plastics, industries, according to Adrian Wilson.

Healthy Seas Project aims to turn waste into polyamide fibres

There is high value in much of the abandoned fishing industry waste that lies at the bottom of the world’s oceans. Now, a polyamide fibre manufacturer has built a plant that is equipped to exploit it. Adrian Wilson reports from Slovenia.

Medical workwear is certified as safe for disposal by composting

1 January 2014

A range of clothing for healthcare workers that is suitable for industrial laundering and is biodegradable upon disposal is the result of collaboration between three European organizations.

Can the industry stave off legislation on flushability?

Nonwoven wipes made the news headlines for all the wrong reasons this year, even as the industry was responding with its own tighter guidelines with respect to the disposal of these products according to Adrian Wilson.

SeaCell fibre—kind to the skin and good for the environment

SeaCell is a fibre that is kind to the skin, offers functionality (such as antimicrobial properties) and is made from natural materials using a closed-loop process that is environmentally friendly, according to Pooja Anade and Kishorkumar Parbat.

Prize-winning water container

1 June 2013

A European project concluded at the end of 2012 with the successful test of a fabric bag used to transport fresh water at sea.

Silk-like fibre from milkweed available

1 June 2013

A Canadian company has succeeded in developing a high-performance fibre extracted from milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), a plant native to the country.

Low-grade cotton proves effective for cleaning crude oil

1 June 2013

Scientists in the USA have found that a low-grade form of cotton is effective at absorbing crude oil and could be used to help clean major spills such as that in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.

Boeing and BMW partnership aims to boost recycling of carbon fibre

1 February 2013

A leading manufacturer of aircraft, Boeing of Seattle, Washington, USA, and a major producer of automobiles, BMW Group of Munich, Germany, have agreed to cooperate on research into the recycling of ca

Protecting sensitive components, preserving food and drink

Lighter weights, engineered performance, and the use of natural and sustainable raw materials are just some of the advantages nonwovens provide when used for packaging, an application with great potential, according to Adrian Wilson.

Unifi takes the lead in the production of recycled polyester

Unifi has developed proprietary processes and techniques to recycle waste and convert it into a first-quality fibre. The company’s Meredith Boyd discusses what has been learned from the challenges of handling and processing these materials.

Programme to recycle polyester uniforms in China

1 March 2012

A programme for issuing, and subsequently collecting and recycling polyester uniforms has begun in China.

Boeing to invest $1 million a year in carbon fibre recycling project

1 December 2011

Boeing of Seattle, Washington, USA, plans to invest $1 million a year in a collaborative project with the University of Nottingham in the UK to recycle carbon fibre.

Biopolymers and natural fibres for use in textiles and composites

1 October 2011

The markets for alternatives to synthetic fibres and plastics continue to develop and grow. Adrian Wilson investigates for Technical Textiles International.

Recycled polyester shows signs of take off in Indian market

1 December 2010

Recycled polyester is a fairly recent concept for the Indian market.

Combining performance and sustainability in composites

1 December 2010

During JEC Composites in Paris, France (13-15 April 2010), the European Confederation of Linen and Hemp (CELC) chose to promote the benefits of using flax and hemp fibres as reinforcements to the worl

Coconut coir fibre shows growing potential for construction

1 December 2010

Pooja Katkar, Lecturer at the D.K.T.E.'s Textile and Engineering Institute assesses the viability of using coconut fibre in structural components in buildings, particularly in parts of the world where

Recycled silicone-coated polyamide for automotive parts

1 November 2010

Two Japanese companies have collaborated to develop a technology to recycle waste scraps of silicone-coated polyamide 66 fabrics used to make airbags and previously considered too difficult to be econ

Film to create energy harvesting clothing and carpets

1 October 2010

Rapid printing processes using active inks are being developed to make films for textiles that can harvest energy from individuals as they walk around.

Carbon nanotubes to reinforce wind turbine blades

1 April 2010

Bayer MaterialScience LLC is pressing ahead with research and testing that could determine the viability of polyurethane composites reinforced with its carbon nanotubes (Baytubes) for use in wind turb

Teijin develops silk crepe bioplastics

1 February 2010

Silk crepe producers in the city of Kyotango, Japan, are working with Teijin to develop applications for the company's bioplastic, Biofront.

Polartec to introduce 100% recycled yarn from Unifi by 2011

1 February 2010

Polartec and Unifi have announced an extension of their collaboration in the development of yarns and fabrics made from recycled materials.

Lenzing and Circle agreement to develop regenerated fibres

1 February 2010

Lenzing and Circle have signed a memorandum of under - standing to develop and commercialize regenerated fibres.

Chlorine-free viscose staple

1 November 2009

Spain's Sniace SA says it can now supply viscose fibre and pulp using a wholly chlorine-free whitening process.

Unifi extends recycled fibre range, moves production to China and introduces verification programme

1 November 2009

Unifi has further extended its range of recycled fibres (Repreve) with the addition of a polyester staple.

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1 May 2024

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Cutting-edge coating technologies to create new applications

How environmental and health issues are forcing change on coaters and laminators

Synthetic textiles find themselves under a harsh spotlight

Dornbirn congress addresses the big issues for man-made fibres

Big challenges remain in moves from petrochemical feedstocks

How recycling can give spunmelt nonwovens a second life

A plastic drinks bottle that has far-reaching implications…

Healthy Seas Project aims to turn waste into polyamide fibres

Can the industry stave off legislation on flushability?

SeaCell fibre—kind to the skin and good for the environment

Protecting sensitive components, preserving food and drink

Unifi takes the lead in the production of recycled polyester