Keynote: Unlocking the potential of biobased materials in textiles: strategy, policy & innovation

Speaker: Lutz Walter, European Textile Technology Platform

Is global policy shaping or hindering biotechnology within textiles & apparel? How can internal and external stakeholders continue to promote the exploration of some of Earth’s most abundant and regenerative resources? Alternatively, how can innovators and adopters alike navigate the current market environment to see these concepts to scale? 

Panel: Achieving price and performance parity with biobased materials 

Speakers: Alexa Raab, Covation Biomaterials & Sorona®
Eva Engelen, Fashion For Good
Neil Buckney, Modern Synthesis
Simon Whitmarsh-Knight, Hyosung

Emerging biobased fibres, finishes and effects face an uphill battle against conventional solutions on multiple fronts. While the call to action to transition to regenerative, biological and plant-derived solutions across industry is undeniable, are stakeholders committed to footing the bill? And crucially, can innovators match the performance expectations of brands and manufacturers to justify the price? 

Advancing textile coatings: Integrating environmental responsibility with technical innovation

Speaker: Julia Mertens, Covestro

The textile coating sector is currently experiencing a significant shift toward more sustainable and circular practices, driven by evolving market demands and regulatory frameworks, with the goal of combating fast fashion, textile waste and other sustainability challenges. But what does this mean for textile coatings, which are used to increase both, functionality and durability of textiles? And how can the trade-off between performance and circularity be resolved, as ‘bio-based’ doesn’t automatically mean ‘biodegradable’.

This presentation highlights advanced solutions and will provide examples of where circularity – closing the loop – is already possible and where, for other applications, there are remaining technical challenges that require innovation-focused thinking regarding end-of-life recycling.

Panel: BioCircular Materials Alliance: redefining natural fibre and biomass circularity

Speakers: Chelsea Franklin, PANGAIA
Kenji Higashi, Spiber
Roberto Lovo, Marzotto Wool Manufacturing S.r.l
Anish Paliwal, Archroma

The BioCircular Materials Alliance (BCMA) was founded by Spiber Inc. to harness the transformative power of biology and accelerate the global transition toward a circular future. By bringing together leading brands, innovators, and key industry players, the Alliance aims to regenerate bio-based waste from textiles, agriculture, and forestry into valuable materials through microbial fermentation and other advanced processes.

Tune in to hear Spiber, Archroma, Marzotto Group and Pangaia discuss the Alliance’s progress to date, upcoming activities, and how each organisation is contributing to shared goals: advancing dye chemistry to applying regenerative systems in fashion.

Assessing the role of biopolymer materials in textiles & apparel

Speakers: Kym Canter, BIOFUR®
Gerard Nijhoving, Senbis Polymer Innovations

With the potential to match the performance and functionality of conventional petrochemical materials without the fossil fuels, biopolymers assume a significant place in the biobased materials mix. In this session, we explore the role of biopolymers within the textile & apparel space, discussing their journey to commercialisation, barriers to adoption and the trajectory of the market in the years to come.  

Panel: Regional focus: What can we learn from Australia's biotech-fuelled textile innovation?  

Speakers: Lucie Semenec, Newera Bio
Jason Whitfield, Main Sequence Ventures
Michael Kingsbury, Uluu

The potential of biotechnology is attracting global governmental attention, spurring innovation hotspots. One such country looking to capitalise on the opportunity is Australia, where a combination of policy interventions, advantageous feedstock availability and a strong biotech ecosystem is fuelling innovation. What can we learn from its example and what solutions is Australia bringing to the textiles & apparel arena? 

Panel: A look at the development of biobased colourants in the textile & apparel space 

Speakers: Emily Taylor, Sages
Magali Mendez, Tintte
Simon Kew, Sparxell
Renana Krebs, Algaeing

Biotechnology has played a central role in accelerating innovation in the colourants space in recent years, creating vibrant drop-in pigments and inks without petrochemicals. This panel session will examine the role of microbiology and other mechanisms from the very innovators pioneering these techniques to deliver less intensive, less polluting, next-gen colour.