62nd Dornbirn GFC in Austria to explore sustainability & innovation

Connecting the textile value chain, from fibre to end user, succeeds with the participation of visitors from 34 countries, from fibre, textile industry to brands and retail.

Plenary lectures on the opening day include ‘Circularity: The new business model’; ‘The EU Sustainable Textiles Strategy - its impact on the global textile ecosystem’; ‘2030 - a new Textile World Order’; and ‘Energy innovations – the key to climate neutrality’.

‘Circularity: The new business model’ presentation by Stephan Sielaff, CEO of Lenzing AG, will provide insight into this cutting-edge issue in the fibre industry and will highlight this topic from the perspective of the leader in the cellulose fibre industry.

‘The EU Sustainable Textiles Strategy - its impact on the global textile ecosystem’ - with this topic Dirk Vantyghem, CEO EURATEX will give an overview into the EU textile strategy and the preparations of the planned legislation. The upcoming changes for European/Global textile companies will be enormous. EURATEX asks the European institutions to create a consistent and intelligent regulatory framework, to provide financial resources for investments in innovation and to stimulate the demand for sustainable textiles.

The long-standing sponsor of the Dornbirn GFC, the company Gherzi Textil Organisation AG, will be represented by CEO Giuseppe Gherzi with the title ‘2030 - a new Textile World Order’ and will focus on the new way forward for the global textile industry.

Dornbirn GFC has also announced the participation of large energy provider Verbund AG at the congress. Innovation director Rudolf Zauner will give a presentation ‘Energy innovations – the key to climate neutrality’ enlightening the importance of the fibre and textile industry in this context.

The aim of the Dornbirn GFC is to present sustainable innovations in the fibre industry. Central topics include sustainability and circular economy. Cooperations are a necessity in this context and the Dornbirn GFC acts as a network generator. RWTH Aachen has entered into such a cooperation with the industry partners and offers a whole block of lectures on Friday morning, the organiser Austrian Fiber Institute said in a press release.

Title selections are Automation and digitalization of textile sorting for reuse and recycling; Sustainable recycling: How length-preserving tearing contributes to the production of high-quality yarn; From mixed waste to recycling feedstock – automated sorting and pre-processing of post-consumer textiles; Condition monitoring with intelligent sensor fibres to enable sustainable technologies; and Potentials and opportunities for the use of shape memory fibres in 4D textiles.

3rd Innovation Days: The innovators were organised in cooperation with FashionForGood and PWC. The series of lectures of more than 20 participants ranged from the topics of light-curing processes for stretch textiles, upcycled flexible foam from natural fibres to quantification methods for recycled fibres in fabrics and yarns.

Award ceremonies will also be held at the 62^nd Dornbirn GFC 2023. The ‘Young Scientist Award’ of Lenzing AG will be awarded again this year at the Dornbirn GFC. As one of the leading innovators in sustainably produced fibres and fabrics, Lenzing AG has been in an excellent position for decades. Through contact with young scientists, research and development can be advanced and innovative and technological progress is guaranteed. The Lenzing Young Scientist Award will be awarded with €5,000.

Man-made fibres research innovations at universities and research institutes are supported with the annual awarding of the Paul Schlack Prize as well as cooperation with the industry with the Honorary Prize. In 2023, European Man-Made Fibres Association (CIRFS), Brussels/Belgium, will continue the tradition at the 62^nd Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress (GFC) from September 13-15, 2023, in Dornbirn/Austria highlighting R&D excellence at the plenary session.

The Main Paul Schlack Prize will be awarded with €3,000 for an author of a theme from a university or research institute. The Honorary Prize will be presented for a project leader of a joint research project between a university/research institute and industry.

Dornbirn GFC 2023 key topics are Fiber innovation & Bio Materials; Sustainability & Circular Economy; Nonwovens & Technical Textiles; and Apparel & Sports.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)