#Recycling / Circular Economy

2021-04-29

‘Circular Innovation Challenge’ Competition Launched International Organizations Partner with Indorama Ventures to build Circular

Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL), a global chemical producer and recycler, launched ‘The Circular Innovation Challenge’ together with partners including SEAMEO Regional Centre for Sufficiency Economy Philosophy for Sustainability; SDG Lab: School of Global Studies at Thammasat University; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); and United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

Enabling Young Innovators to Solve Environmental Challenges for Society

The competition invites young people (ages 16-30) to create innovative and practical ideas addressing the circular economy, the mismanagement of plastic waste and hygiene issues to win prizes totalling 200,000 baht. Contestants will also have a chance to develop their innovations through workshops advised by experts from leading international organizations.

Yash Lohia, Chief Sustainability Officer at Indorama Ventures, said, “We are proud to support the Circular Innovation Challenge competition to give young people the tools and space to build the circular economy of tomorrow, as well as to learn first-hand from experts. We hope this project will create greater understanding of the circular economy in Thailand and promote the benefits of using recycled products. Great innovations make the circular economy go round, just like our PET bottle recycling keeps products in the economy and out of the environment. For example, we are the first Thai company to successfully recycle PET bottles into yarns to make medical-grade PPE coveralls, which are washable, reusable and replace single-use ones.”

As the world’s largest PET producer and recycler, Indorama Ventures believes that recycling is at the heart of a circular economy and is a practical approach to waste reduction. We have partnered with numerous local and international organizations to support increased use of recycled products. The company has set a goal to increase its recycling capacity to give new life to 50 billion PET bottles per year by 2025.

Assistant Professor Dr. Prapaporn Tivayanond Mongkhonvanit, Dean of the School of Global Studies and initiator of the Circular Innovation Challenge competition under SDG Lab: School of Global Studies, said, “The Circular Innovation Challenge competition aims to build awareness of circular economies in Thailand and provide necessary skills for young innovators to develop solutions that have a positive impact on society and the environment. This project is hosted in a Hackathon format, in which participants compete to brainstorm ideas within a time limit to solve waste management problems. Each team of 3-5 members will work together to design solutions towards a sustainable zero-waste society within 1 month. Participants will also join workshops led by Youth Co: Lab to build knowledge and develop skills for creating social innovations, as well as to gain experience from international experts. In the final round, 10 items will be presented to the judges. The winning teams will be awarded prizes valued at a total of 200,000 baht and given an opportunity to develop their projects for practical and commercial use.”

Renaud Meyer, Deputy Resident Representative at UNDP Thailand, said, “Waste issues constitute a growing threat to our environment and human wellbeing, affecting in particular marine resources, terrestrial biodiversity and public health. While the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the vulnerabilities of current waste management systems and infrastructures to fluctuations in waste generation, it also presents us an opportunity to rebuild using more sustainable models, create green and resilient livelihoods, and advance innovation. At UNDP, we believe that innovation can play an essential role in addressing waste management issues and that’s why, in Thailand, we have been providing technical and financial support to projects led by young social entrepreneurs and communities to test innovative approaches and practices for waste management through a circular economy approach. The circular economy concept not only offers us a pathway to more sustainable resource management but also helps deliver many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Goal 12 on ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns.”

Find information and updates of the Circular Innovation Challenge competition at?:

https://www.facebook.com/tucircularinnovation

https://sgs.tu.ac.th/tucircularinnovation

“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.

HKRITA signs MoU with Jeanologia and Looptworks to establish the Green Machine Circular Textile Ecosystem

The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) yesterday officially signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two key global partners, Jeanologia and Looptworks, to establish the Green Machine Circular Textile Ecosystem – a first-of-its-kind collaboration to accelerate the large-scale recycling of blended textiles.

Object Carpet tests production of rPET BCF yarn on Neumag BCF line

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The textile industry in transition

Recycling, traceability, eco-design and digitalisation are among the key future challenges facing the European textile industry. The Erasmus+ project Skills4Circularity, involving 21 partners from twelve countries, is investigating the skills required to address these challenges. As the German industry partner, the Industry Association for Finishing – Yarns – Fabrics – Technical Textiles (IVGT) is bringing the industry’s perspective to the project.

"We will become a recycling powerhouse"

The textile industry is now in its fourth consecutive year of crisis, while automation, artificial intelligence and recycling are reshaping the rules of the game. In this interview, Rieter CEO Thomas Oetterli discusses the first signs of a market recovery, reflects on his first three years at the helm of the company, explains the integration of Barmag, outlines Rieter’s vision of the fully automated spinning mill and highlights the strategic importance of recycling. In doing so, he explains why the new Rieter Group aims to play a leading role in transforming the textile value chain into a circular economy.

ITM 2026: Mayer & Cie. Global presents itself successfully at international industry trade fair

Mayer & Cie. Global has used ITM 2026 in Istanbul for its first major international appearance since the restart. Together with the Turkish representative Mayer Mümessillik, the company presented its premium circular knitting machines "Made in Germany", explained its future positioning within the group of companies and held talks with customers and representatives from numerous markets. The response to the restart was positive. The clear orientation of the company, the reliable worldwide network of representatives and the resumption of service and spare parts supply were welcomed by customers.

MEL Composites supports ELA Aviation with advanced composite materials

MEL Composites is supplying advanced composite materials and process consumables to ELA Aviation for the production of its next-generation gyroplanes. The collaboration underlines MEL Composites’ growing role in advanced aerospace mobility, providing lightweight materials designed to improve aircraft performance, manufacturing efficiency and structural reliability.