Rivertex invests in R&D to create technically advanced, sustainable solutions
Rivertex Technical Fabrics, founded in 1980 and part of the Switzerland-based Winter Group, is a leading global supplier of technical coated and laminated fabrics and films. Renowned for its commitment to innovation, quality, and sustainability, Rivertex serves a broad range of markets with high-performance textile solutions. Reinforcing its dedication to environmental responsibility, the company recently launched Rivercyclon 450 FR—the world’s first fully recyclable flame-retardant polypropylene fabric. This mono-material alternative to PVC sets a new benchmark in both fire safety and sustainability, further establishing Rivertex as a pioneer in technical textile innovation.
In a conversation with Fibre2Fashion, Boris Gaasbeek, Marketing Manager at Rivertex, discusses the company’s innovation strategy, product development philosophy, and how it is shaping the future of sustainable technical textiles.
Rivertex positions itself as a trusted partner in technical fabrics. How do you maintain transparency and reliability across such a diverse global client base?
Rivertex maintains transparency and reliability through close collaboration with customers, offering expert guidance, and ensuring that products are fit-for-purpose. Our global presence, combined with local knowledge and a focus on clear, honest communication, supports a consistent client experience across regions.
How has the affiliation with Winter Group influenced your global reach and access to technology or resources?
As part of the Winter Group, we benefit from enhanced global distribution, technical collaboration, and access to a broad network of innovation resources. This partnership supports Rivertex in reaching new markets and accelerating product development.
Rivertex emphasises producing fit-for-purpose rather than over- or under-engineered products. Can you share how this philosophy shapes your product development?
The fit-for-purpose approach ensures that each fabric meets specific application needs without unnecessary complexity or environmental burden. For example, Rivertex replaces multi-polymer PVC fabrics with simpler, recyclable alternatives like Rivercyclon, helping customers meet performance and sustainability targets.
How do you ensure continuous innovation while maintaining quality and cost-efficiency?
Rivertex invests in R&D to create technically advanced, sustainable solutions. Innovations like Rivercyclon (a mono-polymer, recyclable fabric) result from this focus. We balance innovation with efficiency by developing durable, compliant, and lightweight alternatives to over-engineered fabrics—often simplifying material composition to reduce cost and environmental impact.
How has the adoption of solution dyeing technique influenced Rivertex’s product portfolio and production strategy?
Solution dyeing reduces water usage, energy consumption, and emissions. It has enabled Rivertex to offer more sustainable coloured fabrics while improving UV resistance and colourfastness. This technique aligns with our environmental strategy and enhances product appeal for eco-conscious markets.
What motivated Rivertex to develop a flame-retardant fabric based entirely on polypropylene, and how long did the R&D process take?
The motivation was to create a recyclable, non-toxic alternative to PVC-coated fabrics. Rivercyclon 450 FR was designed to meet fire safety standards while aligning with sustainability goals. Its development took over one year of R&D to overcome technical challenges.
Rivercyclon 450 FR is a first in terms of combining flame retardancy with full recyclability. What technological challenges did you face in achieving this?
Key challenges included incorporating flame retardant properties into polypropylene—a polymer not naturally fire-resistant—without compromising recyclability. Ensuring compliance with standards while maintaining processability and cost-efficiency was also a major hurdle.
How significant is the material’s mono-polymer design for recyclability, and are there systems in place to collect and recycle the material at end-of-life?
The mono-polymer design is critical, making it easier to recycle than multi-material fabrics. While global collection systems are still developing, Rivertex promotes collaboration with clients to ensure responsible end-of-life handling and supports closed-loop initiatives.
How does Rivertex ensure its fabrics remain recyclable and acceptable to most recycling companies?
Rivertex develops fabrics like Rivercyclon using a single polymer—in this case polypropylene—ensuring compatibility with standard recycling systems. By avoiding composite materials, we simplify the recycling process, making end-of-life management more feasible for customers.
With increasing global demand for sustainable construction and event materials, how do you plan to scale production and ensure global availability of Rivercyclon 450 FR?
Rivertex is scaling production by investing in manufacturing capacity and leveraging our global network. We are also educating markets on Rivercyclon’s benefits to accelerate adoption in different application areas.
How is the demand for sustainable technical textiles evolving across different industries?
Demand is growing across tents & structures, sun-shading, transport, industrial, marine and medical sectors. Clients are seeking materials that meet performance standards while supporting circularity and reducing environmental impact. Rivertex is responding with innovative, compliant, and recyclable products.
What role do regulatory standards (e.g. REACH, OEKO-TEX, ISO) play in shaping innovation and competitiveness within the technical fabrics sector?
These standards drive innovation by setting safety, environmental, and quality benchmarks. Rivertex aligns with REACH, OEKO-TEX, and ISO to ensure product compliance, gain customer trust, and access regulated markets.
How are advances in coating technologies, fibre engineering, and lamination influencing the future capabilities of technical textiles?
New coatings and lamination techniques enable lighter, stronger, and more sustainable fabrics. Fibre engineering allows customisation of performance traits like breathability, durability, and fire resistance. Rivertex adopts these to meet changing industry needs while reducing environmental impact.
What are the biggest hurdles the industry faces in recycling or reusing technical fabrics, especially those used in sectors like medical, defence, or outdoor gear?
The main challenges include complex material compositions, contamination risks, and lack of recycling infrastructure. Rivertex addresses this by designing mono-material fabrics like Rivercyclon and working on partnerships for end-of-life solutions.
How is digitalisation—such as smart fabrics, digital twins, or AI-driven performance testing—reshaping R&D and product development in technical textiles?
At Rivertex, we closely follow developments in digitalisation, including innovations like smart fabrics, digital twins, and AI-driven performance testing. While we are not actively applying these technologies in our current product development processes, we recognise their potential to transform the technical textiles industry. As these tools mature and align more closely with our sustainability and performance goals, we are open to exploring their integration into future R&D initiatives.
