#Sustainability

2022-09-22

Recover™ receives the ITMF Award for its sustainable and innovative achievements

Recover™ receives the ITMF Sustainability & Innovation Award 2022 (Photo: Recover™)

Recover™, the frontrunner in low-impact, high-quality recycled cotton fiber and cotton fiber blends, has been presented with the ITMF Sustainability & Innovation Award 2022 at the ITMF Annual Conference 2022 in Davos, surrounded by industry experts and key supply chain partners.

The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) is an international forum for the world's textile industries, dedicated to the evolution of the industry's value chain. ITMF recognized Recover™ for its sustainable and innovative achievements in the textile industry with a focus on innovation, design, development, and production under the strictest standards of sustainability and respect for the environment.

Recover’s scalable recycled fiber solution grounded in materials science, and its strong collaborations between textile collectors/sorters, the supply chain, and brands/retailers, are helping to create greater circularity within the industry. The company is also leading the way in its innovation in textile-to-textile recycling, actively participating in multiple industry initiatives and working closely with its partners to develop and implement a scaled model for post-consumer waste recycling.

Helene Smits, Chief Sustainability Officer at Recover™, commented “We are proud to be honored with this award by the longstanding International Textile Manufacturers Federation, that provides the global textile industry with such an important platform to discuss and celebrate sustainable innovation.”

The company also recently received investment from Goldman Sachs, allowing it to accelerate its global expansion and production capacity for a more rapid adoption of sustainability initiatives by leading brands and retailers.

Texprocess 2026: Automation, digitalisation and AI redefine textile processing

Making investment decisions in textile processing has become significantly more demanding. Increasing energy costs, a shortage of skilled labour and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties are compelling companies to focus on technologies that deliver clear gains in efficiency and process reliability. This applies equally to apparel manufacturing and to the processing of technical textiles and high-performance materials. As a result, modernisation initiatives are assessed more carefully – even as the need to upgrade production systems continues to intensify.

Techtextil 2026: Between innovation pressure & market reality

From 21 to 24 April 2026, Techtextil in Frankfurt am Main will once again become the central meeting point for the international technical textiles and nonwovens industry. Running in parallel, Texprocess will focus on the industrial implementation of textile processing technologies as the leading platform in this field. Together, the two trade fairs form a closely integrated presentation and working platform along the entire textile value chain – from material development to finished applications.

Between geopolitical pressure and industrial resilience

In this interview, Dr. Janpeter Horn (VDMA) discusses the current challenges facing textile machinery manufacturers, shaped by geopolitical tensions, regulatory developments and subdued investment. He also outlines why innovation strength, integrated solutions and strategic positioning remain key to global competitiveness.

Hohenstein publishes 2025 Sustainability Report

The testing and research service provider Hohenstein has published its latest sustainability report, outlining key progress and strategic initiatives. The report focuses on ambitious CO₂ reduction targets, the company’s new mission statement and the systematic expansion of sustainable services for customers worldwide.

Global Standard gGmbH launches second public consultation for GRTS Draft 2 for the textile industry (1–30 April 2026)

Global Standard gGmbH is pleased to announce the release of Draft 2 of the Global Responsible Textile Standard (GRTS) for its second public consultation. The consultation will be open from 1 April 2026 to 30 April 2026, inviting stakeholders across the textile and apparel value chain to provide input and contribute to the further development of this new Standard.

BTMA backs global growth while investing in future UK leaders

As one of a number of new initiatives launched this year, the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) is launching the UK-India Textile Machinery Coalition. The UK-India Free Trade Agreement, signed in July 2025, has implications that extend across sourcing, competitiveness and long-term trade dynamics, believes BTMA CEO Jason Kent.

China projected to increase cotton production, yields, and imports in 2026/27

World cotton production in the 2026/27 season is projected at 25.9 million tonnes, exceeding global consumption of 25.2 million tonnes, according to the May 2026 issue of Cotton This Month. That means both production and consumption are expected to remain close to current season levels, while global cotton trade is projected to decline by 2.7% to approximately 9.6-9.7 million tonnes.

ECCO introduces first shoe featuring innovative protein-based fibre

ECCO, in partnership with Spinnova, announces the launch of the limited edition ECCO BIOM® 720, a first-of-its-kind shoe utilising an often overlooked leather by-product, transformed into a protein-based fibre. The fibres are produced using patented technology that advances material innovation while reducing waste and supporting full resource use across the leather and textile industry.