Sustainability – Specialty Fabrics Review

The Greater Good focuses on IFAI member companies that do good business—and also strive to be good neighbors, good citizens and good partners. From hiring the disadvantaged to creating a recycling network to paying employees for community service during the off-season, we want to recognize the organizations that share their success.

If you’d like to nominate a fellow member for recognition, please email assistant editor Sammi Jones, smjones@ifai.com.

Building markets in Ukraine

March 1, 2017 | Business, Sustainability

Ukraine plans to attract $300 million for the development of domestic technical textiles and nonwovens industries. According to recent statements from the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers, Ukraine plans to attract up to $300 million USD worth of investments for the development of the domestic technica…

From old to new: a glimpse into recycling technology

January 4, 2017 | Business, Sustainability

Recycling discarded materials into usable other things requires considerable effort and investment, but more companies are doing just that. Take Serge Ferrari North America, a Pompano Beach, Fla.-based manufacturer of flexible composite membranes used globally by numerous markets. In 1996, the compa…

When to count income

January 1, 2017 | Business, Sustainability

Get ready for new guidelines on ‘revenue recognition.’ Sometimes accounting rules and the tax law are logical and equitable; sometimes they aren’t. One question always seems to surface: When is a business’s revenue considered “income”? The time to claim income and deductions is dictated …

Price and value in the agricultural markets

October 11, 2016 | Business, Sustainability

Profit margins are tight for a lot of industries, but this is especially true in the agricultural arena, where profits can be wiped out—in some cases virtually overnight—by events beyond the control of growers and producers. Consequently, pricing has become a huge concern for all involved, say m…

Sustainability: public engagement

October 15, 2015 | Business, Sustainability

Raising awareness of fabric recycling and re-using keeps the conversation going. With the proliferation of social media, the general public has become accustomed to interacting with companies as well as each other. And companies increasingly appreciate the importance of being part of the larger conv…

How to survive through 2035

October 6, 2015 | Business, Sustainability

With a projected global population of 9 billion in 2050, demand for natural resources is rapidly increasing, specifically for coal, gas and oil—resources upon which the industrial textiles industry heavily depends for raw materials. “Once they’re gone, they’re gone,” says Steve Jesseph, ch…

Making the rounds

October 1, 2015 | Business, Feature, Sustainability

Textile waste is gaining new life through closed-loop processes, creating more products (and some profits) in more industries. Forty-five years ago, Kermit (the frog) lamented, “It’s not easy bein’ green.” Environmentally speaking, it still may not be easy, but it’s becoming less difficult…

Loopy thinking

September 17, 2015 | Business, Sustainability

From yarn to fabric, and back to yarn: recycling and repurposing materials. For companies with vision, strategic moves often require a leap of faith. In 2012, Designtex began using yarn produced from recycled fabric waste it had accumulated. “At the time, we were not sure if we would be successful…

Category: Sustainability