#Research & Development

2022-04-14

Six innovations are nominated for the “Renewable Material of the Year 2022” award

One way to overcome the chemical industry's dependence on fossil fuels is to replace oil and gas with renewable carbon within the existing structures of the chemical industry. But it applies also to innovation, the development of new processes, building blocks and materials. This requires rethinking of chemistry and materials. Ready-to-use fossil-free sustainable material solutions with a low carbon footprint are in fast-growing demand. Innovative brand owners are keeping an eye out for such solutions, in particular those that will soon reach the mainstream.

Participants at the “Renewable Materials Conference” will vote for the winners

With the innovation award “Renewable Material of the Year 2022”, nova-Institute (organiser) and Covestro (sponsor) would like to award three particularly exciting and promising solutions that contribute to replacing fossil carbon from the ground. Innovations could be submitted until 15 March, and 31 were received. The Advisory Board and the nova-experts had some trouble selecting the six most exciting ones and nominating them for the award. Learn more about the six nominees in the picture and the innovation brochure “Renewable Material of the Year 2022”.

Six “Renewable Material of the Year 2022” Nominees:

Borregaard (NO) – Exilva® fibrillated cellulose / Eastman (US) – Material-to-Material Molecular Recycling Technologies / Lactips (FR) – Plastic Free PaperTM with CareTips® – a Natural Polymer to Rethink Plastic / Origin Materials (US) – Technology Platform for Producing Carbon Negative PET / Twelve Benefit Corporation (US) – Electrochemical CO2 Transformation to Chemicals and Materials and VERBIO Vereinigte BioEnergie (DE) – VerBioChem Ethenolyis Platform for Renewable Chemicals.

The innovation award is one of the highlights of the “Renewable Materials Conference”, 10th-12th May in Cologne (Germany), with 60 confirmed speakers and more than 400 expected participants. On the second conference-day, the nominated companies will present their products and all conference participants, on site and online, will vote for the three winners. This exciting competition will be decided by the participants themselves.

All information and registration are available at: http://www.renewable-materials.eu

The nova-Institute would like to thank the innovation award Sponsor Covestro (DE) and Premium Partner CLIB (DE) for their support. Many thanks also to all Gold Sponsors Alfalaval (SE), Avantium (NL), Henkel (DE), GS Biotech (CN), IFF (US), Neste (FI), UPM Biochemicals (FI), Sorona (NL) and Sugar Energy (CN), Silver Sponsors FKUR (DE), Renolit (DE) and Suncoal (DE) and last but not least Bronze Sponsor Cargill (US).

“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.

Outdoor Industry Association completes Clean Heat CoLab initiative

The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) has completed its multi-year Clean Heat CoLab initiative, bringing together outdoor brands and technology experts to accelerate the adoption of electrified process heating in textile manufacturing. The collaboration focused on reducing emissions from thermal processes such as dyeing, washing and finishing, which remain among the most carbon-intensive stages of textile production.

Europe is committed to recycling end-of-life wind turbine blades

Starting in 2026, Europe’s wind energy industry has committed itself to ensuring that wind turbine blades do not end up in landfills once they reach the end of their service life. The EU-funded research project REWIND is exploring ways to reuse this composite waste. The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) are one of 13 project partners from seven countries.

ADD-ITC 2026 publishes preliminary conference program

The organizers of the Aachen-Dresden-Denkendorf International Textile Conference (ADD-ITC) 2026 have released the preliminary program for this year's event, which will take place on November 26–27, 2026, at the International Congress Center Dresden. The conference is expected to attract between 500 and 700 participants from industry, research, and academia.

Première Vision Paris expands innovation focus across fashion and beauty

From September 1–3, 2026, Première Vision Paris will bring together more than 900 exhibitors from across the global fashion value chain. This year's edition places a strong emphasis on Innovation-Tech, highlighting technologies and materials that are reshaping product development, manufacturing and sustainability.

SHIMA SEIKI to exhibit at Première Vision Paris

Leading digital textile solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan will exhibit at Première Vision Paris in Paris, France next month. The company will exhibit in the "Smart Creation" area, dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge technologies that integrate sustainability and innovation. The knitting expert will be demonstrating solutions that optimize product development workflows and enhance sustainability through proposals in Digital Product Creation (DPC).