#Recycling / Circular Economy

2022-12-08

A new 100% recycled fabric developed through the circular textile supply chain

TEXAID, a leading company in the collecting, sorting, reselling and recycling of post-consumer textile waste, included Marchi & Fildi in an international team with several companies active at different stages of the circular textile production chain with the goal to develop a fabric representing a model of development that could be repeatable also for different projects.

Marchi & Fildi, through its know-how about the recycling of fibers and several experiences with the ECOTEC® process in this field, has participated in several projects led by TEXAID, to provide important added value to the development of a specific supply chain dedicated to textile recycling. For decades, Texaid has been leading with textile waste. In particular, they are protagonist of the current discussion, focused on the importance of moving from the traditional management of post-consumer textile waste.

This specific project for the development of a “textile-to-textile” model has been based on post- consumer white cotton, collected and sorted by Texaid in Germany and Switzerland. Marchi & Fildi evaluated the possibility of developing a 100% recycled yarn for weaving, with 50% of post consumer recycled cotton by TEXAID blended with 50% with REPREVE® Our Ocean™, a premium collection of recycled performance fiber sourced from plastic bottles at high risk of entering the ocean. REPREVE® Our Ocean™ is manufactured by UNIFI, an industry innovator and global textile solutions provider.

This special blend has been developed and produced with the ECOTEC® technology, in the Biella facility of the Group, in line with the main mission of the ECOTEC® brand: giving a second life to material that otherwhise would be treated as waste. The yarn has been woven into a fabric by Tessitura Casoni.T.F.C., which is also located in the Biella area.

The result of this international supply chain represents the possibility to create high added value through the collaboration of strong and specialized partnership networks, together with the increased focus of European companies on the topic of circular economy, both for research and development and for production.

“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.