#Recycling / Circular Economy

2022-11-17

Updated Cradle to Cradle Certified® Version 3.1 to Version 4.0 transition policy

This transition policy applies to both Cradle to Cradle Certified® certifications and C2C Certified Material Health Certificates™.

Products currently certified to Version 3.1:

Companies may apply for certification to Version 4.0 for products certified to Version 3.1 as of 1 July 2021 (the Version 4.0 Effective Date). All Version 4.0 certifications will be valid for three years.

In addition to any previous recertifications, products may be recertified to Version 3.1 one additional time until 31 December 2024. Assessment summary forms for these Version 3.1 recertifications will be accepted until 31 December 2024. Products must then be recertified to Version 4.0 when the Version 3.1 certification expires.

All Version 3.1 certifications will be valid for two years. Certifications previously issued in 2022 for less than two years will be extended to allow for a two-year certification period.

It will not be permitted to recertify products ineligible for Version 4.0 certification to Version 3.1 unless it is possible to demonstrate a commitment to meet the Version 4.0 requirements within a specified timeframe.

The current list of products ineligible for Version 4.0 certification can be found in Section 2 of the Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard Version 4.0 User Guidance.

https://www.c2ccertified.org/resources/detail/version-4_0-user-guidance

New product certifications for Version 3.1 certification holders:

Companies may apply for product certification to Version 4.0 beginning 1 July 2021 (the Version 4.0 Effective Date). All Version 4.0 certifications will be valid for three years.

Applications and assessment summary forms for new product certifications to Version 3.1 will be accepted from existing Version 3.1 certification holders until 31 December 2023. All Version 3.1 certifications will be valid for two years. Applications and assessment summary forms received after 31 December 2023 will be required to certify to Version 4.0.

Exception: Products may be added to an existing Version 3.1 certification (in accordance with the product grouping policy) after the new product application deadline (31 December 2023) and through 31 December 2024.

It will not be permitted to certify products ineligible for Version 4.0 certification to Version 3.1 unless it is possible to demonstrate a commitment to meet the Version 4.0 requirements within a certain timeframe.

New product certifications for new certification holders:

Companies applying for product certification for the first time are required to certify to Version 4.0. All Version 4.0 certifications will be valid for three years. Applications and assessment summary forms for new product certifications to Version 3.1 will not be accepted from new certification holders.

For more information about Cradle to Cradle Certified® Version 4.0, click here:

https://www.c2ccertified.org/get-certified/cradle-to-cradle-certified-version-4

“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.

Countdown to Textiles Recycling Expo 2026: Brussels prepares for Europe’s textile recycling gathering

With only two weeks remaining until the start of the second edition of the Textiles Recycling Expo 2026, preparations are entering the final phase. The exhibition and conference, dedicated exclusively to textile recycling and circularity, will take place on 24–25 June 2026 at Brussels Expo and is expected to attract stakeholders from across the textile recycling value chain.

Indorama Ventures enables brands to scale circular textiles through proven, traceable supply chains

Indorama Ventures, a global leader in recycled polyester staple fibers and filament yarns, will exhibit at Textiles Recycling Expo in Brussels on June 24–25. At the event, the company will show how brands and textile manufacturers can build traceable, circular textile supply chains by working with proven partners who deliver recycled materials on an industrial scale.

RECOVER™ launches Recover™ Yarns to accelerate recycled cotton uptake

Recover™, a leading materials science company and one of the world’s largest producers of recycled cotton fiber, today announces the launch of Recover™ Yarns, a curated portfolio of ready-to-use yarn solutions designed to accelerate the adoption of recycled cotton across the apparel supply chain.

Uster’s new Recycling Opening Index guides spinners to the perfect blend

Uster AFIS 6 now offers the key data for better decisions when blending recycled fibers. Process control is decisive in determining the quality and economic outcome. The new R Recycling Module of AFIS 6 introduces the Recycling Opening Index (ROI), so spinners can optimize their circularity credentials. It was officially launched at ITM 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye.

DYNEEMA® and NP Aerospace advance personal protection for military servicewomen

Dyneema®, owned by Avient Corporation, an innovator of materials solutions, is supplying its high-performance unidirectional (UD) materials to world-leading armor manufacturer NP Aerospace, enabling the production of armor systems designed specifically to fit the female body. With 2,000 new armor systems, including 4,000 plates, made in the United Kingdom (UK) and delivered in June 2026, this collaboration addresses a long-standing lack of high-quality personal protection specially built for female defense and security personnel.

Textile Exchange publishes comprehensive polyester LCA study

Textile Exchange has released a new Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study on polyester, providing detailed data on the environmental impacts of both virgin and recycled polyester production. The study aims to strengthen understanding across the fashion, textile and apparel industries and support more informed decision-making regarding polyester sourcing and production.