Ecotextile News

BERLIN – Germany’s textile recycling sector is facing a crisis driven by rising operational costs, declining quality of collections, and shrinking export and domestic markets. Between 2018 and 2023, the share of textiles designated for reuse dropped from 62% to 44%, while mechanical and material recycling rose to 35% and thermal recovery (incineration) nearly doubled from 12 – 21%. Already have an account? Log In Explore all our independent journalism from as little as 30p per day.

PERTH – Australian biomaterials company Nanollose has committed to building and operating its own pilot-scale microbial cellulose pulp facility in Western Australia after concentrating its near-term strategy on commercialising its ‘Nullarbor’ lyocell fibre. Managing director Andrew Moullin added that the company’s objective is to validate the process at an industry-relevant scale before pursuing licensing, joint venture or sale arrangements rather than investing in full-scale fibre manufacturing.

SÃO PAULO — Swiss blockchain nonprofit the Cardano Foundation has linked up with traceability platform Blockforce to make more than 500,000 Brazilian supply-chain certificates independently verifiable. Blockforce keeps supplier identities, contracts and production data on a permissioned 'Hyperledger Fabric' network which publishes cryptographic proofs, a form of digital authenticity check, to Cardano for independent verification. Already have an account?

Uniqlo and other Japanese textile firms are set to increase sourcing from India and expand investment there, India’s commerce minister Piyush Goyal has said, following recent talks with executives including the CEO of Uniqlo.

Former Cascale executive Wendy Dittmer has joined Textile Exchange as its new chief operating officer. Wender Dittmer, Textile Exchange COO. Dittmer will lead the organisation’s technology, legal, governance and project management office functions, with Textile Exchange saying her role is to strengthen the systems, structures and ways of working that enable its teams to deliver effectively. Dittmer joins from the global non-profit Cascale, where she also served as its chief operating officer.

BEIJING – China has revised its personnel accountability rules so that officials can be held liable for serious environmental damage for the rest of their careers – even after they retire, are promoted or move jobs. The move comes as Beijing tightens environmental oversight of manufacturing more broadly. Already have an account? Log In Explore all our independent journalism from as little as 30p per day. Less than an espresso - but more stimulating. Create an account

BERLIN – Germany's two largest textile and retail trade bodies have launched a joint lobbying alliance aimed at influencing the design of the country's forthcoming Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for textiles. The initiative responds to a draft German law transposing the EU’s revised Waste Framework Directive, which will for the first time require companies placing textiles on the German market to pay fees covering the cost of disposal.

GUANGDONG – Nearly 150 garment factories across China’s Pearl River Delta have reportedly lost more than 1 billion yuan (around $150 million) in an alleged contract fraud now under criminal investigation, in a case that exposes how thin margins and fragmented supply-chain information can leave manufacturers dangerously exposed. The case lands amid broader margin pressure across China’s textile and apparel sector. Already have an account?

Performance diverged sharply across the four-brand portfolio. The Gap brand posted double-digit comparable sales growth of 10%, driven by denim, fleece and kids categories, while Banana Republic grew 3%. Old Navy comparable sales fell 4%, reflecting weak women’s seasonal ranges and softer traffic, and Athleta continued to struggle with a 12% decline. Gap Inc also announced Michael Francis as Old Navy’s incoming President and CEO, succeeding Haio Barbeito.

NORTH CAROLINA – AMI Plastics has announced the launch of the Textiles Manufacturing Expo in North Carolina next year, in a move that brings textile machinery shows back to the US. The exhibition and conference will take place on April 7th-8th at the Charlotte Convention Center alongside next year’s Textiles Recycling Expo. Already have an account? Log In Explore all our independent journalism from as little as 30p per day. Less than an espresso - but more stimulating. Create an account