#Recycling / Circular Economy

2025-09-25

GenuTrace and Refiberd partner to deliver verified forensic with AI traceability for the textile industry

GenuTrace, LLC, a leader in forensic supply chain verification, and Refiberd, an AI-driven innovator in textile sorting, today announced a strategic collaboration to deliver a dual-layer validation system. The system combines forensic science and AI to verify the authenticity and origin of fiber, yarn and fabric.

“We ask one question — ‘If you claim it, can you prove it?’ Verifying fiber and yarn compositionbefore fabrication means that sustainability claims are not just aspirational; they’re scientifically proven,” said MeiLin Wan, founder and CEO of GenuTrace.

In a market where recycled and conventional fibers increasingly overlap, supply chain integrity is more critical than ever.

The partnership combines Refiberd’s AI-enabled hyperspectral imaging technology—capable of rapidly classifying fibers, yarns and fabrics by their spectral fingerprints”—with GenuTrace’s forensic stable isotope analysis that verifies the true geographic origin of cotton. This two-step system delivers unparalleled confidence in feedstock claims before fabrics are ever produced.

“To manufacture effectively, you must first know what you’re working with — down to the fiber. With our AI-enabled hyperspectral system, we can precisely verify cotton-based materials before they’re made into fabric. This validation is the critical foundation for making textile processes scalable and reliable,” said Sarika Bajaj, founder and CEO of Refiberd.

In 2025, Refiberd was named winner of the Global Fashion Agenda Trailblazer Programme and recognized as Circular Fashion Innovator of the Year in the CFDA x eBay Circular Fashion Fund. These awards highlight Refiberd’s leadership in advancing circularity and scaling AI- powered textile recycling solutions.

DRIVING CIRCULARITY WITH PROOF

This collaboration empowers brands and manufacturers to “Trace it Before You Make It”, ensuring authenticity and sustainability at the earliest stages of production. By integrating high- speed AI classification with forensic origin isotope testing, GenuTrace and Refiberd can help to deliver a baseline for virgin and recycled materials such as recycled PET, nylon and other materials, that safeguards quality, efficiency, and trust across global supply chains.

ADVANSA launches ADVA®tex: A new step toward textile-to-textile recycling

ADVANSA has introduced ADVA®tex, a new filling fibre made entirely from recycled pre-consumer textile waste, positioning the material as a significant step forward in textile-to-textile (T2T) recycling. The fibre is designed for use in duvets, pillows, mattresses, and furniture applications and is available in three versions.

European research project addresses textile waste through integrated recycling technologies

A major European research initiative coordinated by Fraunhofer UMSICHT has been launched to develop integrated solutions for textile waste recycling. The AUTOLOOP project aims to create a comprehensive system that could process 1.24 million tonnes of textile waste annually by 2050, whilst potentially creating over 130,000 green jobs across the EU. This project aims to develop, test and integrate automated sorting, tracing, and closed-loop recycling technologies for polyester-based textiles (NRT), addressing the pressing challenge of textile waste management.

Navis TubeTex announces U.S. partnership with Icomatex

Navis TubeTex, a global leader in advanced dyeing and finishing machinery solutions, is pleased to announce a new partnership with Icomatex (www.icomatex.com), a respected European manufacturer of high-quality stenters and textile finishing equipment. Under this agreement, Navis TubeTex will exclusively represent the Icomatex stenter line in the United States.

KARL MAYER celebrates 35 years of EL pattern drive

KARL MAYER is celebrating an anniversary this year: on 30 November 1990, the first warp knitting machine with electronic guide bar control, the KS 4 EL, was delivered – another milestone for patterning. As early as 1980, the SU gearbox with the MRS42SU had initiated the transition from mechanical chains to digital data.

The region of renewable raw materials: Central German Alliance for Bioplastics

The development of sustainable plastic solutions is rapidly gaining importance in light of global environ- mental pollution, dwindling fossil resources and ambitious climate protection targets. As part of the re- gional alliance RUBIO, which brings together 18 partners from central Germany and the Berlin-Branden- burg area, the bio-based and biodegradable plastic polybutylene succinate (PBS) was comprehensively investigated, starting with the raw material, through the manufacturing process, to industrial application.

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.