#Sustainability

2024-11-28

bluesign® welcomes designer denim maker LIM Group as first laundry system partner in Italy

As part of their growing denim initiative, bluesign®, the leading global sustainability solutions provider for the textile industry, proudly announces LIM Group as their first laundry system partner in Italy. This partnership enables bluesign® to be a one-stop resource for LIM teams working with top designers, luxury houses, and international labels on their denim programs. Recognized as the gold standard in chemical management, bluesign’s impact reduction work in the textile supply chain has gained even more importance regarding compliance with the EU legislation such as CSDDD, CSRD and ESPR.

Factory from the outside © 2024 bluesign

With LIM’s exceptional craftsmanship and bluesign®’s trusted expertise, this collaboration sets a new standard for European clean denim manufacturing.

Founded and managed by the Stevanin family since the 1980s, LIM’s laundry has distinguished itself in the fashion industry with its expertise in denim washing and unique dyeing techniques. LIM also integrates eco-friendly technologies, including ozone and laser machinery, wastewater purification systems, and renewable energy-powered operations. With a strong reputation for creativity, technical expertise, and eco-conscious practices, LIM collaborates with some of the world’s most prestigious brands and luxury houses, including Valentino, Balenciaga, Gucci, Dsquared2, Maison Margiela, Replay, Jacob Cohen, and Dondup.

“Renowned for its expertise in washing and dyeing processes while working in collaboration with the world’s top names, LIM has established itself as a leader in the denim industry. Their integration into the bluesign® system reinforces the importance of bluesign in fostering sustainable practices in laundry and dyeing,” said bluesign CEO Daniel Rüfenacht. “We are excited to work with the Stevanin family and LIM Group teams globally as they help us expand the reach of our mission to enable clean denim manufacturing globally.”

As the first bluesign® laundry system partner in Italy, LIM Group is at the forefront of reshaping the country’s textile manufacturing landscape. The company’s use of advanced technologies aligns perfectly with bluesign®’s vision for reducing resource consumption and environmental impact.

“Joining the bluesign® system marks a pivotal moment for LIM as we continue to prioritize sustainability in our operations and with our brand partners,” shares Gianfranco Stevanin, CEO and Co-Owner of LIM Group. “Our relationship not only strengthens our commitment to eco-conscious manufacturing but also enables us to deliver innovative solutions that meet the expectations of today’s conscious consumers. We are proud to collaborate with bluesign® to set new standards for transparency, accountability, and sustainable production.”

Storm Creek achieves bluesign® PRODUCT status

Storm Creek (ASI#/PPAI#) is proud to announce a meaningful sustainability milestone: the company has achieved bluesign® PRODUCT status: becoming the first US-based supplier in the promotional products industry to earn this globally respected certification. While this marks an industry first, for Storm Creek, it represents something far more important: a continuation of doing what they believe is right.

bluesign releases 2025 revisions of its Chemical Reference Lists

Effective July 1, 2025, bluesign has published updated versions of its three core chemical reference lists: the bluesign® SYSTEM SUBSTANCES LIST (BSSL v16.0), the bluesign® SYSTEM BLACK LIMITS (BSBL v7.0), and the bluesign® RESTRICTED SUBSTANCES LIST (RSL v16.0). These updates reflect bluesign’s ongoing commitment to safe chemical management, environmental protection, and regulatory alignment.

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.

Closing the Footwear Loop reveals challenges and opportunities for circular footwear

The footwear industry faces one of the most complex circularity challenges in the fashion sector. A new Phase 1 report from the Fashion for Good initiative Closing the Footwear Loop, developed together with Circle Economy, provides new insights into the composition, condition and recycling potential of post-consumer footwear waste.

STOLL: Agreement signed for the divestiture of selected assets

In early 2025, KARL MAYER announced its strategic decision to focus on its core business areas of WARP KNITTING, WARP PREPARATION, and TECHNICAL TEXTILES. As part of this move, the flat knitting machine business under the STOLL brand was discontinued and the production site in Reutlingen was closed in October 2025.

TERNAfil wins first place at PitchMiUp Night 2026 in Minden

The RWTH spin-off TERNAfil has developed MAXCarbon, a new high-performance hybrid fibre that combines the mechanical performance of carbon with the temperature and corrosion resistance of ceramic materials. For this development, TERNAfil was awarded first prize at the PitchMiUp Night in Minden on 21 May 2026.

Carbon-ceramic hybrid fibre proves its worth – NRW Minister for Science Mona Neubaur congratulates ITA start-up TERNAfil

MAXCarbon technology, a novel carbon-ceramic hybrid fibre developed by ITA spin-off TERNAfil, secured third place at the HIGH-TECH.NRW Demo Day on the TÜV NORD campus in Essen. The technology combines the strength of carbon fibres with the temperature and corrosion resistance of ceramic materials. Mona Neubaur, Minister for Science in North Rhine-Westphalia, congratulated the team on their success and on winning prize money of 4,000 euros.