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#Sustainability

PFI confirms: water-based technology from Trans-Textil and Covestro is free of animal components

High technical, ecological and ethical standards in an extremely individual product design are the basic idea of AQUAIR®, which is now supplemented by the "100% Vegan" seal. The standard of the Pirmasens Testing and Research Institute (PFI) is awarded if the product, its ingredients and the manufacturing process are verifiably vegan and not of animal origin. Compliance with the criteria is checked by the institute, confirmed by laboratory tests if necessary and monitored regularly.
The color and grain of the synthetic layer can be easily customized, which allows for great design freedom when used in shoe components, sportswear, bags, furniture and many other products. © Trans-Textil © Covestro
The color and grain of the synthetic layer can be easily customized, which allows for great design freedom when used in shoe components, sportswear, bags, furniture and many other products. © Trans-Textil © Covestro


+ Breathable, water-based AQUAIR® synthetics from Trans-Textil now bear the "100% Vegan" certification mark from German PFI Institute

+ No animal components or animal products are used in the product as a whole, as well as in all components and manufacturing steps

+ Highly flexible product structure in terms of design, textile components and membrane systems

+ The water-vapor-permeable, microporous structure of AQUAIR® is based on waterborne formulation components from Covestro

"The vegan idea fits perfectly into the overall concept of AQUAIR® and is a logical further development for us," says Matthias Krings, Managing Director of Trans-Textil GmbH. Performance and responsible product design in all steps form the basis of the highly breathable overall system. The starting point is the synthetic layer, which can be individually designed in terms of color and grain.

"The microporous PU system is based on our aqueous and more sustainable INSQIN® technology, with which the production of coated textiles also requires up to 95 percent less water and 50 percent less energy compared to conventional production processes," explains Dr. Torsten Pohl, Head of Global Textile Coatings at Covestro. In combination with the technologies from Trans-Textil, this results in unique properties with a wearing comfort and functionalities that raise the standard of synthetics to a new level and are now also verifiably vegan according to the PFI standard.



Breathable, water-based AQUAIR® textile systems from Trans-Textil are based on Covestro's aqueous INSQIN® technology and have been awarded the "100% Vegan" seal by the Pirmasens Testing and Research Institute. © Trans-Textil

In addition to textile substrates, the test seal also included waterproof, breathable Topaz membrane systems based on polyurethane (PU) and polyester (PES), so that there is a great deal of creative freedom in product design with regard to structure, coloring and technical properties. The PU hotmelt systems used to manufacture the multi-layer composite products, which are applied at Trans-Textil using the high-quality and durable Point-in-Point® lamination technology, have also been vegan tested. Water-repellent properties are already integrated in AQUAIR® and no additives need to be added which are currently often viewed critically. All components and process steps are also tested according to Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX® for processing without harmful ingredients.

In a regional and responsibly designed supply chain, breathable synthetic products "Made in Germany" are created with AQUAIR® for the design of shoe components, leisure, sports and outdoor clothing, bags and accessories as well as for use in functional upholstery and furniture – even for small series or samples. The production as roll goods is the basis for an optimal use of material in the manufacture. If required, compatible Topaz tapes are available for seam sealing, which are also based on water-based formulation components.

The color and grain of the synthetic layer can be easily customized, which allows for great design freedom when used in shoe components, sportswear, bags, furniture and many other products. © Trans-Textil

Breathable, water-based AQUAIR® textile systems from Trans-Textil are based on Covestro's aqueous INSQIN® technology and have been awarded the "100% Vegan" seal by the Pirmasens Testing and Research Institute. © Trans-Textil

Breathable, water-based AQUAIR® textile systems from Trans-Textil are based on Covestro's aqueous INSQIN® technology and have been awarded the
Breathable, water-based AQUAIR® textile systems from Trans-Textil are based on Covestro's aqueous INSQIN® technology and have been awarded the "100% Vegan" seal by the Pirmasens Testing and Research Institute. © Trans-Texti


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#Textile chemistry

Covestro and Heraeus Precious Metals collaborate to enable safer, more sustainable antimicrobial textile coatings

Laboratory tests reveal that AGXX antimicrobial surface technology from Heraeus Precious Metals is fully compatible with Impranil® PU dispersions which are part of the waterborne INSQIN® textile coating technology from Covestro, paving the way for more sustainable antimicrobial textile coatings. This discovery comes at a key moment for the textile coatings industry. As the sharing economy continues to grow, more people are coming into regular contact with high-use surfaces, creating ideal conditions for bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms to thrive.

#Textile chemistry

Covestro celebrates decade of innovation and sustainable growth

Covestro celebrates its 10-year anniversary today. Since its carve-out from Bayer in 2015, the company has developed into a global leader in high-performance polymer materials and a pioneer in circular economy solutions. With a strong focus on innovation and sustainability, Covestro’s materials are now embedded in countless applications worldwide – from mobility and construction to electronics, healthcare, and consumer goods.

#Textile chemistry

Covestro extends contract with CTO Dr. Thorsten Dreier ahead of schedule until 2031

Dr. Thorsten Dreier will remain Chief Technology Officer of Covestro for a further five years. The Supervisory Board has extended his contract, which runs until June 2026, ahead of schedule from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2031.

#Textile chemistry

Suiting up Team Sonnenwagen with more sustainable sportswear created through a three-way partnership

Team Sonnenwagen Aachen, a solar racing collective from RWTH Aachen and FH Aachen, Germany, is on a mission to advance sustainable mobility solutions and become world champions. This August, the student team will participate in the 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, a biannual 3,000-kilometer race across the Australian outback. During the five-day event, 50 student teams from around the world will compete with solar vehicles that they must design, assemble, and drive themselves.

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#Technical Textiles

Technical textiles for more and new business

KARL MAYER's composite machines and warp knitting machines with weft insertion produce technical textiles offering an impressive variety of properties and textures. The range of tasks these textiles can perform is as broad as the spectrum of their possible fields of application. Both newcomers with the right textile solution and already established players can trust their business will flourish, as demonstrated by the examples from KARL MAYER's Technical Textiles division at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025. The exhibition at stand A 301 in Hall 5 of the Singapore EXPO focuses on two areas: filtration and construction.

#ITMA Asia + CITME Singapore 2025

KARL MAYER puts textiles centre stage

For KARL MAYER, textiles are much more than just materials – they express function, emotion and progress. And they are at the heart of its customers' activities. KARL MAYER is now focusing more than ever on its customers' needs and plans and therefore on the textiles made on its machines: WARP KNITS. At the upcoming ITMA ASIA + CITME, the company will demonstrate how textile solutions are providing new impetus in the categories of Fashion & Clothing and Technical Textiles.

#Natural Fibers

ICAC releases 2025 edition of the Specialty Cotton Report

The ICAC has released the newest edition of the Specialty Cotton Report, a free publication that was created in 2023 to highlight the many new "identity cotton programs" that have been emerging around the world, in addition to covering long-staple (LS) and extra-long staple (ELS) cotton. For the ICAC's purposes, "specialty cotton" refers to any cotton that is remarkable in some way — LS, ELS, or falls under a specific identity program.

#Fabrics

Pioneering functional excellence and trusted innovation for the evolving sports apparel industry

ROICA™, the premium stretch fiber by Asahi Kasei, proudly announces its highly antici-pated debut at Performance Days this October in Munich. As the sports apparel industry continues its rapid evolution, ROICA™ steps onto this global stage to showcase its ad-vanced functionality, trusted brand reliability, and commitment to environmentally con-scious innovation.

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