#Sustainability

2025-10-08

YKK to exhibit at Textile Exchange Conference 2025 in Lisbon

YKK Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Koichi Matsushima; hereafter, YKK) will exhibit at the Textile Exchange Conference 2025 in Portugal, held from Monday, October 13 to Friday, October 17, to showcase its products and initiatives that contribute to the realization of a circular economy in the fashion industry.

Showcasing YKK’s initiatives toward a circular economy

The annual Textile Exchange Conference brings together global stakeholders from the fashion and textile industries—including brands, supply chain partners, innovators, farmers, NGOs, and academics—to explore solutions for a sustainable future. The 2025 theme, “Shifting Landscapes,” focuses on climate adaptation and systemic transformation.

As an active member of Textile Exchange, YKK is committed to advancing sustainability across the global textile value chain. At this year’s conference, YKK will present its efforts to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, including:

+++ Zipper and fastening products made from recycled inputs, including textile-to-textile and metal material recycling, contribute to the realization of a circular economy, such as: NATULON®, NATULON® Fiber Sourced™, NATULON Plus® with Recycled PET Open Parts, and the Recycled Mono-material Detachable Button & Rivet, recipient of the 2025 Red Dot Award in the Sustainable Design category.

+++ Zippers and fastening products that enable garment repair and recycling, such as Revived Renewal Components.

+++ Helping to enhance supply chain transparency through technologies like TouchLink®

+++ Initiatives to reduce environmental impact across the entire product lifecycle

+++ Progress updates on long-term goals under the “YKK Sustainability Vision 2050”

Textile Exchange Conference 2025

Dates: October 13 (Mon) – 17 (Fri), 2025

(Main sessions will be held from October 14 (Tue) to 16 (Thu))

Venue: Lisbon Congress Centre (Lisbon, Portugal)

Official Website: https://textileexchange.org/conference-2025/

YKK is focusing on the development of products and technologies which contribute to the circular economy – where materials and products are used for as long as possible and continuously circulated – to achieve the “YKK Sustainability Vision 2050.” Going forward, YKK will continue to promote the reduction of environmental impact and make contributions to the circular economy via initiatives such as using recycled materials, designing products with the assumption that they will be repaired and recycled, and recycling waste into new resources.

Recycled Polyester Challenge

The Recycled Polyester Challenge, a joint initiative between Textile Exchange and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, calls on the fashion industry to source 45% to 100% of its polyester from recycled materials by the end of 2025. This initiative aims to prevent an influx of virgin fossil-derived synthetic fibers, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and facilitate a transition to circular materials.

YKK receives ISPO Textrends Awards for circular innovations

YKK Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Koichi Matsushima; hereafter, YKK) is pleased to announce that the ISPO Textrends judges have selected YKK's 3D Composite Puller as the Best Product in the Accessories category. They also selected YKK’s NATULON Plus® Fiber Sourced™ zipper with Recycled PET Open Parts as a Top 5 item in the same category. The competition, held twice a year in conjunction with the ISPO trade show, recognizes the most innovative performance textiles, components, and apparel.

YKK’s net-zero commitment drives new business strategy for decarbonization and circular economy　

Sustainability is not just a priority at YKK—it is the foundation of its global business strategy. In its latest integrated report, This is YKK 2025, the company outlines its FY2024 achievements and FY2025 initiatives under the banner of Contributing to a Sustainable Society as ONE YKK. These efforts advance the YKK Sustainability Vision 2050, a long-term commitment to climate neutrality and harmony with nature. This vision is structured around five key themes: climate change, material resources, water resources, chemical management, and respect for people—all aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

VAUDE eliminates PFAS from all products

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are now detectable worldwide – in drinking water, soil and the human body. These so-called “forever chemicals” are considered hazardous to health and potentially carcinogenic, as they do not break down and remain in the environment permanently. Despite these risks, PFAS are still used in a wide range of products. More than 15 years ago, VAUDE made a strategic decision to gradually eliminate PFAS from all product categories.

OEKO-TEX® chooses TextileGenesis to advance digital traceability for organic cotton

OEKO-TEX® today announced a full collaboration with TextileGenesis, a Lectra company, to digitally trace and authenticate organic cotton, strengthening fraud prevention across the supply chain. This announcement follows a successful pilot and brings together OEKO-TEX®’s certification expertise and closed testing system with TextileGenesis’ digital traceability platform to deliver a secure, end-to-end solution for managing certified organic cotton flows.

ICAC to support European Commission on pending PEF legislation

The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) is proud to announce that it has been included as a member of the European Commission’s Technical Advisory Board (TAB) on the Product Environmental Footprint methodology. The Commission developed the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) to assess and communicate the life cycle environmental performance of products and organizations.

ENDURANCE Program: Driving operational sustainability at Magnera

As Magnera enters a new year, the company is reflecting on a key sustainability milestone from 2025: the launch of ENDURANCE, its global, employee-led initiative focused on waste reduction and sustainable innovation. Launched on Earth Day 2025, this initiative has generated more than 250 improvement submissions from team members across Magnera’s global operations, demonstrating strong engagement and shared accountability for sustainability across the organization.

Testing and research laboratory ensures safe and more sustainable products worldwide

For 80 years, Hohenstein has stood for independent testing, scientific expertise and practical solutions. Today, the testing and research service provider supports manufacturers and brands worldwide in making textiles, hardlines and medical devices safe, more sustainable and market-ready – thereby building trust among consumers. With an international presence and interdisciplinary expertise, Hohenstein supports its customers from production through to market launch, helping them navigate an environment of growing regulatory and societal demands.

Perfect quality through collaboration: Machinery from Trützschler, Toyota and Murata at Zirve Tekstil

In today’s textile industry, excellence is not achieved by chance – it’s the result of deliberate decisions, technical expertise, and the courage to go beyond conventional paths. The Turkish company Zirve Tekstil has done just that: by combining the best technologies from Trützschler, Toyota and Murata, they’ve created a production setup that delivers outstanding yarn quality – recognized worldwide.

Engineering depth and diversity for composites

Airbond is the latest member of the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) to receive recognition for contributions to the composites industry. The engineering firm based in Pontypool, South Wales, has just received the Make UK Energy and Sustainability Award for its Lattice 3D Printing project.