#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.

Carbios and Wankai postpone startup of China’s first PET biorecycling plant to 2028

The industrial deployment of enzymatic PET recycling in Asia is progressing, but at a slower pace than initially planned. French recycling technology company Carbios and its Chinese partner Wankai New Materials have announced that the commissioning of their planned PET biorecycling facility in Haining, Zhejiang Province, has been postponed and is now expected in the first half of 2028.

Closing the Footwear Loop reveals challenges and opportunities for circular footwear

The footwear industry faces one of the most complex circularity challenges in the fashion sector. A new Phase 1 report from the Fashion for Good initiative Closing the Footwear Loop, developed together with Circle Economy, provides new insights into the composition, condition and recycling potential of post-consumer footwear waste.

TM WEFT, 270" – More width, more design freedom for the fashion world

KARL MAYER is expanding its successful TM WEFT series with an innovative model that opens up new possibilities, particularly in the fashion & apparel sectors. With a working width of 270", this new machine with weft-insertion not only offers significantly higher output than its narrower counterparts but is also specifically tailored to the demands of dynamic clothing market – particularly in China and Türkiye. A well-thought-out upgrade also ensures even greater design versatility.

YKK invests USD 150 million in new manufacturing facility in India

YKK Corporation has announced plans to construct a new manufacturing facility in India, reinforcing its long-term commitment to one of the world's fastest-growing textile and apparel production hubs. The new factory will be built at Origins by Mahindra in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and will become the third manufacturing site of YKK India Private Limited. The facility is expected to be completed by February 2028 and represents an investment of approximately USD 150 million, covering land, buildings, machinery and equipment.