#Recycling / Circular Economy

2021-10-21

Birla Cellulose targets to scale Liva Reviva fibres to 100,000 tons by 2024

Birla Cellulose, umbrella brand of Grasim Industries Limited, a flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, recognizes the pivotal role that it can play in sustainable forest management and in promoting circular economy using a collaborative approach. Birla Cellulose plans to aggressively scale up the production of circular fibre Liva Reviva to a level of 100,000 tons per year by 2024. One of our key strategic partners in this journey is environmental not-for-profit Canopy and their CanopyStyle initiative, now supported by over 450 brands and retailers.

Circular business scale up amongst the most ambitious partnership initiatives in the MMCF industry

Liva Reviva, a circular viscose fibre made using pre-consumer cotton waste and closed loop technologies comes with outstanding sustainability credentials such as significantly lower greenhouse gas and water footprint compared to generic viscose. It contains a unique molecular tracer backed by blockchain based traceability and is Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) certified. Under this initiative, the recycled content in Liva Reviva will be increased up to 30% in 2022 from 20% currently and post-consumer material will be gradually increased in the feedstock as we increase the volumes.

It is estimated that more than 90 million tons waste is generated from fashion industry every year and less than 1% is recycled, remaining going to landfill / incineration or leaking into the environment. Key barriers to the circular business model include limitations in recycling technologies, lack of infrastructure for waste collection and segregation, garments not being designed for recycling and lack of investments in each of these areas.

Birla Cellulose has invested significantly in development of the recycling technology and infrastructure and would continue to further invest in development of pre- and post-consumer textile waste recycling technologies, building the capacities for next generation fibres and developing reliable reverse logistics for collection and segregation.

“Today, the world is looking for innovative solutions for mounting problem of fashion industry waste. Birla Cellulose is proud to be pivoting the collaborative effort for scaling up the circular business model, this will not only upscale the waste but also help reduce pressure on forests for virgin wood-based pulp and help fight climate change.” said H K Agrawal, Designate Business Director, Birla Cellulose. “This initiative is aligned to our vision to be a global leader in sustainable business practices in the Man-Made Cellulosic Fibre industry”.

“Canopy applauds Birla’s industry-leading target of 100,000 tonnes of Next Generation production by 2024. Spurring circular innovation is critical to reducing waste and acting on the growing climate crisis,” said Nicole Rycroft, Founder and Executive Director of Canopy. “Our planet needs companies to move faster than they may feel comfortable. By 2030, we need all viscose producers to be sourcing at least

50% of their supply chain from circular, non-forest inputs to meet the ecological challenges of our times. Accomplishing 100,000 tonnes by 2024 is an important step in that journey.”

Birla Cellulose strongly believes that collaboration can unlock greater value for all the stakeholders where every partner plays an important role. Birla Cellulose envisions an active partnership between global brands and retail partners, value chain partners and orchestrators like Canopy and Fashion For Good in this aggressive plan to scale up the circular business model. Birla Cellulose will also create awareness about environmental benefits of next generation fibres by working closely with all stakeholders with an aim to accelerate the circular business model.

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

Reju opens its first R&D Center in the U.S. in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Reju, the company specializing in textile regeneration, today announced the opening of a Research and Development (R&D) Center in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, the company's first proprietary research center in North America. Located within Technip Energies' existing Advanced Materials and Catalysts research center, the lab will allow Reju to accelerate the rollout of its recycling technologies and develop its next-generation circular solutions.

New skills for a circular textile economy

Based on the results of a comprehensive analysis, the Erasmus+ project Skills4Circularity is developing three practical training modules covering recycling technologies, eco-design for the circular economy and sustainable manufacturing. The content of the first module, Recycling Technologies, has now been developed and validated together with industry representatives. The module provides participants with knowledge of regulatory requirements, material sorting and the preparation of textile waste for recycling.

Itema reaffirms its commitment to the Syrian textile industry at NasTex 2026

From July 18th to 21st, Itema will exhibit at NasTex at the Damascus Fairground (Hall 11 – Stand C02), marking its return to one of the Middle East’s historically significant textile markets. Itema will showcase advanced weaving technology designed to support the competitiveness and technological evolution of Syrian manufacturers and announces a new partnership with Growfast Agency as the sole agent of Itema in Syria.

KARL MAYER's HKS 2-SE Expands Possibilities for Premium Stretch WARP KNITS

Warp knitted fabrics with a woven look are more in demand than ever in the fashion and apparel industries. Stretch WARP KNITS, in particular, impress with their freedom of movement, breathability, and virtually wrinkle-free wear – thereby opening up new style worlds such as smart casual or business casual. When it comes to the highly efficient production of premium-quality stretch WARP KNITS, the HKS 2-SE has long been the machine of choice. KARL MAYER’s best-selling tricot machine produces standard elastic fabrics characterized by high gauges, smooth, delicate surfaces, and a soft hand feel.