#Raw Materials

2024-08-01

Wool shoes at the Paris Olympics

The Olympic flame’s journey to Paris 2024 has been a global spectacle, and it took on a particularly sustainable twist in Guadeloupe. Legendary French sprinter Marie José Perec played a pivotal role in carrying the flame, and she did so in style—wearing Circle Sportswear’s innovative SuperNatural Runner shoes, which are made with merino wool.

Unlike traditional running shoes, the SuperNatural Runner boasts an upper made of 50% Woolmark-certified wool and 50% TENCEL LUXE™ derived from wood fibers. The Woolmark-certified Merino wool offers a unique feel and comfort in the running world, exceptional breathability, and natural odor resistance.

This unique combination offers exceptional breathability, comfort, and durability, while also being kinder to the planet.

Perec carried the Olympic flame on a boat around Guadeloupe, where she embraced the opportunity to showcase the SuperNatural Runner’s performance in a challenging environment. Her choice to wear these eco-friendly shoes during such a high-profile event underscores the growing importance of sustainable fashion and sports.

“I am delighted to partner with Circle Sportswear, a brand that shares my values and commitment to a more planet-friendly sport,” says Marie José Pérec. “Together, we are working to promote more sustainable running and to support the next generation of athletes. The SuperNatural Runner and the partnership with The Woolmark Company are part of this innovative approach that favors both performance and sustainability.”

Circle Sportswear co-founder and CEO, Romain Trebuil, shares Perec’s enthusiasm. “The SuperNatural Runner is the first bio-based running shoe made from The Woolmark Company Merino wool, circular and entirely manufactured in Europe,” he said. “Our goal is to be the Game Changers in the world of running by reaching the same high standards for performance and ecology.”

Lenzing commissions 14 MW power‑to‑heat facility, strengthening grid stability and heat management

The Lenzing Group has successfully commissioned a new power‑to‑heat (P2H) facility with an electrical capacity of 14 megawatts. The installation converts renewable electricity directly into process heat, is fully integrated into the existing heat network at the industrial site, and represents a key building block for a fossil‑free heat supply. As project partner, VERBUND was responsible for the energy‑market integration and will operate the facility for balancing energy marketing, enabling it to respond flexibly to short‑term fluctuations in the power grid.

Kraig Biocraft reaches next step in production growth

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) (“the Company”, “Kraig Labs”, or “Kraig’s”), a world leader in spider silk technology*, today announced that it has produced more than 1.3 metric tons of recombinant spider silk cocoons in a single month. This is a new world record and shatters the Company’s previous production record by a factor of five. Today marks a pivotal step forward in the transition of spider silk from laboratory innovation to an industrial-scale material platform.

New study shows low environmental impact by Cotton made in Africa Organic Cotton from Tanzania

Today, the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) is announcing the results of a comprehensive life-cycle analysis (LCA) for cotton produced in Tanzania under the Cotton made in Africa Organic (CmiA Organic) standard. The study emphasises the small ecological footprint of CmiA Organic verified cotton. This can largely be traced back to the absence of synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilisers, and artificial irrigation. Consequently, CmiA Organic cotton can help the textile industry meet regulatory requirements as well as science-based targets. The results also show that the consequences of climate change threaten the livelihoods of these cotton farmers, even though the type of agriculture they practise barely contributes to climate change.

Speed and connectivity: Techtextil and Texprocess provided market-ready solutions for industries under pressure

With more than 36,000 visitors and 1,700 exhibitors from a total of 112 countries, Techtextil and Texprocess 2026 demonstrated how innovation comes into industrial use. The convergence of research, industry and application proved to be a breeding ground for new material solutions, manufacturing and processing technologies. Natural fibres, performance apparel, connected systems and AI-driven processing technologies emerged as key growth and future markets.

Italian Textile Machinery heads to Geneva for Index 2026

An important delegation of Italian companies will exhibit at the upcoming INDEX 2026, the world’s leading event for the nonwovens sector, taking place from May 19 to 22 in Geneva (Switzerland). Numerous Italian exhibitors will be present within the Italy Pavilion, organized by the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) and ACIMIT, an exhibition area of over 140 square meters dedicated to the latest innovations proposed by the Italian industry.