#Sustainability

2021-07-01

Pascal Chalvon Demersay appointed to lead Solvay’s government affairs

New chief sustainability and government affairs officer will focus the group's advocacy on its Solvay One Planet ambitions.

Solvay has appointed Pascal Chalvon Demersay to chief sustainability and government affairs officer, effective July 1, 2021. The integration of new responsibilities to his current role as chief sustainability officer reflects Solvay’s strong commitment to its ambitious Solvay One Planet program.

“Companies which are not serious about sustainability will simply fail and disappear,” commented Ilham Kadri, CEO of Solvay. “Pascal brings a rock-solid industrial experience and credibility, combined with an inspiring vision of the future which will contribute to shaping our outreach to the world.”

Chalvon Demersay was the architect and an instrumental driving force behind Solvay’s 2030 sustainability program, Solvay One Planet, which is an integral element of the group’s G.R.O.W. strategy.

“ I am honored to take on the responsibility of government affairs as I believe the combination of sustainability and government affairs will help to reinforce our group’s positioning externally, and encourage us to accelerate and scale-up our internal sustainability journey,” said Pascal Chalvon Demersay.

Chalvon Demersay assumes responsibility for government affairs from Alexis Brouhns, previously head of government and public affairs, who retires after more than 16 years of service to the group and a remarkable career of public service before joining Solvay, where he held several high-ranking political and diplomatic roles within Belgian and EU institutions.

Chalvon Demersay graduated from the Ecole Polytechnique de Paris. He started his career in 1990 as a site manager and held several management positions on different continents. In 2007, he joined Bluestar Silicones, which integrated the Solvay group’s former silicones activity, and became their CEO in 2010. In July 2015, he was appointed president of Solvay Energy Services and later became Solvay's chief sustainability officer in 2016.

“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.

Updated supply chain taxonomy advances apparel alignment

The apparel alliance (Apparel Impact Institute, Cascale, Textile Exchange, and ZDHC Foundation) today announced the launch of Version 2 of the Supply Chain Taxonomy, an updated harmonized framework designed to improve consistency, transparency, and collaboration across the textile, clothing, leather, and footwear (TCLF) sectors of the broader apparel industry.

SHIMA SEIKI brings new flat knitting technologies to FEBRATEX 2026

Leading flat knitting solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its Brazilian representative BRASTEMA TECNOLOGIA TEXTIL LTDA., will exhibit at the Brazilian Textile Industry Fair (FEBRATEX 2026) this month. On display will be a roundup of SHIMA SEIKI computerized flat knitting technology, represented by WHOLEGARMENT® knitting machines, computerized flat knitting machines featuring a brand-new model with high productivity and excellent cost performance, a glove knitting machine and the latest digital solutions.

Lenzing reports improved half-year results and advances strategic transformation

Despite a persistently challenging market environment in the first half of 2026, characterized by volatile energy and raw material prices, subdued global consumer demand and intensified competition from Asia, the Lenzing Group significantly improved its financial performance. Net result after tax more than doubled to EUR 35.6 million, compared with EUR 15.2 million in the first half of 2025. Free cash flow increased to EUR 45.8 million, while EBITDA amounted to EUR 239.2 million. Revenue totaled EUR 1.27 billion, compared with EUR 1.34 billion in the previous year.

Trützschler’s latest spinning and card clothing innovations at CAITME 2026

From September 8 to 10, 2026, Trützschler will present its latest innovations in spinning and card clothing for state-of-the-art fiber processing at CAITME in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Visitors are invited to meet the experts at Pavilion 2, Booth D50 and explore solutions designed to increase productivity, streamline processes, and ensure consistently high yarn quality. Key topics include the next-generation card TC 30i, the integrated draw frame IDF 3, the high-performance comber TCO 21XL as well as Trützschler Card Clothing’s new flat top series STEELTOP®.