The first speakers have been announced for the World Textile Summit, which will be colocated with ITMA 2015 and explore sustainability strategies to create business value in the textile manufacturing value chain.
In line with the key themes of ITMA 2015, the Summit’s program me is being developed to explore a series of topics that link decisions on sustainability to profitability and corporate success. These include the role of sustainability in differentiating brands and companies, business profitability and security, investment decisions, the circular supply chain, customer acquisition and retention and product development. The Summit will be an opportunity for textile business leaders to share and discuss their own direct experiences, with several presenting short case studies and engaging in audience debate on topics that include the investment case for green technology as well as value creation from the use of sustainable materials.
Speakers announced include Helga Vanthourout, a senior consultant at the Sustainability and Resource Productivity Practice of McKinsey and Company. Ms Vanthourout is an expert in the circular economy as it relates to textiles and her clients range from manufacturers to waste-management companies and even city authorities. In 2014, McKinsey, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, authored an influential report on the circular supply chain, on behalf of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
The World Bank, whose International Finance Corporation division reported in 2012 on ‘The Business Case for Sustainability’, has also accepted an invitation to speak at the Summit.
Top-level speakers from within the textile community include: Frank Henke, VP for Social & Environmental Affairs, adidas; Dr Johannes Merck, CSR Director, Otto Group; Linda Keppinger, Global Materials Director, Nike Inc; Barak Tun, Director Sales, Menderes Tekstil; and Roger Yeh, President, Everest Textile Company. Other speakers will be announced in the coming weeks. Scheduled for 13 November 2015, the second day of ITMA 2015 in Milan, the World Textile Summit 2015 is designed to be a unique one-day event that brings together the world’s most influential textile leaders to debate issues of strategic importance to the global industry. It is owned and organised by CEMATEX, WTiN and MP Expositions.
The event is sponsored by leading textile-machinery companies and environmental standards bodies including SPGPrints, MS Italy, bluesign technologies, Oeko-Tex, Reggiani, and Oerlikon. Supporting partners include the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, The Textile Institute and the Better Cotton Initiative.
ITMA 2015 draw strong industry support
ITMA 2015 has attracted various industry groups to initiate activities that address critical sectorial concerns, as well as challenges faced by the textile, garment and fashion industry.
The exhibition, billed as the world’s largest textile and garment manufacturing technology showcase, will be complemented by a wide range of knowledge sharing events that will feature discussions on issues that impact the industry’s sustainability. Among the exciting events are the Textile Colourant and Chemical Leaders Forum and Nonwovens Forum @ ITMA 2015.
Textile Colourant and Chemical Leaders Forum
Launched at ITMA 2011, the forum was a success, drawing lively participation from color and chemical professionals, and fashion and sports brand owners from around the world. This year, the agenda will focus on sustainability in dyeing and finishing processes and participants will be updated on industry opportunities and best practices. Covering a comprehensive range of issues, such as current challenges, solutions and future trends, the one-day forum on 14 November is divided into three sessions: the issue: topics related to chemical pollution and environmental issues and how these impact the market place, the solution: how does the supply chain respond and the future: what are the trends and/or game changers moving forward. Alessandro Gigli, board member of the Association of Italian Textile Chemists and Colourists who chairs the forum programme committee, said: “Topics to be covered include the chemical/colourant suppliers’ response to current environmental issues, updates on REACH regulation, new dyeing and printing technologies and their impact in a more sustainable supply chain. We have received many paper submissions as there is strong interest in sustainability issues impacting the textile and garment industry. We hope the forum will be a focal point for meaningful dialogues which will contribute to improvements in this sector.”
Besides Mr. Gigli, other members of the committee are Andrew Filarowski, Society of Dyers and Colourists; Enrique Meltzer, Latin American Federation of Textile Chemists; Jan Marek, The International Federation of Associations of Textile Chemists and Colourists and Janak Mehta, The Dyestuff Manufacturers Association of India. The confirmed speakers to-date include Alberto Gallina from Benetton Group srl., who is representing the ZDHC Group, Prof. Giuseppe Rosace from Department of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Bergamo, John Mowbray, owner and founder of UK-based B2B publisher, MCL Global and Prof. Marc VanParys, President at UNITEX.
Nonwovens Forum
To be held on 16 November, the Nonwovens Forum @ ITMA is jointly organised by EDANA and MP Expositions. The forum will address pertinent issues, challenges and opportunities in the rapidly evolving world of nonwovens. Pierre Conrath, Sustainability & Public Affairs Director, EDANA (Belgium) who will kick-off the forum with an introduction on the nonwovens industry, said: “The programme is built around the theme – ‘Nonwovens: A World of Growth and Opportunities’. Presentations on the latest applications and finishings will benefit ITMA visitors who are involved in or have the intention to move into nonwovens manufacturing. Participants will find it very useful to be able to visit the ITMA exhibition and view many of the technologies on show at the exhibition.”
The first session will focus on applications and technologies for nonwovens and the presentations and presenters included are overview of Nonwoven Production Technologies and Applications by Laurent Jallat, Head of Marketing Department, ANDRITZ Nonwoven (France), From Melt to Nonwoven: Spunbond Lines for Technical Applications by Martin Rademacher, Sales Manager & Ingo Mahlmann, Senior Manager Product Management Nonwoven, Oerlikon Neumag (Germany) and Nonwoven Production Lines Installed by a General Contractor by Johann Philipp Dilo, General Manager, Dilo Group (Germany)
The second session will explore added value ingredients and finishing for nonwovens along the presentations Spin Finishes and Additives in the Production of Nonwovens by Stephan Reil, Marketing Manager Nonwoven, Pulcra Chemicals (Germany); Added Value Through Selected Functionalisation of Nonwovens by Michael Bildhauer, Head Technical Service Fibre Auxiliaries & Robert Zyschka, Head Technical Service Coating/Finishing, CHT R. BEITLICH (Germany); Advantages of Ultrasonic in Web Splicing Applications by Pierre Croutelle, Sales Manager – Nonwoven/Textile & Plastic Division, Spoolex (France); Striking Colors and Performance for PP SpunMelt Nonwovens by Francis Baud, Global Fibre Marketing Head, Clariant (Switzerland) and The Nonwovens Industry and Markets in Numbers by Jacques Prigneaux, Market Analysis and Economic Affairs Director, EDANA (Belgium). In addition to the forums, ITMA participants can gain valuable insights on new technologies and research at the Research & Innovation Pavilion’s Speakers Platform. ITMA 2015 will also feature the World Textile Summit, a high-level knowledge-sharing platform on 13 November. Co-located with ITMA 2015 is the Digital Textile Conference on 15 November. ITMA 2015 will be held at the Fiera Milano Rho from 12 to 19 November 2015. It showcases end-to-end solutions for the entire textile and garment making chain. The exhibition has a gross size of over 200,000 square metres. To-date, over 1,500 exhibitors from 47 economies have signed up to take part in the exhibition. Visitors can purchase their ITMA 2015 badge online in order to enjoy early-bird rates.
