#Sustainability

2020-09-17

Inditex donates 750,000 garments to refugees through UNHCR

Inditex is set to donate 750,000 garments from its various brands to the Spanish Committee of the Agency of the United Nations High Commision for Refugees (UNHCR) for distribution at seven refugee camps in Rwanda. These camps are sheltering around 149,000 displaced individuals, mainly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi.

The retail value of the items is €13.5 million

Thanks to this initiative, which the company is executing with a number of suppliers, 139,571 items were already dispatched in August; another 111,048 will be sent at the end of September and the remainder will be shipped by 31 January 2021, with Inditex assuming the cost of transporting the goods to Africa in full. The retail value of the items donated is €13.5 million.

Rwanda is one of the main recipients of the people displaced by the waves of instability experienced in recent years in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and also from Burundi. The former has displaced an estimated 5 million people between 2017 and 2019. The tension in Burundi has prompted hundreds and thousands of its people to flee to neighbouring countries. UNHCR is providing those people with assistance in Rwanda’s refugee camps.

The most urgent needs are for shelter, drinking and sanitation water, medical attention, clothing and food. Inditex’s Executive Chairman, Pablo Isla, alluded to the company’s long-standing commitment to refugee aid, a cornerstone of the Group’s community investment model: “Over the last 20 years, we have been collaborating consistently with leading third-sector organisations on their programmes for refugees in many parts of Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe. All of us here at Inditex are tremendously motivated to continue this targeted effort going forward”.

“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.

Updated supply chain taxonomy advances apparel alignment

The apparel alliance (Apparel Impact Institute, Cascale, Textile Exchange, and ZDHC Foundation) today announced the launch of Version 2 of the Supply Chain Taxonomy, an updated harmonized framework designed to improve consistency, transparency, and collaboration across the textile, clothing, leather, and footwear (TCLF) sectors of the broader apparel industry.

Heimtextil expands Bed, Bath & Living with new ‘Comfort & Connect’ area

Heimtextil is expanding its product range for Bed, Bath & Living in a targeted manner: ‘Comfort & Connect‘ is creating a new meeting place in the foyer of Hall 5.1 for high-quality bed, bath and lifestyle collections. Following on from ‘Sleep & Meet‘, this is now the second area where Heimtextil is further refining its offering for exhibitors and buyers. The new area brings together established brands, high-profile returning exhibitors and international buyers in a central location with easy access.

Business situation weakens slightly, but the industry stays cautiously optimistic

The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) has published the results of its 39th Global Textile Industry Survey (GTIS), conducted from 14 to 22 July 2026 among companies along the entire global textile value chain. Worldwide, 10% of participants rated their business situation as good, 53% as satisfactory and 37% as bad — a balance of -26pp, down from -17pp in May but still well above the 2023 lows. All regions are now in negative territory, from South Asia at -3pp to North & Central America at -58pp.

Ministry of Industry Delegation visits NatureWorks’ second global manufacturing site at Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex

NatureWorks Asia Pacific Limited welcomed a high-level delegation led by Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Industry, to its manufacturing site at the Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex (NBC). The visit follows the successful inauguration of the site on April 29, 2026, and highlights the role of public-private collaboration in advancing Thailand’s sustainable industrial development and bioeconomy ambitions.

Indorama Ventures advances circularity tthrough PETValue Philippines' “Zero Waste to Landfill Partnership” with Republic Cement

Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, a global sustainable chemical company, is advancing the circular economy through a new Zero Waste to Landfill initiative at its recycling site PETValue Philippines, further demonstrating how collaboration across industries can maximize resource efficiency and reduce waste.