#Recycling / Circular Economy

2020-06-13

H&M Group supports the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to accelerate circular economy to build back better

H&M Group, together with other leading companies, policymakers, philanthropists, academics and other influential individuals, fully supports the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s latest initiative to accelerate the transition to a circular economy as we adapt to the new normal.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation today calls on businesses and governments to join the journey towards a circular economy. H&M Group is one of the signatories of the Foundation’s latest initiative, in which a circular economy is defined as a solution as to ‘how’ we can build back better as we rise to the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation encourages us to build on this momentum. It is by applying circular economy solutions for plastics, fashion, food, as well as other industries, that we will build a better future, create vital opportunities for economic growth that also restore the environment, create jobs, and benefit society.

Today CEOs of some of the world’s most influential companies, policymakers, philanthropists, academics, and other influential individuals have reaffirmed their commitment to building a circular economy. Together we can build an economy that is distributed, diverse, and inclusive, rather than extractive, polluting, and exploitative.”

Dame Ellen MacArthur

“We must take the responsibility of our future together. Companies and governments have to collaborate, be transparent and show leadership in their transition to a circular economy. Taking steps back in what already has been achieved is not an option. We are committed to take our part, and to follow our vision of becoming circular and climate positive”, says Helena Helmersson, CEO H&M Group.

Being fully circular to the H&M group means to have a different approach to how fashion should be designed, produced and used. Fashion should never be seen as waste, but instead, should be treated as a valuable resource by reusing and recycling again and again. H&M Group’s ambition to become fully circular includes, among others, offering its customers garment collecting options to give a second life to already used garments, and using more and more recycled fibers for its products, such as recycled polyester from old plastic bottles or recycled cotton from used garments.

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

Reju expands textile-to-textile recycling network with six international fabric manufacturers

Reju, a textile-to-textile regeneration company, is expanding its industrial network through collaborations with six fabric manufacturers in Europe and the Americas. The initiative aims to accelerate the integration of regenerated polyester into textile manufacturing and support the development of finished fabrics for commercial applications.

Trützschler expands technical service capabilities for spinning mills in Pakistan

Faster support, shorter downtime and advanced repair capabilities: customers across Pakistan can now benefit from the Trützschler Service Station at its new location in Lahore. By combining Trützschler service expertise with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, the new facility helps spinning mills resolve technical issues more quickly and maintain reliable production.

Stäubli to introduce new S3292 dobby for high-speed weaving at ITME India 2026

Stäubli will introduce its new S3292 dobby at ITME India 2026, taking place from December 4 to 9 at the India Expo Centre & Mart in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Designed for high-speed air-jet weaving, the new machine will be among the highlights of the company's presentation, which also includes warp preparation systems, cam motions, Jacquard technologies and digital services.

DITF develops bio-based binding fibers for wood-fiber insulation materials

As part of the CelluWoodFlex project, the German Institutes of Textile- and Fiber-Research in Denkendorf (DITF) are developing bio-based cellulose ester fibers as alternative binding fibers for flexible wood fiber insulation materials. In addition to the spinning process and the production of suitable staple fibers, the institute is also investigating how wood and cellulose fibers can be separated and recycled at the end of their useful life.

Magnera highlights HighPleat™ filtration media technology at FiltXPO 2026

At FiltXPO 2026, held on October 28–29 at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Magnera highlighted advances in air filtration media architecture, with a particular focus on its HighPleat™ platform for MERV 8–10 applications. The technology combines a lofted fiber structure with optimized pore architecture to address the challenge of balancing filtration efficiency, airflow resistance and contaminant-holding capacity.

Ahlstrom expands depth filtration media production capacity at US facility

Ahlstrom has completed a major investment in its Kingston manufacturing facility in New York, USA, expanding production capacity for high-performance depth filtration media. The modernization of Line 3 is designed to improve manufacturing efficiency, enhance quality control and increase flexibility in producing different product widths.