ITMAconnect: Specialists Explore The Textile Industry's Pressing Concerns

Five major themes are expected to impact the global textile and clothing industry in the next few years, namely: the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), digitalisation and automation; circularity; fibre options, fibre sorting and textile recycling; energy savings and financing; and the European Green Deal and its implications. These themes were debated during a series of ITMAconnect webinars organised by CEMATEX, which comprises nine national European textile machinery associations and owns the world’s largest textile and garment technology exhibition, ITMA (International Exhibition of Textile Machinery). On the topic of artificial intelligence (AI), digitalisation and automation, it was agreed that digitalisation of product development, for instance, has already streamlined many operational practices and it was noted that advances in digital technology and tightening legislation could force the industry to move to a near-shoring on-demand production model. On the topic of circularity, it was revealed that Indorama is investing in key new technologies which are ready to be scaled, notably an enzymatic PET recycling plant in France and biotransformation technology which alters the properties of polyolefin feedstocks in order to make them biodegradable. On the topic of fibre options, fibre sorting and textile recycling, it was noted that many fibre blends can cause difficulties when it comes to the recycling of post-consumer textile waste and it was suggested that these difficulties can be avoided if conscious decisions are made at the design stage to embrace monomaterial design principles. However, some complex fibre blends are crucial in providing a range of necessary functions and a number of major textile and clothing companies are responding by using recycled and bio-based fibres in order to pursue sustainability and circularity objectives. On the topic of energy savings and financing, it was noted that some textile manufacturers are focusing their efforts on energy-saving projects in order to make gains in terms of environmental sustainability. Such projects show potential for being effective in the industry’s major manufacturing hubs in Asia—and technical help and financing are becoming increasingly available to realise such projects.