FW
Crystal International Group Limited has launched its Crystal Sustainability Vision 2030 (CSV2030), outlining an ambitious roadmap for sustainable development in garment manufacturing. Building on 17 years of sustainability achievements, CSV2030 sets goals across eight impact areasclimate, circularity, water, biodiversity, wellness, equity, employee engagement, and community partnershipsto address pressing global sustainability issues.
Following the completion of three cycles of its 5year Global Sustainability Targets, Crystal International's CSV2030 reflects an enhanced commitment to environmental and social responsibility. The initiative aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and includes factory-specific actions on a structured timeline to ensure effective implementation.
Crystal’s CSV2030, guided by the tagline ‘Impact for Better,’ highlights its resolve to drive a positive change industry-wide. The plan’s development involved input from stakeholders, thorough industry best-practice analysis, and a review of global sustainability trends. Commenting on this milestone, Catherine Chiu, Vice President of Corporate Quality and Sustainability, expressed confidence in Crystal’s ability to lead sustainable fashion advancements by collaborating with industry partners.
As it embarks on this new chapter, Crystal International is preparing a series of communications to underscore its dedication to sustainability and its commitment to making a meaningful, lasting impact.
Syre, an innovative textile recycling start-up, aims to ‘decarbonize and dewaste’ the textile sector, starting with polyester. Committed to advancing textile-to-textile recycling on a large scale, Syre’s mission is to shift the textile industry from linear to circular processes by converting textile waste into reusable materials. By 2032, the company plans to establish 12 production plants, producing over 3 million metric tons of circular polyester annually, and reducing carbon emissions by more than 15 million metric tons.
In recognition of its impact, Syre received the ITMF Start-up Award 2024 during the ITMF Annual Conference held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. ITMF Director General Christian Schindler noted that Syre’s membership enhances industry-wide collaboration, which is crucial for scaling circularity and recycling efforts across the textile value chain.
Syre’s Sustainability & Public Affairs Director, Stina Billinger, emphasized that joining ITMF provides valuable access to seasoned textile companies, enabling the start-up to connect, learn, and accelerate its recycling initiatives. Access to ITMF’s resourcesincluding conferences, workshops, and publications further strengthens Syre’s strategic position within the industry.By leveraging ITMF’s network, Syre is set to contribute significantly to sustainable textile solutions, with the goal of reducing waste and emissions industry-wide.
Benin is rapidly evolving as a textile and clothing hub in West Africa, focusing on sustainable cotton production for the global market. The Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF), through its Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) initiative, is playing a vital role in fostering this transformation, helping Benin’s cotton producers gain access to international markets.
A significant milestone in Benin’s textile growth is the construction of a textile production center near Cotonou, utilizing 100 per cent CmiA-verified cotton. GerlindBaz, senior project manager at AbTF, highlighted the importance of this development during a recent visit, emphasizing CmiA’s contribution to the region’s sustainable textile production. The CmiA standard, which verifies 30 per cent of Africa's cotton production, operates in 11 sub-Saharan countries and supports around 900,000 small-scale farmers.
In early October, marking World Cotton Day, a delegation from AbTF, alongside representatives from GIZ and PAN UK, visited Benin. The team observed CmiA Organic cotton farms in Aklampa, meeting farmers in the Growing Benin’s Organic Cotton Sector project. Managed by PAN UK and OBEPAB and funded by partners including AbTF and Paul Reinhart AG, the initiative aims to support farmers transitioning to organic cotton, positively impacting approximately 45,500 residents.
The project seeks to bolster Benin’s organic cotton industry, ensuring market access and fostering resilience against climate challenges through sustainable practices.
The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) has appointed Gregg Woodcock as its new Executive Director, beginning November 11. A graduate of the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science and the Institute of Textile Technology, Woodcock has built a notable career in textiles, starting with Burlington Industries and advancing to his current role as Senior Manager of Product Quality/Safety at Hanes brands Inc.
An active AATCC member, Woodcock has led and contributed significantly to research committees. Currently, he chairs the RA88 committee on Home Laundering Technology and frequently speaks at AATCC workshops, including the recent Textile Testing Workshop for Specifiers.
Woodcock will assume the role from John Y. ‘Jack’ Daniels, who temporarily returned as Executive Vice President after Diana Wyman’s departure. Daniels, who served over 20 years in AATCC’s leadership, will be named Executive Vice President, Emeritus and will continue on select committees. AATCC expressed its gratitude to Daniels for facilitating a smooth leadership transition.
Birla Cellulose, part of the Aditya Birla Group’s Grasim Industries, has formed a strategic partnership with Circ, a US based recycling innovator, to advance recycled fibre production in textiles. Through this five-year agreement, Birla Cellulose will procure up to 5,000 tons of Circ's pulp annually from its first commercial-scale plant. The recycled pulp will be processed into lyocell staple fibre, reinforcing sustainable practices and supporting Circ’s scale-up efforts.
Circ CEO Peter Majeranowski highlighted the partnership as a significant step forward in promoting circular economies in the fashion industry. Aspi Patel, Chief Technology Officer of Grasim, noted that the collaboration would play a key role in fostering sustainable innovation. Patel emphasized that integrating Circ’s advanced recycling technology with Birla Cellulose's cellulosic fibres strengthens efforts toward building a fully circular economy.
As demand for eco-friendly materials grows, this partnership allows brands to access high-quality recycled lyocell, promoting environmental stewardship. The collaboration underscores the critical role of supply chain cooperation in scaling sustainable solutions amid increasing demand for recycled content.
Aligned on fostering a circular economy, Birla Cellulose and Circ aim to set new standards in textile sustainability, driving down environmental impact through innovative fibre reuse. The partnership is set to enhance the availability of recycled materials, meeting both consumer expectations and industry needs for sustainable solutions.
RE&UP Recycling Technologies has unveiled aninnovative solution to address the global textile waste crisis. Their proprietary technology produces high-quality, durable, and traceable Next-Gen raw materials that compete in cost and performance with both recycled and virgin fibers. This innovation aligns with the Textile Exchange Conference's theme, ‘Case for Change,’ emphasizing the need for resource efficiency and environmental accountability in the textile industry.
Andreas Dorner, General Manager of RE&UP, expressed enthusiasm for participating in this influential event, highlighting the importance of bringing their experience and innovations to a key platform for promoting sustainable practices in the textile industry. The Conference offers RE&UP a valuable opportunity to engage with industry leaders and collaborate on developing best practices for a sustainable future.
As a sponsoring partner, RE&UP aims to demonstrate how its technology can transform pre- and post-consumer textile waste into innovative, durable products. Their recycling process is feedstock agnostic, effectively handling various textile waste, including cotton, polyester, and excelling in polycotton recycling. With this approach, RE&UP is committed to addressing one of the most pressing recycling challenges in the industry, promoting a more circular economy.
At the Textile Exchange Conference 2024 in Pasadena, Eastman highlighted its commitment to sustainability by showcasing Naia Renew ES, a cellulosic fiber made with 60 per cent Global Recycle Standard (GRS)-certified recycled content. Composed of 40 per cent certified recycled waste, 20 per cent recycled cellulose, and 40 per cent sustainably sourced wood pulp, Naia Renew ES is gaining traction with eco-conscious brands like Reformation, as it supports high sustainability standards without compromising style or quality.
Eastman’s innovative carbon renewal technology underpins Naia Renew fibers, breaking down waste to molecular building blocks to create traceable, biodegradable fibers that reduce reliance on virgin materials. This process is helping Eastman set new industry standards in circularity, offering brands a ‘Runway-Ready’ solution that meets environmental goals with fashion-forward looks.
Eastman’s ‘Recycled and Runway Ready’ showcase at Booth 18 highlights collections made from recycled content, creatively displayed through AI-enhanced photography. This exhibit emphasizes Eastman's aim to bring sustainable beauty to mainstream fashion and inspire consumer choices.
In collaboration with partners like Debrand and Patagonia, Eastman is pioneering textile-to-textile recycling, demonstrating how pre- and post-consumer waste can be transformed into new garments. Furthermore, Eastman fosters sustainability in fashion education, engaging institutions like Barcelona’s Escola Superior de Disseny and the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology to prepare the next generation of eco-focused designers.
Eastman’s Carolina Sister Cohn will join leaders from Circ, Circulose, and Syre for a panel on October 31st, addressing how textile innovation can drive widespread adoption of sustainable solutions.
Pacific Jeans Ltd, a leading denim manufacturer, will showcase its latest sustainable collections at the Denim Lounge during the 17th Bangladesh Denim Expo, scheduled for November 4-7 at ICCB’s Hall-4 in Dhaka. Known for its world-class denim since 1984, Pacific Jeans has become a key supplier for major fashion brands worldwide, exporting to over 50 countries.
Committed to innovation and sustainability, the company aligns its practices with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, underscoring a responsible approach in the global apparel supply chain. Its LEED certification further reflects this dedication, establishing Pacific Jeans as a frontrunner in ethical manufacturing.
At the Denim Lounge, Pacific Jeans will showcase a collection that blends innovative design, functionality, and sustainability, highlighting Bangladesh's advancing role in denim innovation. Syed M Tanvir, Managing Director of Pacific Jeans Ltd, noted that participating in the Bangladesh Denim Expo offers a platform to display the strengths of Bangladesh’s denim industry to an international audience, with an aim to establish the country as a leading force in the global denim supply chain.
Pacific Jeans has previously showcased its design and technological achievements at Bangladesh Denim Innovation Nights and represented Bangladesh at the Best of Bangladesh event in the Netherlands in 2022. The Bangladesh Denim Expo, organized by the country’s apparel industry, is held biannually and focuses on advancements in sustainable fabric technology, furthering the nation's position as a leader in responsible fashion.
Carbios, a pioneer in bio recycling technologies, has collaborated with global brands On, Patagonia, PUMA, Salomon, and PVH Corp., the parent company of Calvin Klein, to create the world’s first polyester garment entirely made from enzymatically recycled textile waste. Unlike conventional recycled polyesterlargely derived from PET bottles—this T-shirt represents a breakthrough in ‘fiber-to-fiber’ recycling, converting discarded textiles back into high-quality polyester through Carbios bio recycling technology.
The collaboration aims to establish a closed-loop production system, where polyester fibers from discarded fabrics can be fully recycled into new garments. The demonstration piece, a white T-shirt, was chosen intentionally to emphasize the recycled material's purity, made from complex textile waste mixes that include various dyes, cotton, and elastane, which are challenging to recycle through traditional methods. Carbios technology deconstructs polyester using enzymes into fundamental components (PTA and MEG) which are then repolymerized and spun into yarn.
This innovation in Carbios Clermont-Ferrand pilot facility showcases how textile waste can replace petroleum-based raw materials to produce virgin-quality polyester, significantly lowering the environmental impact by reducing landfill reliance and carbon emissions.
Production began with consortium brands contributing textile scraps, which Carbios processed and converted into monomers, showcasing the technology’s seamless integration with standard textile manufacturing. This garment reflects a critical step toward sustainable practices in the apparel industry, especially as only 1 per cent of current fiber waste is recycled back into fibers.
Carbios commitment to scaling biorecycling includes a new industrial facility under construction in Longlaville, France, and agreements with PET producers in Asia and Europe. Consortium members, including PUMA and Salomon, emphasized the importance of advancing circular solutions for polyester, targeting a more sustainable industry.
As stated by Carbios CEO Emmanuel Ladent, the technological advancement reflects the collective efforts to surmount recycling challenges and push the textile industry toward a circular future, one biorecycled garment at a time.
Stockholm-based and Unilever-owned company, Blueair has teamed up with New Zealand’s Lanaco to revolutinise indoor air quality by developing advanced air filters using electrostatic wool and plant fibers.
Aligning with Blueair’s growth strategy, this collaboration follows the recent launch of its ‘Air Designed for a Better Life’ campaign highlighting the health benefits of clean indoor air for sleep, mood, and overall well-being.
Lanaco’s EcoStatic filter technology leverages the natural properties of wool combined with innovative, data-driven technology to create highly efficient filters with minimal airflow resistance. Crafted entirely from wool, the EcoStatic media uses positively and negatively charged fibers to capture particles while maintaining optimal airflow due to its porous structure. Wool’s natural fire-resistance and water-repellent qualities also prevent clogging from moisture, setting it apart from conventional synthetic filters.
Marking the first use of natural wool fiber in air filtration, Andy Lu, CEO, Blueair terms this partnership with Lanaco as a pioneering move for the industry. The wool filter technology sets a new performance standard,he states noting the rigorous testing process behind the filter, including trials in space exploration. Nick Davenport, CEO, Lanaco, adds, the company’s partnership with Blueair underscores its shared commitment to enhance air quality and make a meaningful impact on indoor environments.
