Whether in end-use applications for architecture, mobility, agriculture, industry or clothing, sustainability is becoming increasingly important in all fields of technical textiles and textile technologies.

For this reason, there will be a special focus on such sustainable solutions – whether bio-based, recycled or degradable – at the forthcoming Techtextil exibition, taking place together with Texprocess from April 23-26 in Frankfurt.

Nature Performance

A special highlight will be the Nature Performance display area in Hall 9.1, where exhibitors will present state-of-the-art alternative, recyclable and sustainable materials with functional properties. Exhibitors will include Swiss start-up OceanSafe presenting its naNea alternative polyester.

“In terms of durability and performance, our Cradle-to-Cradle certified fibres and yarns even surpass classic solutions, as they are not only biodegradable, but also inherently flame-retardant and hydrophilic,” says founder and CEO Manuel Schweizer. “This makes them particularly attractive for many fields of application, from fashion and sportswear to industry and automotive.

“Sustainability only works in collaboration with research, manufacturing companies, brands and new technologies, which requires good visibility of innovations and new developments. We therefore very much welcome the fact that Techtextil is bringing the topic into the spotlight so prominently with this concentrated area.”

For Vegeto, another up-and-coming company, Techtextil is a valuable opportunity to introduce its plant-based thermal insulation made from milkweed fibres to new markets.

“The show opens the door to new business relationships with those most interested in textile innovation, in a space dedicated to sustainable materials,” says general manager Ghyslain Bouchard. “There is enormous potential for natural fibres and it is crucial to make these solutions widely available. Techtextil is definitely a good place to join a vast network of proactive suppliers.”

Trends and future agency FranklinTill will also be presenting its Future Materials showcase for the first time at Techtextil this year.

“As one of the major drivers in the textile industry, sustainability is increasingly becoming a decisive business factor,” says Sabine Scharrer, director of brand management for technical textiles and textile processing at Messe Frankfurt. “With our new formats, we are creating platforms for relevant innovations and pacemakers in the industry and supporting market participants from all areas of production and application in networking.”

Econogy

The Nature Performance area is part of the Econogy programme which Messe Frankfurt has introduced for its global textile events – a term for the inseparable link between economy and ecology – indicates the direction of the future-oriented guiding theme.

The Econogy Finder is a key element of the programme, as an online directory comprehensively listing exhibitors with sustainable offers that have been certified and checked by experts. At Techtextil, the green label on exhibition stands will identify Econogy exhibitors. In this way, visitors can also spontaneously discover interesting new partners for their sustainable strategies.

The Econogy Talks, a series of high-profile lectures and discussion panels, will also take place as part of the Techtextil Forum in Hall 9.1, while Econogy Tours will be led by independent experts to visit selected companies with tsustainable approaches and products.

www.texprocess.messefrankfurt.com