#Recycling / Circular Economy

2021-08-19

Wired features Infinited Fiber on its hottest startups list

Global tech publication Wired has included Infinited Fiber Company in its lineup of this year’s 100 Hottest Startups in Europe. The list celebrates the startup scene across Europe, highlighting the success, innovation and investment happening throughout the continent.

Finland was one of the few European countries to have seen growth in the amount of capital poured into tech startups in 2020. Finnish gaming company Supercell CEO and co-founder, Ilkka Paananen, believes that Finland is “the best place in the world” to found a startup, thanks in part to the high quality of living, which is increasingly appealing to international talent.

Infinited Fiber Company is thrilled to be included in the Hottest Startups in Helsinki list, along with many other innovative companies that span a wide range of sectors, including IQM, developers of quantum computing hardware, Gubbe, who organise elderly care by connecting the families of the elderly with students, Flowrite, a language generation browser extension, and sustainable packaging company Sulapac. A key commonality in Finland’s list is the focus on sustainability.

“We’re delighted and grateful to be included in Wired’s list of the hottest startups in Europe. We want to bring joy and hope back into fashion by helping to make circularity an everyday reality in the textile industry. Wired is a globally renowned publication, and this recognition provides a great platform to increase awareness for Infinited Fiber Company’s technology for regenerating high-quality textile fibers from textile waste,” said Petri Alava, Infinited Fiber Company co-founder and CEO.

Infinited Fiber Company features on the list as a result of its unique recycling technology and the resulting regenerated textile fiber, Infinna™, which enables circularity in textiles. Wired also cites Infinited Fiber's aim to renew excitement in fashion for environmentally-conscious customers, which has garnered investment from leading global fashion brands such as H&M Group, adidas, BESTSELLER and Patagonia.

Infinited Fiber Company hopes its inclusion on the list will lead to more people recognizing the importance of shifting towards a circular economy and the innovation happening to make textile circularity an everyday reality.

Performance Apparels: Functional textiles drive innovation at Techtextil 2026

From high-performance fibres and advanced membranes to smart textiles and sustainable material concepts – functional apparel is becoming one of the most dynamic innovation fields in technical textiles. At Techtextil 2026, exhibitors demonstrate how new materials, finishing technologies and digital functions are shaping the next generation of protective, workwear and outdoor systems.

Texprocess 2026: Automation, digitalisation and AI reshape textile processing

Investment decisions in textile processing have become increasingly complex. Rising energy prices, labour shortages and geopolitical uncertainties are forcing companies to prioritise technologies that deliver measurable improvements in efficiency and process stability. This applies not only to apparel production, but also to the processing of technical textiles and high-performance materials. Modernisation projects are therefore being evaluated more selectively – but the pressure to upgrade production systems continues to grow. Texprocess 2026 reflects this tension between cautious investment behaviour and increasing technological demand.

Textile Chemicals & Dyes: Innovation in Textile Chemistry moves into focus at Techtextil 2026

From PFAS-free finishes and water-saving dyeing technologies to advanced coatings and recycling-compatible formulations, innovation in textile chemistry is accelerating across the industry. Reflecting this development, Techtextil 2026 introduces Textile Chemicals & Dyes as a dedicated product segment, highlighting the growing role of chemical solutions in shaping the next generation of technical textiles.

textile.4U publishes special edition “Top 100 Textile Recycling Companies 2025”

With a comprehensive 176-page special edition, textile.4U is dedicating its latest issue entirely to one of the most dynamic and influential topics in today’s textile industry: textile recycling. The new issue, published exclusively in high-quality print, presents the Top 100 textile recycling companies researched and selected by TexData – organizations that already play a key role in the transition to circular textiles or are expected to have a significant impact in the near future.

Carbios confirms Longlaville plant in France following financing progress

Carbios has reaffirmed its plans to build its Longlaville plant in France within a project financing framework, targeting the start of production in the first half of 2028. The company also reports a solid cash position of around €60 million at the end of 2025 and has appointed Benoît Grenot as Deputy Chief Executive Officer to support the execution of its strategic projects.

ABB and Syre partner to explore technologies for industrial-scale textile recycling

ABB has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Swedish textile impact company Syre to jointly explore technologies to support the development of Syre’s first textile-to-textile recycling plant in Vietnam. The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration to investigate how ABB’s automation, electrification and digital technologies could contribute to safe, efficient and scalable operations. It will also explore how these capabilities could further optimize process and quality control performance as Syre advances its ambition to produce circular polyester at industrial scale.

Advanced Recycling Conference 2026 to showcase innovations – Call for abstracts

The call for abstracts is now open for the Advanced Recycling Conference (ARC) 2026, taking place on 17–18 November 2026 in Cologne, Germany, and online. Europe’s leading platform for advanced recycling brings together hands-on solutions and cutting-edge research on recycling technologies for various waste streams like plastics, polymers, textiles or automotive, highlighting progress towards a circular renewable carbon economy.

JEC World 2026 confirms its standing as the unmissable event for composites and their applications

JEC World 2026 confirms its position as the leading global event for the composite materials industry and its applications across multiple sectors, bringing together the entire composites ecosystem in Paris for three days of business, innovation, and collaboration. True to its Pushing the Limits motto, the 2026 edition delivered outstanding results despite travel disruptions worldwide. The numbers speak for themselves: more than 1,400 exhibitors from over 50 countries, including over 150 first-timers, presented a global panorama of products, equipment, and services across the entire composites value chain.

Covestro to exhibit solutions for a more sustainable and productive textile industry at Techtextil 2026

Covestro will present a broad portfolio of material innovations for textile coatings, adhesive films and thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) at Techtextil 2026 (Hall 11.0, Booth C79). The exhibits will demonstrate how advanced solutions can enhance durability, recyclability and manufacturing efficiency across applications such as automotive, infrastructure, protective apparel and sportswear. A particular focus will be on more sustainable coating technologies, including antimicrobial systems based on INSQIN® in combination with AGXX from Heraeus Precious Metals, as well as the integration of Pontacol® thermoplastic adhesive films into Covestro’s offering.