Sustainability – Page 8 – Specialty Fabrics Review

Green cost savings

June 10, 2009 | Sustainability

What cost-saving techniques does your company implement regarding recycling and textiles? “Never throw out any fabric scraps” is a policy at Glawe Tent and Awning. A bin of fabric scraps has resulted in a remnant sale of small lots of industrial fabrics to the public, a source of supplie…

Cutting energy costs can cut taxes

June 1, 2009 | Sustainability

Federal tax incentive programs can significantly reduce day-to-day operating costs. By Mark E. Battersby Reducing the cost of energy and going green is on every businessperson’s mind these days. Although there can be additional initial costs associated with saving energy, provisions in our tax…

FTC guides grapple with ‘greenwashing’

April 1, 2009 | Industry News, Sustainability

Products labeled “green,” “eco-friendly,” “organic,” “sustainable” or “renewable” purport to be better for the environment—but are they? The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) takes on deceptive environmental claims in new Green Guides, a…

Technologies meet demand for digitally printed fabric products

January 1, 2009 | Feature, Graphics, Sustainability, Technical

As the digital fabric printing industry matures, the machines are faster, the inks are more vibrant, and the most important color in the spectrum is green. By Janice Kleinschmidt The marketing phrase “new and improved” has been slapped on every kind of product at one time or another, wit…

Petroleum prices impact specialty fabrics industry

December 1, 2008 | Markets, Sustainability

Fabric makers depend doubly on oil, for fuel and for raw materials. By Marc Hequet How are you managing in this slalom economy? Staying flexible? Not signing long-term, fixed-price contracts? Scouring your shop for efficiencies? Sourcing globally? Those are top industry pros’ suggestions&mdash…

Planning eco-friendly weddings

October 1, 2008 | Sustainability, Tents

Going green helps event companies gain both conscience and capital. By Shelby Gonzalez What does a green tented wedding look like? Just ask Alison Hotchkiss of Alison Events LLC in San Francisco, Calif. In 2007, she planned two weddings that included some of the same eco-friendly elements. Yet they …

Textile industry finds ways to go green

October 1, 2008 | Sustainability

By Barbara Ernster The Cradle to Cradle (C2C) concept has been influential in moving the U.S. textile industry toward more sustainable practices. Developed by architect William McDonough and chemist Michael Braungart, C2C transforms industry by creating products for cradle-to-cradle cycles, whose ma…

Industry professionals discuss recycling mandates

October 1, 2008 | Sustainability

By Barbara Ernster Building the cost of recycling into the cost of a project is a popular idea, but if a company is in a competitive market, that extra cost could drive customers to seek cheaper alternatives, unless recycling is mandated for everyone. There is intense debate on whether government ma…

Recycled polyester benefits companies

October 1, 2008 | Graphics, Sustainability

By Barbara Ernster Different sustainable fabrics made of natural fibers, including cotton, bamboo, hemp, corn and soy products, are making their way into the printing market. Jon Weingarten, president and CEO of Dazian Fabrics in Secaucus, N.J., will present the pros and cons of each in his presenta…

Nanotechnology provides more function with less space

October 1, 2008 | Sustainability, Technical

By Barbara Ernster Nanotechnology, the engineering of functional systems at the molecular level, is all about getting more function on less space. Next-generation nano materials have already hit the textile market in the form of nano-enhanced fabrics with antimicrobial properties able to kill germs,…

Category: Sustainability