ITMA 2019 sustainable innovation award finalists unveiled

CEMATEX, the European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers, has unveiled the finalists of the second ITMA Sustainable Innovation Award. The award comprises two categories: ITMA Industry Excellence Award which celebrates the collaboration of ITMA exhibitors and their customers, and the ITMA Research & Innovation (R&I) Excellence Award for Master’s students of R&I Pavilion exhibiting institutions.

Fritz P. Mayer, President of CEMATEX, and one of the judges of the Industry Excellence Award said: “CEMATEX launched the ITMA Sustainable Innovation Award in 2015 as part of its ongoing efforts to recognise outstanding industry members and post-graduate students for their contributions to the sustainable development of the global textile and garment industry.” He added, “As the world continues to face sustainability challenges, it is heartening to see the successful collaboration between technology providers and industry users, which benefits consumers and has a positive impact on the environment and business bottom line. We would like to congratulate all the finalists for their outstanding efforts.” 

The award recognises textile and garment manufacturers who have leveraged technological innovations to advance business sustainability that benefit people, planet and profit. The panel of judges selected the following three finalists who have worked closely with ITMA 2019 exhibitors to introduce innovative solutions to their production process or products:

• Candiani SpA:

Innovation: Candiani Re-Gen: Creating Circular Denim

Nominated by ITMA exhibitor: Lenzing AG

One of Europe’s largest denim producer, Candiani SpA created a denim fabric using regenerated and recycled raw materials to commemorate its 80th anniversary. 50% of the Re-Gen fabric comprises Tencel x Refibra Lyocell made from pulp from cotton scraps and wood pulp using Lenzing’s closed-loop process; the other 50% consists of post-industrial recycled Candiani fibres. Candiani’s fabrics are also dyed using green technologies, resulting in substantial reduction in the use of water and chemicals in the fabric production and jean washing process.

• Levi Strauss & Co

Innovation: FLX Customisation Studio

Nominated by ITMA exhibitor: Jeanologia S.L

Winner of the first ITMA Sustainable Innovation Award in 2015, Levi Strauss & Co continues to break new ground with the FLX Customisation Studio. The studio revolutionalises in-store customisation by allowing customers to pick their denim finish and create a unique pair of jeans in less than two hours. It is a mobile installation where technologies needed for a sustainable garment finishing are found within two 40-feet containers that can be taken anywhere. Leveraging Jeanologia’s water recycling system, H2Zero, the studio operates on 100% recycled water.

• VF Corporation

Innovation: All-in-One System

Nominated by ITMA exhibitor: Tonello S.R.L.

One of the world’s largest apparel, footwear and accessories companies, VF Corporation leverages Tonello’s garment finishing system for its Wrangler® and Lee® denim brands. The All-in-One System combines four technologies that drastically reduces the water needed in the finishing stages of jean manufacturing to 13.5 l/kg, compared with the traditional process requiring almost 100 l/kg. Besides saving energy, it also cuts down chemical consumption, processing times and total production costs.

The Award recognises outstanding achievements in textile and garment related post-graduate research. The finalists are:

• Mathias Zidda, Institut Für Textiltechnik, RWTH Aachen University

Thesis: Development of a gear driven 3D rotational braiding machine and its control concept

• Pamela Massaccesi, Universidad De Buenos Aires

Thesis: TUTTI – Reusable Food Wrapping

• Sarika Sunil Borikar, D.K.T.E. Society’s Textile & Engineering Institute

Thesis: Sanitary Napkin: A Greener Approach

One of the judges of the R&I award, Mr Prof Vladan Koncar, Distinguished Professor at ENSAIT (Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Industries Textiles), commented: “Many of the submissions by the students have innovative concepts with the potential to be commercially viable when further developed and ready for the market. A number of them are also excellent sustainable solutions that answers the environmental and social concerns of today.”

The winners of the ITMA Sustainable Innovation Award will be announced at a prize presentation ceremony at ITMA 2019 on 20 June, immediately following the press conference.

ITMA 2019 will be held from 20 to 26 June at Fira de Barcelona, Gran Via venue. The exhibition will feature over 1,700 exhibitors who will be showcasing their latest technologies and sustainable solutions for the entire textile and garment manufacturing value chain, as well as fibres, yarns and fabrics. Visitors can enjoy online visitor badge rates when registering at www.itma.com. For information and updates, download the ITMA 2019 app.