#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.

HKRITA signs MoU with Jeanologia and Looptworks to establish the Green Machine Circular Textile Ecosystem

The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) yesterday officially signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two key global partners, Jeanologia and Looptworks, to establish the Green Machine Circular Textile Ecosystem – a first-of-its-kind collaboration to accelerate the large-scale recycling of blended textiles.

Textile Exchange unveils agenda for 2026 conference in Vancouver

Textile Exchange has released the agenda for its 2026 Conference, which will take place from October 12–16 in Vancouver, Canada. Under the theme “The Implementation Era,” the event will focus on translating sustainability commitments into practical action and scaling solutions across businesses, supply systems, and landscapes.

Textile PRO Forum calls for greater harmonisation of textile EPR systems across Europe

The Textile PRO Forum has published a new analysis highlighting the need for greater harmonisation of textile Extended Producer Responsibility systems across Europe. The document, Toward harmonised Textile EPR Systems in Europe: analysis and recommendations, presents the results of work carried out by Workstream 1 of the Textile PRO Forum, led by Dr. Eng. Viola Corbellini, Strategic Development and Innovation Expert at Erion Textiles, and Eng. Luca Campadello, General Director at Erion Textiles. The workstream focused on reducing administrative burden for textile producers by identifying areas where procedures could be better aligned across countries.

Results of the 38th ITMF Global Textile Industry Survey

The global textile industry appears to be turning a corner, but this is more likely a fragile and possibly temporary improvement than the start of a durable recovery. According to the 38th ITMF Global Textile Industry Survey, conducted worldwide during the second half of May 2026, business sentiment, order intake, order backlogs and capacity utilization all improved versus March — yet every indicator remains weak by historical standards, and rising costs cast doubt on how long the upturn can last.

Yarn Expo Shenzhen 2026 closes doors, advancing sustainable and innovative sourcing in South China

Yarn Expo Shenzhen 2026 served as a strategically positioned mid-year sourcing platform for the Greater Bay Area, highlighting Shenzhen’s role in connecting regional demand, supply and innovation exchange across the textile value chain. During the three-day fair, over 20,000 visits were drawn from 74 countries and regions[1], as exhibitors and buyers engaged with new developments in greener, performance-led, and value-added yarn and fibre solutions. Held in conjunction with Intertextile Shenzhen Apparel Fabrics and PH Value, the fair underscored the benefits of closer synergy and new materials across yarn, fabric and apparel platforms for the South China market.

2026 general meeting of the Friends and Supporters of RWTH Aachen at ITA

The Friends and Supporters of RWTH Aachen e. V. (proRWTH) looked back on a successful year of support at their 2026 general meeting. The meeting took place at Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen and was combined with a joint session of the Executive Board and the Administrative Board. Before the general meeting began, participants were given a guided tour of ITA, providing them with fascinating insights into current research and development topics in textile engineering.

Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brings supply chain leaders together around cotton innovation

Cotton Incorporated’s Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brought together more than 300 industry leaders from 140 companies across 10 countries, including more than 45 top global brands and sourcing organizations, underscoring strong global interest in cotton-rich product development, sourcing and supply chain collaboration.