#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

Texprocess 2026: Automation, digitalisation and AI redefine textile processing

Making investment decisions in textile processing has become significantly more demanding. Increasing energy costs, a shortage of skilled labour and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties are compelling companies to focus on technologies that deliver clear gains in efficiency and process reliability. This applies equally to apparel manufacturing and to the processing of technical textiles and high-performance materials. As a result, modernisation initiatives are assessed more carefully – even as the need to upgrade production systems continues to intensify.

Techtextil 2026: Between innovation pressure & market reality

From 21 to 24 April 2026, Techtextil in Frankfurt am Main will once again become the central meeting point for the international technical textiles and nonwovens industry. Running in parallel, Texprocess will focus on the industrial implementation of textile processing technologies as the leading platform in this field. Together, the two trade fairs form a closely integrated presentation and working platform along the entire textile value chain – from material development to finished applications.

Between geopolitical pressure and industrial resilience

In this interview, Dr. Janpeter Horn (VDMA) discusses the current challenges facing textile machinery manufacturers, shaped by geopolitical tensions, regulatory developments and subdued investment. He also outlines why innovation strength, integrated solutions and strategic positioning remain key to global competitiveness.

Circular economy offers the EU win-win on environment and economy

Stepping up a circular economy offers the European Union the potential for significant positive impacts on Europe’s environment and poses an untapped and strategic economic opportunity in terms of better access to materials and the creation of new businesses. Three new assessments on circularity, published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA), also stress the need to accelerate investment in circularity efforts to meet EU climate and environment policy targets.

BB Engineering unveils new, patented “Val-uePack” spin pack at ITM

At the upcoming ITM in Istanbul, taking place June 9–13 at the Tüyap Fair Convention and Congress Center in Hall 7, Booth 702B, BB Engineering will once again be represented at a joint booth with its parent company, Barmag, and its representative, Tekstil Servis. The German machine manufacturer will show-case its expertise in man-made fiber and recycling technology, presenting its entire product portfolio, which includes compo-nents such as extruders and filters, as well as complete sys-tems for spinning synthetic fibers, air-texturing, and PET recy-cling.

Fifteen years of Autoneum – From spin off to global technology leader

What started as a strategic carve‑out has since become the success story of a global technology leader in acoustic and thermal management solutions for vehicles. Headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland, Autoneum supplies leading automobile manufacturers worldwide with innovative, lightweight and increasingly sustainable solutions.

Kruger, Canada, orders first nonwovens line for sustainable wipes from ANDRITZ

International technology group ANDRITZ has received an order from newly established Kruger Nonwovens to deliver a complete WetlaceTM hybrid line for the Wayagamack mill in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada. With this investment, pulp and paper producer Kruger is preparing to enter the nonwovens market with a new generation of plastic-free, chemical-free materials for sustainable wipes. The line is the first of its kind in Canada and is scheduled to start production in 2028.

Picanol to present its leading weaving technology at ITM 2026

Picanol is pleased to announce it will be participating in ITM 2026 in Istanbul. This is a key event for industry professionals to engage with the Turkish textile industry as well as the extensive international audience attending the fair. During the event, Picanol will present its latest innovations to the visitors in Hall 8, booth 802.