Textiles

Recent developments

Renewable polymers progress

Bio-based nylon advanced as Toray and PTT Global Chemical established routes from cassava pulp to 100% bio-based nylon 66, while Goldwin, Neste, Idemitsu and Toray set a renewable nylon supply chain for THE NORTH FACE via mass-balanced Neste RE. Avantium with Casa da Malha and Lacatoni advanced PEF apparel prototypes, and Avantium and Heynen Systems piloted a releaf cushion.

Circularity and recycling

BASF’s intelligent mix of complementary technologies highlighted loopamid textile-to-textile recycling, and Lindex and BASF introduce loopamid for lingerie in early 2027. Reju expanded chemical recycling R&D with its Volcat depolymerization technology in Pennsylvania, while mobile NIR spectroscopy from trinamiX targets on-site material ID; REMONDIS and H&M’s Looper joint venture outlined EPR-backed collection and sorting needs.

Materials and capacity

Evonik opened the Asia PAthletic Center in Shanghai to accelerate PA-based sports materials, and Teijin Frontier will add OCTAIR insulation fiber capacity in Japan. Teijin Frontier unveiled a polyester textile combining heat retention and high breathability, and Teijin Frontier and Asahi Kasei Advance will form TA Frontier to consolidate apparel and industrial materials operations.

Upstream feedstocks

Upstream, Fluor won FEED for GPIC’s aromatics facility in Bahrain to add paraxylene and benzene capacity, and Sinopec announced a strategic cooperation agreement with Amcor alongside new polymer showcases at CHINAPLAS.

Market and policy signals

The Innovation Fund Heat Auction awarded €400m to deploy clean industrial heat, with textiles among off‑takers. Trinseo Q1 2026 results cited weak European latex binders demand in textiles, while Metsä halted the Kuura man‑made cellulosic textile fibre mill amid global overcapacity and reallocated investment toward Muoto packaging at Äänekoski.