#Sustainability

2022-09-08

Indorama Ventures wins Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards 2022

Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL), a global sustainable chemical producer, won the Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards 2022 in the Circular Economy Leadership category. IVL is the first Thai company to be recognized for this award category, which recognized the company’s successful "PET Bottles Recycling to Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Distribution" project.

IVL recognized for PET recycling project to produce PPE medical safety suits

Mr. Yash Lohia, Chairman of ESG Council at Indorama Ventures, said, "We are delighted to receive the Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards 2022 for the first time, and as the only Thai company to be recognized in the Circular Economy Leadership category. The award reflects the importance PET recycling, which is key to creating a circular economy. As the world's largest producer of recycled PET resins for beverage packaging, we have constantly developed our capacity to recycle post-consumer PET bottles and transform them into quality products with many uses, including specialty applications like medical equipment."

From 2011 to 2021, IVL collected over 72 billion post-consumer PET bottles for recycling, which prevented 1.6 million tons of plastic waste from going to landfill and reduced 2.4 million tons of carbon footprint in the product life cycle. IVL aims to expand its global capacity to recycle 50 billion bottles per year by 2025, increasing to 100 billion bottles per year by 2030.

This award recognized the company’s post-consumer PET recycling project to produce PPE suits for distribution to medical institutes to support personnel safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, IVL, in partnership with 14 organizations and 1,597 stakeholders, donated 8,000 PPE suits and 1,000 bedding sets. All are made from 9.35 tons of post-consumer PET bottles that were recycled into high-quality PET yarns and woven into polyester fabrics. The medical-grade PPE products were reusable and washable up to 20 times, reducing environmental waste commonly associated with single-use items. The PPE suits are certified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Textile Institute of Thailand.

The Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards are the most prominent CSR and sustainability awards for leading corporations in Asia. The awards are organized by Enterprise Asia to promote responsible entrepreneurship. They are based on six key pillars: the environment; fair practices; health; leadership; community; and people. In 2022, more than 250 companies submitted entries that were selected by judges from six industries using the three parameters: effectiveness & reach, relevancy, and sustainability.

Texprocess 2026: Automation, digitalisation and AI redefine textile processing

Making investment decisions in textile processing has become significantly more demanding. Increasing energy costs, a shortage of skilled labour and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties are compelling companies to focus on technologies that deliver clear gains in efficiency and process reliability. This applies equally to apparel manufacturing and to the processing of technical textiles and high-performance materials. As a result, modernisation initiatives are assessed more carefully – even as the need to upgrade production systems continues to intensify.

Techtextil 2026: Between innovation pressure & market reality

From 21 to 24 April 2026, Techtextil in Frankfurt am Main will once again become the central meeting point for the international technical textiles and nonwovens industry. Running in parallel, Texprocess will focus on the industrial implementation of textile processing technologies as the leading platform in this field. Together, the two trade fairs form a closely integrated presentation and working platform along the entire textile value chain – from material development to finished applications.

Between geopolitical pressure and industrial resilience

In this interview, Dr. Janpeter Horn (VDMA) discusses the current challenges facing textile machinery manufacturers, shaped by geopolitical tensions, regulatory developments and subdued investment. He also outlines why innovation strength, integrated solutions and strategic positioning remain key to global competitiveness.

A new standard to combat plastic waste in forests

With DIN SPEC 35808 “Tree Shelter for Forestry Applications,” the testing and research service provider Hohenstein, in collaboration with Rottenburg University of Forestry, as well as forestry authorities and industry partners, has established a clear framework for bio-based and fully biodegradable tree shelters. The pre-standard defines requirements and practical testing methods designed to reduce plastic waste in forests and strengthen the long-term protection of soil and the environment.

Denim moves towards sustainability

EIM (Environmental Impact Measurement), the global reference platform for measuring the environmental impact of garment finishing, presents the second edition of its annual report Denim Industry Progress & Insights 2025. The study analyses over 100,000 real denim finishing processes, providing an accurate and up-to-date view of the industry’s evolution towards more sustainable models.

Europe’s textile future at a turning point: New 2030 Circularity Blueprint aims to scale recycling and unlock investment opportunities

The EU textile system is at a critical crossroads. Today, less than 1% of discarded garments are recycled into new garments, despite EU-wide obligations for separate collection. In response, Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) is launching the 2030 Circularity Blueprint, in partnership with ReHubs. This ambitious initiative is designed to support the transformation of the EU textile ecosystem to advance textile-to-textile recycling and drive the transition to a circular economy.

Mimaki ‘Powers Possibilities’ with a market-diverse application and printer line-up at FESPA 2026

Mimaki Europe, a leading manufacturer of industrial inkjet printers and cutting plotters, is bringing its “Print Different - Powering Possibilities” theme to life at FESPA Global Print Expo 2026 (Fira de Barcelona, 19-22 May 2026), demonstrating how digital printing technology can turn ideas into high-value applications and new business opportunities.

From advanced fibres to eco‑focused yarns: Yarn Expo Autumn 2026 set to welcome global industry to Shanghai

From 25 – 27 August, Yarn Expo Autumn 2026 will return to the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) to reinforce its role as a key meeting point for the global yarn and fibre industry. With over 22,000 visitors, the previous edition gathered nearly 580 leading exhibitors from 16 countries and regions, showcasing advanced developments and creative applications that support innovative, sustainable textile design. The upcoming edition will not only present an extensive range of fibre and yarn products, but will also feature a comprehensive fringe programme, including industry forums and trend display areas, providing innovative upstream enterprises with a stage to introduce next‑generation materials and sustainable concepts.

Monforts sees growing potential for technical textiles in Türkiye

For many years now, Türkiye has been one of the most important markets for textile finishing, coating and continuous dyeing equipment, making ITM 2026 from June 9-13 a key event for Germany’s Monforts. At the Istanbul exhibition at stand 1117D in Hall 11, the company will put the emphasis on its machines which continue to lead the field in conventional dyeing and finishing, and also highlight the strong opportunities for Turkish textile manufacturers in the growing field of technical textiles.