The Innovate: Biobased Materials conference will be hosted virtually, on 23-24 September 2025. Keep checking the agenda as we announce speakers.
The Innovate: Biobased Materials conference will be hosted virtually, on 23-24 September 2025. Keep checking the agenda as we announce speakers.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.