Recent developments
Textile circularity scaling
Circularity scaled as Indorama Ventures and Jiaren Chemical Recycling targeted up to 100,000 t/yr of textile‑recycled PET spinning, while matterr advanced chemical depolymerization with a €30 million NRW grant and a partnership with BESTSELLER to build a 10,000‑t/yr plant. Upstream capture expanded as the Repsol Foundation took 14% of Coleo's recycling division, and PureCycle gained EU REACH certification ahead of an Antwerp facility.
Low‑carbon fibers launched
Indorama Ventures detailed a mass‑balance ISCC+ chain for bio‑based PET under the deja Bio portfolio and introduced skin‑tested deja Care fibers meeting OEKO‑TEX and related standards. Localization advanced as Eastman and Huafon agreed to produce Naia cellulose acetate yarns in China, and Teijin Aramid partnered with ICF Mercantile for non‑implantable medical textiles.
Supply shifts and capacity
BASF consolidated Asian PolyTHF at Caojing with Ulsan closure by 2026 while exiting hydrosulfites used in dyeing, signaling shifts in spandex intermediates and dye auxiliaries supply. Capacity additions included Gabriel‑Chemie’s expanded Hungarian masterbatch site and Mistra‑Autex’s new ANDRITZ needlepunch line with ProWin for higher productivity and up to 10% fiber savings.
Process and product sustainability
Process sustainability rose as Solvay’s Santo André plant achieved 94% water reuse with Veolia’s ZeeWeed MBR. Cross‑sector materials innovation featured Trinseo and RWDC’s shelf‑stable PHA dispersions with potential textile coatings, and Covestro’s acquisition of Pontacol to extend adhesive films for technical textiles.