#Recycling / Circular Economy

2023-03-30

Textile ETP in Paris to discuss textile circular economy and Industry 5.0

On 29 March, Textile ETP Secretary General Lutz Walter spent the day in Paris, France, to discuss the future of textiles with various industry stakeholders.

In the morning, Lutz Walter attended Refashion's Matinée Scientifique to hear about the latest developments in textile recycling technologies, and discuss with industry, researchers & technology developers on how to advance the textile circular economy. This second edition of the Matinée Scientifique was an opportunity to present to the textile actors all members of the Recycle platform of Refashion, and the results of the work of updating two major studies, the first on the characterisation study of incoming and outgoing flows of sorting centers, and the second on the updated state of the art on technologies for optical sorting, recognition and smoothing of textile materials, on a European scale.

In the afternoon, as part of Made in France Première Vision, Lutz participated in a talk about the French Industry 5.0 and how to implement effective collaborative processes to approach the factory of the future. The debate was moderated by Danièle CLUTIER, from the Institut Français de la Mode et Secrétaire Générale, and featured French textile experts and industry leaders Pascal Denizart (CETI), Hervé Francois (Mitwill Textiles Europe) and Martin Breuvart (Lemahieu). The discussion focused on how companies can collaborate with their suppliers and customers, and the kind of bridges that can be built with the world of training and research. The speakers explored collaborative experiments that have been conducted in France and Europe, with a particular focus on Germany, identifying successful practices that SMEs in the sector can adopt.

“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.

EU ban on destroying unsold clothing and footwear now in force

The European Union's ban on the destruction of unsold clothing, clothing accessories and footwear has entered into force. Since July 19, 2026, large companies across the EU have been prohibited from destroying unsold textile products, while medium-sized companies will be required to comply with the same rules from 2030.

Rieter and partners launch Recycling Powerhouse for industrial-scale textile recycling

Recycling Powerhouse Ltd. was established in July 2026 to industrialize, standardize and scale textile recycling. Based in Switzerland, the venture will operate a franchise-driven business model that enables the production of high-quality, certified recycled yarns. The project is supported by the following partners: Rieter Group, the world’s leading system supplier for natural and man-made fibers, Säntis Textiles, a Swiss textile engineering company, and Valvan, a Belgian sorting technology company. The first blueprint franchise operation is scheduled to launch early 2027 in partnership with Suhail Industrial Holding Group in Qatar.

Eastman Naia™ brings its inside-out denim vision to Kingpins New York

Following its debut at Kingpins Amsterdam, Eastman Naia™ brings the next chapter of its denim story to Kingpins New York, taking place July 22–23. At Booth Green 7, Naia™ presents its denim proposition built around three complementary design directions: Performance Denim, Fashion Denim and Authentic Denim.

Contactless measurement of coating for Technical Textiles with PLEVA AF 310 and AF 120

Textiles used for protection and defense must perform reliably – whether they are protective garments, tents, tarpaulins, covers, or technical carrier materials. Properties such as flame resistance, water repellency, weather resistance, or defined air permeability are often only achieved through precise coating, finishing, or printing processes.