#Sustainability

2021-06-24

ZDHC’s Roadmap to Zero second Impact Report is live

The first Impact Report 2019 established the baseline for reporting as it was the first time the organization had data. Over 2020, the data has become more robust and as they continue to improve the data processes, this trend will continue.

In this, the second Impact Report, ZDHC reports on implementation progress and present recent developments within ZDHC and the industry at large.

ZDHC welcomes the growing awareness in environmental sustainability within the global community of brands, customers and policy makers and progress in the regulatory environment for chemical sustainability such as the new EU legislation on due-diligence and governance in supply chains.

They report on ZDHC’s evolution into a multi-stakeholder organisation; they bring together businesses, civil society, governments, research institutions and non-government organisations to cooperate in the joint engagement and implementation efforts of the ZDHC Roadmap to Zero Programme.

ZDHC reviews their Programme implementation in 2020 by evaluating the industries’ efforts in eliminating toxic chemicals from their supply chains and the uptake of the ZDHC Sustainable Chemical Management Framework. Along with the scaling of their tools they also report on improvements and enhancements in their toolbox of chemical management solutions, grounded in manufacturing realities.

ZDHC sees the deepening engagement and continuing growth in numbers of committed organisations joining the ZDHC community across all major stakeholder categories; Brands, Suppliers and Chemical Suppliers.

They share the progress of their three ZDHC Leader Programmes; Brands to Zero, Supplier to Zero and our forthcoming leader programme for chemical suppliers. They comprise a self-reinforcing mechanism designed to foster an industry-wide momentum towards holistic, sustainable chemical management.

Whilst highlighting their collective impact they also renew, with increased urgency, the call for collaborative action and commitment to safer chemistry to all supply chain partners. Why? In the post-pandemic recovery period, the global fashion market is likely to grow again at an impressive rate, and as it does so, so too will its impact on the environment, from which it is not yet decoupled.

'Despite the progress we have made, “Our job is far from done” remains our guiding mantra at ZDHC', the organisation stated.

Visit the report to read about the collective positive impact and the road ahead. View interviews, Q&A’s, hear from their contributors, fashion experts and other key industry representatives to learn how they address sustainability and leverage the critical role of chemistry at each step of the value chain.

Visit Impact Report 2020:

https://www.roadmaptozero.com/impact-report-2020

“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.

ITMF names three winners of the Sustainability & Innovation Award 2026

Three projects from the UK, Korea and China have been selected as winners of the ITMF Sustainability & Innovation Award 2026. The projects address textile-to-textile recycling, chemical recycling for automotive textiles and a regenerative approach combining silk production with ecological restoration.

180 years of TESTEX: From Zurich silk testing to global certification

For 180 years, TESTEX has developed alongside the textile industry while maintaining the same underlying purpose: creating trust through independent and reliable measurement. Founded in Zurich in 1846 as the Zurich Silk Conditioning Institute, TESTEX has grown from a local institution serving the silk trade into an international Swiss testing and certification institute for textiles and leather.

Cascale launches member-led process to shape 2030 strategy

Cascale has launched a member-led process to define the industry alliance’s strategic direction for the next decade. At the Cascale Annual Meeting 2026 in Athens, CEO Ying McGuire announced that members will contribute to an industry system map that will inform Cascale’s 10-year vision, its 2030 strategy and priorities for 2027. The new strategy is scheduled to be finalized in December.

EFI and Agfa’s DPS Business to combine andform a global, full-service industrial inkjet company

Electronics for Imaging, Inc. (“EFI”), a leading industrial inkjet business and portfolio company of Siris, and Agfa-Gevaert (“Agfa”) today announced a definitive agreement to combine Agfa’s Digital Printing Solutions business (“Agfa DPS”) with EFI. An affiliate of Siris will hold a 60% interest and Agfa will hold a 40% interest in the jointly held company, which will bring together the operating capabilities of EFI and Agfa DPS under a governance structure whereby Siris and Agfa will act as equal partners.

KARL MAYER invites the Global Textile Industry to celebrate its 90th anniversary at its German Headquarters in 2027

KARL MAYER is turning its anniversary year 2027 into a milestone for the textile sector. To mark its 90th anniversary, the industry leader is inviting customers, partners, and experts from around the world to a unique event series in September aimed at pushing boundaries, unlocking new opportunities, and jointly setting the course for a new era in textiles – just as KARL MAYER has done throughout its history. The company’s headquarters in Obertshausen, near Frankfurt, is the place to be.

Durak Maxibalance thread supports users’ movement and balance comfort

Durak Tekstil, a leading brand in its industry, has developed Durak Maxibalance, a new product engineered with bio-ceramic and FAR IR technology. Ushering in a new era for sportswear, activewear, and medical textiles, this technology offers features designed to support balance and movement comfort by reflecting the energy absorbed from the body back into it.