#Sustainability

2023-02-16

SABIC joins global together for sustainability initiative

SABIC, a global leader in the chemicals industry, has joined Together for Sustainability (TfS), a procurement-driven initiative created by chemical companies with the goal of assessing, auditing, improving sustainability practices within their supply chains. Building on SABIC’s global network and commitment to driving sustainable solutions through collaboration, the move will enable SABIC to help raise sustainability standards in procurement in partnership with a network of 40+ other chemical companies.

Khaled Saleh Al-Kharboush, Vice President of Global Procurement at SABIC, said, “Embedding sustainability into the company’s procurement processes, policies and culture as a foundational pillar is a key part of SABIC’s sustainable procurement strategy. Joining TfS will enable us to reach our goals faster, to allocate our resources to value-adding activities, and to proactively contribute to enhanced ESG performance in close collaboration with our industry peers.”

By joining TfS, SABIC will also gain access to established methodologies and infrastructure that will help accelerate the implementation of its sustainable procurement strategy and environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals. Collaboration is vital to increasing the industry’s transparency on upstream value chains to support further reductions in scope 3 greenhouse emissions. Members of TfS jointly operate global supplier assessments and audit programs through independent experts, eliminating the need for each member to conduct their own assessment programs and greatly reducing the burden on suppliers to participate in numerous different programs.

Bertrand Conquéret, President of TfS, said, “The arrival of SABIC strengthens TfS’s global leadership and opens up a new region, namely the Middle East. Together and with our strategic partners we will continue to increase our impact on the sustainability performance in chemical supply chains around the world.”

The move signals yet another way SABIC seeks to deliver sustainable solutions by collaborating and exchanging ideas with experienced industry peers. In addition to TfS, SABIC co-chairs the LCET Initiative, an effort developed with the World Economic Forum (WEF) focused on upscaling low-carbon emitting technologies in chemical production to put the industry on track to reach net zero emissions by 2050. The company is also a founding member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, a global community of companies dedicated to building a circular economy for plastic.

A new standard to combat plastic waste in forests

With DIN SPEC 35808 “Tree Shelter for Forestry Applications,” the testing and research service provider Hohenstein, in collaboration with Rottenburg University of Forestry, as well as forestry authorities and industry partners, has established a clear framework for bio-based and fully biodegradable tree shelters. The pre-standard defines requirements and practical testing methods designed to reduce plastic waste in forests and strengthen the long-term protection of soil and the environment.

Denim moves towards sustainability

EIM (Environmental Impact Measurement), the global reference platform for measuring the environmental impact of garment finishing, presents the second edition of its annual report Denim Industry Progress & Insights 2025. The study analyses over 100,000 real denim finishing processes, providing an accurate and up-to-date view of the industry’s evolution towards more sustainable models.

Europe’s textile future at a turning point: New 2030 Circularity Blueprint aims to scale recycling and unlock investment opportunities

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STFI highlights textile circular economy and alternative fibres at INDEX™ 2026

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FET’s revolutionary gel spinning system wins Techtextil Innovation Award

FET has received the prestigious Techtextil Innovation Award 2026 in the New Production Technology category. The Techtextil Innovation Award honours outstanding ideas in textile technology, sustainability, AI and the creation of technical textiles, selected by an international jury of experts. Ranging from new materials to new production technologies, this award recognises progressive ideas that are driving forces for numerous industries, such as automotive, medical and construction.