#Techtextil 2026

2026-04-15

Stylish design made from sustainable materials – two DITF research projects receive Techtextil Innovation Awards

The highly flexible composite material NUO © 2026 Photo: DITF

Materials made from domestic, renewable raw materials reduce CO₂ emissions, prevent microplastics from entering the environment, and close the material cycle. The German Institutes for Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) are developing nature-based alternatives to synthetically produced and predominantly petroleum-based materials. Two research projects have received a prestigious Techtextil Innovation Award. NUO Flexholz and the lignin-coated material FormLig demonstrate that sustainable concepts can meet high standards of functionality and design. Both projects were carried out in close collaboration with industry.

NUO FlexHolz

Schorn&Groh GmbH, NUO GmbH, and DITF have developed the decorative composite material NUO FlexHolz. This highly flexible material consists of real wood veneer, hemp or cellulose fabric, and a newly developed lignin-based adhesive layer. It is made entirely from renewable raw materials and is biodegradable. By eliminating synthetic adhesives, CO₂ emissions and microplastics are further reduced.

The material combines the natural look and feel of wood with the flexibility of textiles. The technical basis is precise laser microsegmentation: after lamination, only the veneer layer is finely structured, while the textile substrate and lignin layer remain intact. This allows the material to be bent and shaped while remaining permanently dimensionally stable. NUO FlexHolz can be used in a variety of applications, such as in automotive interiors, interior design, furniture manufacturing, or the apparel industry.

FormLig

During the FormLig project, cellulose yarns were coated with lignin-containing compounds. The material is then knitted into semi-finished products and thermally shaped. The knitting process produces a semi-flexible knit fabric that fuses into an open-cell composite material through the targeted melting of the lignin coating. The material can be shaped almost freely in three dimensions, enabling a wide variety of geometries.

FormLig consists exclusively of biodegradable raw materials. Cellulose and lignin can be sourced from regional value chains. Lignin is produced in large quantities as a byproduct of the paper industry. Neither microplastics nor landfill waste are generated.

Self-supporting lampshade made of FormLig. © 2026 Photo: DITF

The composite combines renewable resources with functional material properties and opens up a wide range of design and application possibilities. DITF’s project partners are the Spek DESIGN studio and the companies Buck and TECNARO.

The awards will be presented at a ceremony on April 21 in Frankfurt am Main at Techtextil, the leading international trade fair for technical textiles and nonwovens.

Fabolose: Fabricating vegan and circular leather alternatives from bio-tech-derived cellulose

Fabulose is an EU funded project coordinated by the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF). Its consortium consists of leading research institutes, biotech innovators, and industry stakeholders who aim to create high-performance, biobased and recyclable leather-like fabrics, using efficient biotech production routes for bacterial cellulose, cyanophycin and bacterial pigments

More safety and comfort for protective clothing thanks to auxetic fabrics

When everyday materials are pulled, they stretch or elongate in the direction of the pull and become narrower in cross-section. We can also observe this property in two-dimensional textiles. Auxetic structures behave differently here. They have the striking property of not changing under tensile stress or even increasing their width or thickness. These properties are advantageous, for example, in protective textiles or textile filter media. The DITF are researching auxetic fabrics for various applications.

Panty liners prevent bacterial vaginosis

Worldwide, almost one third of women of childbearing age suffer from bacterial vaginosis. This is when the sensitive microbiome of the vagina becomes unbalanced. Such a disorder of the vaginal flora can cause urogenital infections, abscesses on the ovaries or fallopian tubes or premature births. This significantly increases the risk of infertility in women and of contracting a sexually transmitted disease or HIV.

Young talents honoured – 60 years Walter Reiners Foundation

At the Techtextil trade fair in Frankfurt at the end of April, Peter D. Dornier, chairman of the VDMA’s Walter Reiners Foundation, presented awards to five successful young engineers. Promotion and sustainability awards were presented in the categories of bachelor’s/project theses and diploma/master’s theses. Academic theses are eligible for the sustainability awards if, for example, they develop solutions for resource-efficient products and technologies.

Techtextil 2026: KARL MAYER impresses as an innovative sector partner

KARL MAYER looks back with satisfaction on its participation in Techtextil 2026. From April 21 to 24, the international industry leader used the trade show in Frankfurt to meet with numerous key customers at its booth and, at the same time, establish many new contacts. Most visitors came from Germany, followed by major markets such as Poland, the United Kingdom, Turkey, France, and Portugal.

Speed and connectivity: Techtextil and Texprocess provided market-ready solutions for industries under pressure

With more than 36,000 visitors and 1,700 exhibitors from a total of 112 countries, Techtextil and Texprocess 2026 demonstrated how innovation comes into industrial use. The convergence of research, industry and application proved to be a breeding ground for new material solutions, manufacturing and processing technologies. Natural fibres, performance apparel, connected systems and AI-driven processing technologies emerged as key growth and future markets.

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.