#Sustainability

2021-09-16

Ahlström Collective Impact makes a significant investment into UNICEF’s Global Education Program

Ahlström Collective Impact (ACI), a joint responsibility initiative by a group of companies and foundations has decided to make an investment of 600,000 € into UNICEF’s Global Education Program. Ahlstrom-Munksjö is one of the members and founding partners of the initiative.

Initiated by the Eva Ahlström Foundation in 2020, Ahlström Collective Impact is a unique co-operation model designed for targeted strategic investments that support the realization of selected United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ahlström Collective Impact is committed to creating change by investing in a better future for children in partnership with UNICEF Finland.

For 2021, Ahlström Collective Impact has selected the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 4. Quality education, 5. Gender equality and 17. Partnerships for the goals. In order to support the goal for quality education, Ahlström Collective Impact has decided to direct its investment of 600,000 euros to UNICEF’s Global Education Program.

“Ahlstrom-Munksjö is strongly committed to sustainability and to respecting the highest standards of human rights. Together with Ahlström Collective Impact and UNICEF Finland we leverage our long-term and global commitment while taking Ahlstrom-Munksjö’s strategic giving and donations program further,” says Tarja Takko Ahlstrom-Munksjö's EVP People, Safety and Communication.

In 2020, Ahlström Collective Impact focused on supporting the COVID-19 crisis aid to children in order to support their wellbeing and health during the pandemic. This year the focus is on education.

“The disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has also exacerbated the learning crisis and widened deep gaps in access to quality education. To safeguard children´s future, we must safeguard their education,” Tarja Takko emphasizes.

To address the learning crisis, UNICEF strives to ensure every student, especially the most marginalized children in low- and middle-income countries, gains a solid foundation in basic reading and mathematics.

Ahlström Collective Impact consists of Ahlstrom-Munksjö, Ahlström Capital, Antti Ahlström Perilliset, Destia, Glaston, Eva Ahlström Foundation, Walter Ahlström Foundation, Suominen Corporation and Enics.

Learn more about Ahlström Collective Impact:

https://ahlstromcollectiveimpact.com/

“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.

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.

Yarn Expo Autumn 2026 draws to a close, weaving sustainable innovation into global sourcing

Yarn Expo Autumn 2026 concluded with approximately 600 exhibitors from 14 countries and regions, connecting with nearly 22,000 visitors from 110 represented markets, bringing the textile industry’s evolving material agenda into sharper focus. Held alongside Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition, CHIC and PH Value, the fair connected upstream fibre and yarn innovation with fabric development, garment production and fashion-market demand.