#Sustainability

2025-04-16

Sustainability at Messe Frankfurt’s textile trade fairs: five core issues for the textile and fashion industry

With the new ‘Texpertise Econogy Insights’, Messe Frankfurt’s textile trade fairs are shining a spotlight on five core issues facing the textile and clothing industry as it undergoes a transformation targeted at greater sustainability. These key themes are based on the results of the sustainability check offered to exhibiting companies as part of the Texpertise Econogy textile sustainability programme and conversations with international textile experts.

Textile waste equivalent in volume to 370,000 fully-loaded Airbus aircraft, a recycling rate of one per cent and 99.7 per cent of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises: the textile and clothing industry is not just a world of superlative figures, but also an industry with one of the most complex supply chains in the world. Where the industry stands in terms of sustainability and what drivers and obstacles are playing a role in its transformation is the focus of the report ‘Texpertise Econogy Insights - five central developments for a more sustainable textile industry’, published today by Texpertise, a network of more than 60 Messe Frankfurt textile events in 13 countries.

For more sustainability in the textile and clothing industry: national and international regulatory requirements are intended to bring more transparency to the industry's complex supply chains / Photo: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH

‘Transformation requires cooperation. The international textile events by Messe Frankfurt serve as key hubs for change in this process. With the international sustainability programme Texpertise Econogy, we are making developments for a more sustainable industry tangible, connecting green pioneers with companies and creating hotspots for knowledge and networking,’ says Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles and Textile Technologies at Messe Frankfurt.

Together with renowned experts from textile research, business and associations, Messe Frankfurt analyses five key themes for the sustainable transformation of the international textile and clothing industry: the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as an international benchmark for responsible corporate behaviour, transparency and traceability in global supply chains as well as the advantages and disadvantages of natural fibres, synthetic fibres and regenerated fibres in terms of their environmental compatibility and functionality. It also evaluates environmentally friendly process standards and innovative approaches to textile recycling. Among those interviewed for the report were representatives from Aalto University; Euratex; Fashion for Good; Hohenstein Group; IKEA; Industrial Association for Finishing, Yarns, Woven Fabrics and Technical Textiles (IVGT); Oberbadische Bettfedernfabrik (OBB); Saxon Textile Research Institute (STFI); United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network; VDMA Textile Care, Fabrics and Leather Technologies; German Association of Home Textiles Manufacturers and the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy.

These themes are derived from the results of the Texpertise Econogy Checks, the sustainability check that exhibiting companies can now undergo at 24 of the more than 60 Messe Frankfurt textile events across the world. The check evaluates companies against a set of international sustainability standards in the areas of Sustainable Supply Chain, Materials and Processes as well as Strategy and Innovation. During the period from January 2024 to January 2025, a total of 820 companies at 17 events in Germany, France, the USA and China completed the Econogy Check.

An ongoing commitment to greater sustainability

Since 2008, Messe Frankfurt has played an active role in promoting sustainability within the global textile and fashion industry. At its international textile fairs, it developed curation tools for textile sustainability early on, as well as creating special areas for sustainable textile innovations and integrating sustainability themes into its fringe programmes. At the end of 2023, Messe Frankfurt grouped all the sustainability-related activities at its international textile events under one communications umbrella: Texpertise Econogy. The aim of this is to ensure greater visibility for sustainable textile innovations, offer better orientation in a world of increasingly complex sustainability developments and promote knowledge transfer and cooperation within the international textile industry insofar as sustainable transformation is concerned. Since it was launched, Texpertise Econogy has been rolled out to 24 of the approximately 60 Texpertise events across the world.

Messe Frankfurt Texpertise

With a portfolio of more than 60 international textile trade fairs in 13 countries, Messe Frankfurt is the global market leader for textile trade fairs. The trade fair portfolio spans the entire textile industry value chain: Texpertise brings together these events, current issues and a global network of more than 500,000 industry representatives from all over the world. As a central communication platform, Texpertiseprovides information on the world-renowned trade fair brands and the first-class services offered by Messe Frankfurt.

‘Texpertise Econogy Insights’ is available as an accessible e-paper and in printed format.

Download the e-paper version here:

https://texpertisenetwork.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en/news-stories/stories/sustainability-the-major-transformation.html#download

Messe Frankfurt and Supima introduce Prefab – a new curated fabric sourcing event in New York City

Messe Frankfurt is expanding its international textile network with the launch of Prefab, a new boutique-style sourcing event dedicated exclusively to high-quality fabrics. Taking place 19-20 January 2027 at the Altman Building in New York City, the event will bring selected Supima member fabric mills together with senior designers, fabric directors, product developers and sourcing decision-makers from premium and luxury brands. With a carefully curated exhibitor line-up and a targeted visitor approach, Prefab is designed to create a focused business setting in which material quality, expertise and meaningful exchange take priority over scale.

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.

Global carpet industry smartly connected: Heimtextil 2027 sharpens Carpets & Rugs with new structure and premium segment

Even more efficient, more targeted and closer to the market: Heimtextil 2027 strengthens its position as the leading meeting place for the global carpet industry and further expands Carpets & Rugs in line with market needs. With a stronger focus on distribution channels, the segment integrates into Heimtextil’s product worlds.

Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris highlights evolving global sourcing landscape

From 31 August to 2 September 2026, Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris will bring together more than 1,000 international exhibitors at Paris-Le Bourget Exhibition Centre. This edition reflects the new global balance of textile and apparel sourcing, highlighting a strong diversity of sourcing countries — some unexpected.

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.

SHIMA SEIKI brings new flat knitting technologies to FEBRATEX 2026

Leading flat knitting solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its Brazilian representative BRASTEMA TECNOLOGIA TEXTIL LTDA., will exhibit at the Brazilian Textile Industry Fair (FEBRATEX 2026) this month. On display will be a roundup of SHIMA SEIKI computerized flat knitting technology, represented by WHOLEGARMENT® knitting machines, computerized flat knitting machines featuring a brand-new model with high productivity and excellent cost performance, a glove knitting machine and the latest digital solutions.

Lenzing reports improved half-year results and advances strategic transformation

Despite a persistently challenging market environment in the first half of 2026, characterized by volatile energy and raw material prices, subdued global consumer demand and intensified competition from Asia, the Lenzing Group significantly improved its financial performance. Net result after tax more than doubled to EUR 35.6 million, compared with EUR 15.2 million in the first half of 2025. Free cash flow increased to EUR 45.8 million, while EBITDA amounted to EUR 239.2 million. Revenue totaled EUR 1.27 billion, compared with EUR 1.34 billion in the previous year.

Trützschler’s latest spinning and card clothing innovations at CAITME 2026

From September 8 to 10, 2026, Trützschler will present its latest innovations in spinning and card clothing for state-of-the-art fiber processing at CAITME in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Visitors are invited to meet the experts at Pavilion 2, Booth D50 and explore solutions designed to increase productivity, streamline processes, and ensure consistently high yarn quality. Key topics include the next-generation card TC 30i, the integrated draw frame IDF 3, the high-performance comber TCO 21XL as well as Trützschler Card Clothing’s new flat top series STEELTOP®.