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#Associations

Guidance for Making a Better Face Covering

Face coverings are now required or recommended in many areas. But quality and performance vary widely. And there is little guidance for manufacturing or selecting face coverings for general use.

In response to this situation, an ad-hoc group of industry stakeholders convened to provide some much-needed guidance. This guidance is entirely voluntary and for non-medical face coverings intended for use by adults. Surgical masks, respirators, and other medical personal protective equipment (PPE) are not addressed in the face covering guidance; these items are regulated by separate standards and requirements.

The ad hoc group, including experts in textiles, manufacturing, filtration, safety, and testing, met throughout April and May 2020 to develop a draft document. That document was then submitted to AATCC for ballot and eventual publication.

The draft guidance is currently being balloted as an AATCC monograph, with results expected by early July. In the meantime, the draft is publicly available for use and comment.

AATCC MXXX-2020 Guidance and Considerations for General Purpose Textile Face Coverings: Adult

https://www.aatcc.org/testing/emerging/


Considerations included in the draft are intended to help manufacturers more efficiently design and produce face coverings for general purpose (non-medical) use. It may also serve as a useful resource for those sourcing face coverings for general use. This document contains voluntary guidance and practical options for:

  • Regulatory Considerations
  • Fit and Sizing Considerations
  • Material and Construction Considerations
  • Particle Filtration Considerations
  • Breathing Resistance Considerations
  • Laundering and Service Life Considerations
  • Tie and Ear Loop Considerations
  • Product Labeling and Marking Considerations

To submit comments or questions, contact Diana Wyman, AATCC Executive Vice President, or any of the task group members listed on the cover sheet of the draft monograph.


More News from American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists

#Associations

AATCC announces 2025 Herman & Myrtle Goldstein Graduate Student Paper Competition winners

The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) recognized the winners of the 2025 Herman & Myrtle Goldstein Graduate Student Paper Competition. Founded in 1982 to give student members the chance to conduct and present original research, the competition was renamed in 1994 in honor of Herman and Myrtle Goldstein, following their US$60,000 endowment. Their gift is a lasting remembrance of their dedication to young people in the textile industry.

#Research & Development

New funding available for textile research

The AATCC Foundation Student Research Support Grant Program provides financial assistance for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing textile-related projects. Students may submit proposals now for funding to be awarded January 2026. Applications must be submitted by October 1, 2025, to be considered.

#Recycling / Circular Economy

AATCC’s Circularity Conference approaches as organization continues 2025 Sustainable Textile Event series

The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) announces that registration is closing soon for its highly anticipated Circularity Conference, continuing this year’s sustainability event series that has delivered significant value to industry professionals.

#Associations

AATCC Textile Standards adopted by Colombian and Sri Lankan Governments

AATCC test methods and procedures are international standards, meeting the criteria set forth by the World Trade Organization and used around the globe. The standards gain additional recognition through Memoranda of Understanding with Colombia and Sri Lanka.

More News on Associations

#Associations

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.

#Composites

Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp expands bio-materials presence at JEC World 2026

The Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp is pleased to announce its participation at JEC World 2026, featuring a significantly expanded presence and an enhanced offering for the global composites industry.

#Europe

FITA, ABIT and EURATEX underline strategic importance of Mercosur – EU Partnership Agreement for the textile and apparel industry

The Argentine Textile Industry Federation (FITA), the Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association (ABIT), and the European Apparel and Textile Confederation (EURATEX) continue to monitor the process of internalizing the Mercosur-European Union Partnership Agreement. This agreement is essential for the competitiveness of our industries, on both sides of the Atlantic.

#Associations

Industry associations warn against state-run EPR models in the EU

European industry associations, led by Euratex, have raised concerns over a growing trend in several EU Member States to introduce state-run Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) within Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes.

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#Raw Materials

Esquel Group adds two new extra-long staple cotton varieties approved

Esquel Group’s Xinjiang Research & Development Center has successfully developed two new Sea Island cotton (Extra-Long-Staple cotton, ELS cotton) varieties named “Yuan Loong 37” and “Yuan Loong 42,” which have been officially approved and granted registration numbers. Both varieties have also obtained Plant Variety Rights certificates, marking another significant breakthrough for the Group in cotton breeding and commercial application.

#Weaving

Itema America acquires Palmetto Loom Reed, strengthening local manufacturing and service in the U.S.

Itema America, the U.S. subsidiary of Italy-based Itema Group, has acquired – through an Assets Purchase Agreement – Palmetto Loom Reed, a Greenville, South Carolina-based manufacturer of weaving reeds and one of the last remaining domestic producers of these precision components in the United States.

#Recycled_Fibers

Reju announces site selection for French Regeneration Hub in Lacq advancing Europe’s circular textile infrastructure

Reju, the textile-to-textile regeneration company based in France, announces the site selection for an industrial sized Regeneration Hub, in Lacq, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, on the Induslacq platform. Reju, a Technip Energies owned company, is deepening its roots in France through the development of this new Regeneration Hub.

#Functional Fabrics

lululemon introduces Unrestricted Power™ — A new sensation for strength training

lululemon (NASDAQ: LULU) has unveiled Unrestricted Power™, a new innovation platform engineered for heavy lifts and demanding gym sessions. The assortment, which launches in North America, is backed by thousands of hours of research and development, providing secure support without compromising comfort and mobility, enabling a distraction-free fit built to match every move.

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