Textiles

Recent developments

Bio-based polymers advance

Bio-based nylons and furanics advanced. Toray and PTT Global Chemical demonstrated 100% bio-based nylon 66 toward FY2028 products. A renewable nylon supply chain will feed THE NORTH FACE from Aug 2026. Avantium exhibited PEF textile prototypes and a prototype releaf PEF cushion.

Textile recycling scale-up

Chemical recycling moved toward deployment. Reju secured €135m for a Chemelot textile regeneration hub and opened a Research & Development Center in Conshohocken to industrialize Volcat polyester depolymerization. Textile-to-textile polyester recycling was validated at semi‑industrial scale by Axens, IFPEN and JEPLAN. loopamid recycled polyamide 6 entered Lindex development, while mobile NIR spectroscopy for footwear and textiles targets improved sorting.

Performance materials pipeline

Thermal and insulation textiles saw advances. Teijin Frontier introduced a polyester textile combining heat retention and high breathability for FW2027 and expanded OCTAIR insulation fiber capacity from 2027. Evonik opened the Asia PAthletic Center in Shanghai for sports polyamides, and BASF highlighted Ultramid ZeroPCF and PFAS‑free microporous membranes at Techtextil 2026.

Energy and regulation

Policy and energy frameworks evolved. The EU’s Innovation Fund Heat Auction awarded €400m to decarbonize industrial heat, with textiles among off‑takers. The Looper joint venture detailed sorting realities and EPR timelines under the EU Waste Framework Directive, signalling funding needs for large‑scale collection and recycling.

Market and corporate shifts

Market dynamics remained mixed. Toray applied emergency surcharges after crude and naphtha price surge across fiber and chemical products. Teijin Frontier and Asahi Kasei Advance will form TA Frontier on Oct 1, 2026. Trinseo Q1 2026 Results cited weaker European textile binders within subdued demand.