Saturday's program was introduced by John Edwards of Nan Ya with Lee Woodard of Interface Fabrics providing a compelling case for applying sustainable practices for textiles. The Interface Group has shown that a “green” business model can be a successful one and profit can be a part of that success.
It is necessary for all business practices to be reviewed and Interface operates with 7 major rules for making business decisions, all of which have a sustainability objective. Alasdair Carmichael of PCI Fibres gave an update on the man made fibers markets, particularly emphasizing the strength of the rayon market currently. He commented that “Every dog has its day and rayon has been a dog for a long time, but now it is having its day!”
Jim Hind of CoCoNa Natural Technology delivered a very interesting description of how they get from coconuts to CoCoNa fiber. The part of the coconut that is used is the shell from which particles of carbon are obtained, under 1600 deg F heat, and these are infused into an extruded fiber.
The presence of the carbon particles improves the cooling effect of the fabric, reduces odor and provides UV protection. As the carbon is infused into the fiber it will not wash off in repeated laundering. The CoCoNa hang tag is likely to be seen in increasing numbers of performance apparel at retail.
The conference was concluded by the humorous and thoughtful presentation of Glenn Ward who displayed a great talent for story telling, mainly based on growing up in the South, impersonations in both the spoken and sung form, all brought together with a message of love and family values that was perfectly positioned for the SYFA group.
Synthetic Yarn & Fibers Association
marketing@alchempro.com
