The Green River facility produces soda ash and sodium bicarbonate from trona, a naturally occurring mineral. These products are used in numerous applications including flat glass for building insulation, container glass, detergents, animal feed, food and flue gas treatment, as well as fast growing markets for solar panels and lithium carbonate for electric battery vehicles.

“Solvay is determined to undertake its energy transition and reduce its carbon footprint through a number of initiatives, including coal phase-out. From today, we will no longer use coal at Green River. The decision to power this strategic, natural soda ash facility with natural gas enhances Solvay’s long-term competitiveness and sustainability,” said Philippe Kehren, Solvay CEO.

The Green River plant historically used coal as a primary energy source. Solvay’s global sustainability goals include a commitment to phase out coal for energy production before 2030. By 2025, overall emissions from Green River will have decreased by 20% compared to 2021, despite a 25% increase in production.

Following acquisition of the plant’s full ownership, Solvay announced plans in November 2022 to resume the construction of a 600 kiloton soda ash capacity expansion. The completion of the new terminal at the port of Vancouver US will support this expanded capacity and meet customers’ growing demand for a secure, competitive and decarbonized supply of soda ash.

“The capacity expansion remains on track, with production set to begin early next year,” said Philippe Kehren. “On top of the coal phase-out, Green River will soon deploy innovative technology to further reduce its emissions. Solvay is the first company to implement regenerative thermal oxidation to abate greenhouse gas emissions in a trona mine.”

Solvay operates seven soda ash plants worldwide. Beyond Green River, coal is being phased out at two plants, located in France and Germany. By the end of 2024, Solvay’s Rheinberg, Germany site will become the first soda ash plant in the world to be powered primarily with renewable energy. The last two Solvay plants using coal for energy production, located in Spain and Bulgaria, have also begun their journey with partial introduction of biomass and gas.

Posted: February 12, 2024

Source: Solvay

INDA’s sustainability endeavor will center around three core pillars crucial to the industry’s future: Responsible Sourcing, End-of-Life Solutions, and Innovations in Sustainability. This multifaceted initiative will introduce a spectrum of new and enhanced offerings, including:

1. Cutting-edge webinars addressing sustainability issues impacting members and the industry.
2. Specialized technical and government affairs committees enabling members to collaborate on sustainability opportunities and challenges.
3. The inaugural release of a comprehensive sustainability report from INDA’s Market Intelligence department.
4. A dedicated sustainability special edition of the International Fiber Journal, produced by INDA Media.
5. Significantly enriched sustainability programming at INDA events, including a dedicated focus at the IDEA® 2025 conference.

“INDA member companies are at the forefront of innovation, actively investing in research and development to pioneer eco-friendly materials, explore alternative production processes, and integrate recycled and biodegradable materials, all while advancing circularity,” stated INDA President Tony Fragnito. “This heightened emphasis on sustainability resonates with the nonwovens industry’s dedication to minimizing environmental impact, and underscores INDA’s commitment to driving positive change within the industry to meet evolving member and customer desire for minimizing environmental impact,” he continued.

As INDA embraces sustainability as a theme for 2024, its commitment extends far beyond this year’s horizon. Ongoing efforts will continue to evolve and expand, with a strategic emphasis on amplifying influence and fostering relationships with stakeholders beyond the industry’s confines. INDA anticipates close collaboration with its members and welcomes their feedback on how the association can serve the needs of the industry on this important topic.

Posted: February 12, 2024

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

As the maintenance, repowering, and retrofitting of existing wind turbine blades is poised to become a more prominent industry facet, there is a demand for innovative solutions to reduce landfill waste, which has been the standard disposal destination for replaced turbine blades. RNWBL, a prominent figure in wind turbine maintenance and repowering and other renewable energy services, has entered into a strategic collaboration with DE to explore and develop strategies that empower their clients to minimize waste generation and discover financially viable avenues for recycling.

Leveraging DE’s proficiency in cementitious and concrete materials, the collaborative team has successfully identified and manufactured materials derived from wind turbine blades. These materials enhance the strength, durability, and longevity of concrete, contributing to sustainable construction practices. Moreover, the team has devised a practical in-situ execution plan to minimize transportation costs and carbon emissions.

Objectives of the Project: The main objective of this project is to develop innovative solutions for recycling wind turbine materials, especially fiber-reinforced composites and critical minerals. The project will explore various aspects of the recycling process, including collection, transportation, separation, recovery, reuse, and disposal. Additionally, the project will evaluate the environmental, economic, and social benefits of recycling wind turbine materials, addressing potential market opportunities and barriers.

DE and RNWBL look forward to collaborating with stakeholders from the wind energy industry, recycling industry, academia, and government agencies to ensure the feasibility and scalability of the proposed solutions. This partnership signifies a crucial step towards achieving a sustainable and circular approach to wind turbine materials, contributing significantly to the green transformation of the energy sector.

Posted: February 8, 2024

Source: RNWBL

Anthropologie’s A Greater Good platform outlines the brands priority of being a force for good in better service to our planet, its people, and their products, and details their journey to becoming more environmentally responsible and socially conscious. Through conservation initiatives, partnering with a diverse array of non-profit partners, and working to ensure the products they sell are ethically sourced, the brand hopes to incite meaningful change.

“At Anthropologie, we are committed to creating a more sustainable future and being mindful of our environmental impact on the planet across our business operations,” states Elizabeth Preis, Anthropologie Group’s Global Chief Marketing Officer. “We are thrilled to be growing our participation with Cotton’s Blue Jeans Go Green program and to bring our incredibly loyal community along to join in our sustainability efforts. I am confident that through this relationship, we will grow Anthropologie’s denim circularity initiative, support in waste-reduction, and reduce our overall environmental impact.”

“We are thrilled that cotton circularity and the Blue Jeans Go Green program is a part of Anthropologie’s continued sustainability journey” said Andrea Samber, director of consumer marketing, brand partnerships for Cotton Incorporated. “Anthropologie’s commitment to drive action via a circular model aligns with Cotton’s core values and efforts in protecting our planet so that it can flourish by keeping denim waste out of landfills.”

This will be the third consecutive year Anthropologie will be taking part in the Blue Jeans Go Green program and has evolved denim recycling to be implemented as a year-round, always on initiative. Customers of Anthropologie will be invited to recycle any type of denim apparel item as long as it’s made of 90 percent cotton or greater, anytime throughout the year. Additionally, to show their continued commitment, Anthropologie has set the goal of diverting 10 tons of denim by the end of 2025.

Posted: February 5, 2024

Source: Anthropologie

Indorama Ventures actively participates in the annual EcoVadis assessment to measure its sustainable practices, ensuring alignment with the diverse requirements of key customers across various business segments and operations. In the latest evaluation for 2024, the company achieved a Platinum Medal, the highest award for sustainability performance, with an outstanding score of 80, surpassing last year’s score of 77. Indorama Ventures is ranked in the top 1 percent of all companies assessed within the primary industries of basic chemicals, outperforming companies worldwide. The company demonstrated above industry-average performance in all four assessment areas: environment, labor human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement.

Yash Lohia, chairman of the ESG Council at Indorama Ventures, said, “Recognition by EcoVadis is a key achievement in Indorama Ventures’ sustainability journey and best-in-class performance. Our commitment to sustainability extends across our business and the entire supply chain. We are proud to be recognized for our collaboration with suppliers to enhance sustainable practices and efforts to help our customers reach their sustainability goals. This award demonstrates our operational excellence and ability to bring to life our vision of being a world-class sustainable chemical company making great products for society.”

EcoVadis, a renowned provider of business sustainability ratings, evaluates companies across more than 200 purchasing categories in 175 countries worldwide.

Posted: February 2, 2024

Source: Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited

As described in the Cradle to Cradle Certified® (C2C Certified®) Product Standard Version 4.0, Material Health certification indicates that “Chemicals and materials used in the product are selected to prioritize the protection of human health and the environment, generating a positive impact on the quality of materials available for future use and cycling.”

To meet these levels of certification, 100 percent of the materials that comprise Thrive matter nylon 6 fiber have been assessed and found to be optimized for material health both in terms of optimal substances it does contain, undesirable substances it does not contain, and its emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This assessment also serve as the foundation for a material health optimization strategy to further improve material health over time.

Anna Plumb, vice president of Universal Fibers sales and marketing for Europe celebrates “Now our customers who select Thrive® matter nylon 6 can proceed with assurance that their products can in turn pursue C2C Certified certification. And they can be proud to have made the best environmental impact possible in their choice of fiber.”

The C2C Certified Material Health Certificate offers a solution to growing industry and consumer interest in knowing more about the chemicals used in products across their supply chains and avoiding chemicals of concern. By using the rigorous, globally recognized material health assessment methodology of the C2C Certified Product Standard, the Material Health Certificate provides manufacturers with a trusted means of assessing, optimizing, and verifying their product chemistries for safety and the environment. The material health evaluation of Thrive® matter was executed by third-party C2C accredited assessor WAP Sustainability.

“We enthusiastically embrace the C2C Certified standard,” said M. Ranae Anderson, Global Sustainability Leader for Universal Fibers. “It is another of the many ways we work to hold ourselves accountable for the impact our fibers have both upstream—influencing the supply chains that feed us—and downstream through our customers’ products that help people thrive.”

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Universal Fibers on their first C2C Certified Material Health Certificate for Thrive matter,” said William Paddock, co-founder & managing director of WAP Sustainability. “We know how many of Universal Fibers’ customers are committed to C2C, and by obtaining a Material Health Certificate, they are communicating their commitment to transparency and extending industry leadership in Cradle to Cradle Design.”

Posted: January 30, 2024

Source: Universal Fibers, Inc.

Protein Evolution’s Biopure technology uses AI-designed enzymes to break down polyester waste and transform it into the building blocks of new polyester. By leveraging Basecamp Research’s biodiversity mapping system, Protein Evolution will unlock previously inaccessible enzymes that target polyurethane and polyamide waste. These complex materials significantly hamper the pursuit of circularity in both the fashion industry and several other sectors. Polyurethane, commonly found in products like spandex, mattresses, sofas, car seats, and insulation panels, poses a substantial recycling challenge. Similarly, polyamide is used in athleisure, fishing nets, and various other technical products. Together, these materials account for a notable 10 percent of global plastic production. Their complex composition makes them notoriously difficult to recycle, leading to their accumulation in landfills and incinerators.

“Up until now, the biological recycling of polyamide and polyurethane waste has only been explored in the lab. This collaboration with Basecamp Research will change that,” said Connor Lynn, co-founder and chief business officer of Protein Evolution. “Our Biopure technology provides a viable solution for petrochemical companies, manufacturers and brands as we work to meet global decarbonization goals and lessen the burden of fashion waste on our planet.”

The strategic collaboration between Protein Evolution and Basecamp Research will focus on designing novel enzymes that can break down the long chemical chains of polyurethane and nylon into their constituent precursor molecules. In addition to being fully circular, textile and plastic products made from these recycled ingredients will have a significantly lower carbon footprint, while maintaining the quality and strength of virgin plastic.

“We’re thrilled to be a foundational technology partner for Protein Evolution’s ambitious vision for a decarbonized plastics industry, which has already captured the attention of numerous leading brands,” said Dr. Glen Gowers, co-founder of Basecamp Research. “Our teams share the same belief that nature is our best inspiration for solving our planet’s most pressing challenges. We cannot wait to combine our highly complementary technologies and dive further into Basecamp Research’s unrivaled map of microbial biodiversity to supercharge Protein Evolution’s development and scale-up of enzymatic plastic recycling processes.”

Basecamp Research has a unique advantage when designing enzymes to degrade man-made materials, as their global research team and biodiversity partners are constantly and intentionally sampling in environments that are understudied and industrially relevant, including contaminated soils and waters. With over six billion relationships between genes, genomes, environments, and other biologically relevant data in Basecamp Research’s map of biodiversity, their AI platform draws on comprehensive real-world data to predict the physical and functional properties of their designed proteins.

By combining Basecamp Research’s platform with Protein Evolution’s scale-up expertise, this collaboration will accelerate the development timelines of novel enzymes for biological recycling from years to months.

Posted: January 24, 2024

Source: Protein Evolution, Inc./Basecamp Research

BRUSSELS — January 23, 2024 — The Bureau of International Recycling is pleased to announce the arrival of a new member of staff, Federico Zanotti, who joined the BIR advocacy team on Monday, 15 January 2024.

Federico has around four years of professional experience at global level in international trade, energy markets and diplomacy. His expertise is specifically marked by first-hand experience in the non-ferrous metals and critical raw materials sectors. Notably, he worked for a Chinese critical raw material supplier for the aluminum industry, where he was responsible for developing the company’s export business in Europe and the Middle East.

Expanding his experience in hard-commodity markets, Federico also worked as an energy journalist in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, where he conducted exclusive face-to-face interviews with energy executives, consultants and policymakers, covering a diverse range of topics from renewables and decarbonization technologies to trade and investment in energy and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG).

In his capacity as advisor at the Permanent Mission of San Marino to international organizations in Vienna, Federico gained valuable experience in regulatory and international affairs at the United Nations (UN) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) levels.

Of Italian and Sammarinese nationality, Federico pursued his education at various universities in Italy, Austria and China, gaining a profound knowledge in international relations and international economic policy. His language proficiency includes fluent English and Italian, complemented by sound communication skills in French, German and Chinese Mandarin.

“Federico’s knowledge of the commodities sector, coupled with his impressive academic and professional background, makes him an ideal addition to our growing international advocacy team and BIR’s multilingual secretariat”, says BIR Director General Arnaud Brunet.

BIR members will be able to meet Federico in person at the upcoming World Recycling Convention in Copenhagen.

Posted: January 23, 2024

Source: The Bureau Of International Recycling (BIR)

With loopamid, BASF has developed an innovative solution to improve circularity in the fashion industry and recycle polyamide 6 textile waste. Due to its capability to tolerate all fabric mixtures like PA6 and elastane, the cutting-edge technology behind loopamid allows textile-to-textile recycling of post-industrial and post-consumer textile waste. The fibers and materials can be recycled over multiple cycles. At the same time, the material characteristics are identical to those of conventional virgin polyamide.

“BASF has reached an important milestone towards circularity in the fashion industry and pioneered an approach to close the loop for nylon textiles,” said Dr. Ramkumar Dhruva, president of BASF’s Monomers division. “Our loopamid has the potential to revolutionize the PA6 market for the better. We are in the process of scaling up our technology to serve our customers with commercial quantities. The capsule jacket together with Inditex is the proof that circularity is possible, and we are eager to further drive the sustainable transformation of the textile industry.”

Inditex has partnered with other leading groups in the clothing manufacturing industry to seamlessly integrate loopamid into various garment components, including fabrics, zippers, buttons, fillings, hook and loop fasteners, and sewing threads. ModaRe, a take- back program operated by the charity organization Caritas, classified, sorted and provided discarded textiles as feedstock. The Italian company RadiciGroup has been working in the process of transforming loopamid polymer into various types of yarn with different characteristics. The multinational Japanese fastening products company YKK and multinational Velcro companies have also played crucial roles in utilizing loopamid polymer to create plastic components for zippers and snap buttons, and hook and loop fasteners. Uniter from Spain, Tessitura Vignetta from Italy and Freudenberg and Gütermann from Germany have also participated in this project to develop other garment components such as inner labels, filling materials and sewing threads using loopamid.

Javier Losada, Inditex’s chief sustainability officer, added: “Driving innovation is key to advancing towards a more responsible industry. This collaboration is a great example of how, by collaborating all together, we can use the new technology to transform textile waste into a new resource. This project is also a first step to move towards a circular solution, as the industry still needs to boost new collecting and recycling capacities in order to close the loop and scale recycling for post-consumer waste.”

The collaboration of BASF and Inditex is based on a joint journey — both companies are following ambitious sustainability goals. By the year 2030, BASF aims to double its sales generated with solutions for the circular economy to 17 billion euros. To achieve this, the company is concentrating on three action areas: circular feedstocks, new material cycles and new business models.

Inditex aims to have 100 percent of its textile products to be made exclusively from materials with a smaller environmental footprint by 2030. As part of this commitment, the group expects to have 25 percent of the textile fibers made from next-generation materials that do not yet exist at an industrial scale, 40 percent of conventional recycled materials and 25 percent of organic and regenerative fibers.

Polyamide 6, commonly known as nylon 6, is a type of synthetic polymer that is widely used in various applications due to its excellent mechanical properties and versatility. BASF is one of the leading manufacturers of polyamide 6 and its precursors, with production sites in Europe, Asia and North America.

Posted: January 23, 2024

Source: BASF and Inditex

The Asahi Kasei Group aims to contribute to a carbon-neutral material value chain by focusing on initiatives such as the use of biomass raw materials, recycled raw materials, and renewable energy while deepening collaboration with other companies based on its medium-term management plan for fiscal 2024 focused on the theme “Be a Trailblazer.”

The ISCC PLUS¹ certification ensures that biomass, recycled materials, etc., are appropriately managed in the whole supply chain including manufacturing. With the acquisition of this certification, Asahi Kasei will be able to provide ISCC PLUS certified grades of below products.

Company name	Product	Trade name
Asahi Kasei	Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE)	Tufprene and Asaprene T styrenic thermoplastic elastomer, Tuftec hydrogenated styrenic thermoplastic elastomer, S.O.E. hydrogenated styrenic thermoplastic elastomer
	Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR)	Asaprene solution-polymerized SBR
	Butadiene rubber (BR)	Asaprene polybutadiene rubber
	Polyethylene (PE)	Sunfine ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, Suntec LD low-density polyethylene, Suntec EVA ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, Suntec HD and Creolex high-density polyethylene
	Polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC)	Saran Wrap cling film
	Polyphenylene ether (PPE)	Xyron polyphenylene ether
	Polyamide (PA) compounds	Leona polyamide resin
	Styrene monomer
	Cyclohexanol and Cyclohexane
Japan Elastomer Co., Ltd.	Butadiene rubber (BR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), crude C4, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE)

This achievement follows the company’s commendable certification of a diverse range of below materials in 2022, solidifying its commitment to responsible material sourcing.

Company name	Product	Trade name
Asahi Kasei	Acrylonitrile (AN)
	Methyl methacrylate (MMA)
	Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)	Delpet and Delpowder
	Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR)	Tufdene solution-polymerized SBR
	Butadiene rubber (BR)	Diene and Asadene polybutadiene rubber
	Polyoxymethylene	Tenac polyacetal
	PP/PE compounds	Asaclean molding machine purging compound
Asahi Kasei Mitsubishi Chemical Ethylene Corp.	Ethylene, propylene, etc.
Okayama Butadiene Co., Ltd.	Butadiene

¹ ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) is an international certification system that offers solutions for the implementation and certification of waste and residue raw materials, non-bio renewables and recycled carbon materials and fuels. ISCC PLUS is a certification system that covers mainly bio-based carbon materials which are produced outside of the EU and supplied globally, and to manage and ensure sustainable raw materials in the supply chain.

Posted: January 11, 2024

Source: The Asahi Kasei Group