Germany's Nova-Institute honours innovations at 2024 conference

The Cellulose Fibre Innovation of the Year 2024 award was won by German Institutes for Textile and Fibre Research Denkendorf (DITF) & VRETENA (Germany) for their Straw Flexi-Dress, blending design with sustainability. Inspired by the natural attributes of HighPerCell (HPC) filaments derived from unbleached straw pulp, the Flexi-Dress showcases an environmentally conscious creation. Produced via eco-friendly spinning in a closed-loop process, it emphasises a local, circular fashion ethos. This versatile knitted dress, adaptable for various settings, splits into two separate pieces—a top and a skirt, with the top offering a reversible V-neck feature, highlighting its comfort and emotional design.

"The Herewear project has taught us that innovation and success can only come from the collaboration of creative and motivated people from the whole textile value chain,” said Marc Philip Vocht, DITF.

Second place was secured by Honext Material (Spain) with their HONEXT Board FR-B (B-s1, d0), a flame-retardant board innovated from 100 per cent upcycled fibre waste from the paper industry. Leveraging biotechnological advancements, this material repurposes paper sludge into a recyclable, resin-free board with excellent mechanical performance and fire safety qualifications. Non-toxic and boasting a carbon-negative footprint, the board is certified Cradle-to-Cradle GOLD, underpinning its contribution to a sustainable built environment.

“Been awarded 2nd prize is a significant recognition of our team's dedication and innovative efforts in advancing cellulose applications. It underscores the critical role of cellulose in driving us towards a more sustainable and circular economy,” said Pol Merino, Honext Material.

TreeToTextile (Sweden) took third place, introducing a sustainable, resource-efficient cellulose-based fibre, poised to potentially replace conventional materials like cotton, viscose, and polyester. This bio-based fibre, distinguishable by its cotton-like feel and viscose-like appearance, is produced with minimal chemical, energy, and water inputs. Endorsed by a third-party verified LCA, the fibre’s low environmental impact, alongside its biodegradability and traceability, marks a significant step forward in the textile industry's move towards sustainability.

“The Cellulose Fibres Conference is the perfect mix of industrial and academic participants for networking, finding collaboration partners and discovering new innovations and research within the field,” said Maria Gunnarsson, TreeToTextile.

Attended by industry professionals and experts, the conference revealed the industry's bright future, underpinned by significant innovations in textiles, hygiene, construction, and packaging. This year's event emphasised the crucial role of cellulose fibres in reducing reliance on single-use plastics, aligning with Europe's Single Use Plastics Directive (SUPD), Nova-Institute said in a press release.

“We received very positive feedback from the participants for the focus on cellulose fibres, the in-depth content and the good atmosphere as well as the many new contacts along the entire value chain," said Asta Partanen from the Nova-Institute, responsible for the content of the conference.

The conference featured 40 international speakers who delved into the latest market trends and the high innovation capacity within the cellulose fibre sector. New technologies for recycling cellulose-rich materials were introduced, highlighting strides towards a circular economy. The event fostered engaging panel discussions, with audience members actively participating both in-person in Cologne and online. With 214 attendees and 23 exhibitors from 27 countries, the conference cemented its status as a premier networking venue for the global cellulose fibre industry.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)