IFAI is the only trade association in the world representing the entire specialty fabrics/technical textiles industry, a world market estimated at $120 billion in 2010. We support nearly 2,000 member companies in 11 defined market niches and three country sectors; sponsor the largest industry tradeshow in the Americas, IFAI Expo; and publish seven trade magazines and buyers guides.
Trend Watch: Green/sustainability/energy-saving updates from IFAI member companies
Sustainability Series - People, Planet & Profit: A CNBC film crew visited Unifi’sRepreve (recycled polyester)manufacturing facility in Yadkinville, N.C. and shot a segment for their People, Planet & Profit series. More...
Go green for the good of your business--Recycling and repurposing fabric will bring the satisfaction of doing what’s right— and boost your bottom line. IFAI member Portland Color talks about its extensive recycling program.
Polymer Group, Inc.reports 2009 sustainability accomplishments--The company continues to make environmental, health and safety improvements moving in the direction of achieving its corporate-wide sustainability targets for the year 2014. PGI reported on 16 new indicators in 2009 versus 2008 for a total of 37. More...
Fabric Graphics Association joins ASTM Sustainability Committee: The trend toward sustainability—achieving economic prosperity while protecting the natural systems of the planet—is a vital issue. The ASTM International Committee E60 provides consensus standards that will promote and integrate sustainable development standard in the building industry; as well as standards for green meetings and events. Both provide a venue to address textile use in these industries. More...
Business Perspectives -How green is your supply chain?: Strong, sustainable performance management strategies create links among like-minded businesses—and with your customers. More...
Awnings add value, efficiency to your home--As our society becomes increasingly aware of environmentally friendly or, “green,” practices such as water conservation and recycling, industry leaders are recognizing that awnings help to reduce a homes overall energy consumption. More and more, studies performed by a range of organizations indicate that awnings will increase a home’s energy efficiency. According to the Professional Awning Manufactures Association, awnings can reduce air conditioning costs by as much as 25%.
Wind energy promises to become a staple of a green economy, and innovative textile strategies from Karl Mayer make wind turbines more durable. More...
Shade: An essential element in healing gardens--Healing gardens are emerging as fundamental to a more holistic healthcare approach. One vital element is shade, which provides garden visitors choice, comfort and protection from the sun. And designers are beginning to recognize the year-round benefits that fabric shade structures provide in effective therapeutic landscapes. More...
Green Process Award for PGI’s Mooresville plant--Leading spunmelt nonwovens producer Polymer Group (PGI) received a Regional Advanced Manufacturing Award in the Green Process category for eliminating chemicals in its cooling process at its Mooresville, NC plant.
FTL Solar'stent-like solar fabric could charge cars, help with disaster relief--A great example of highly functional design, the PowerMods bring together super-strong fabric and thin-film PV. Possible uses for this solar fabric are almost endless: Battery charging stations, medical units, military bases, temporary housing, energy pods for remote villages, solar arrays in city parks, etc. More...
Council for Economically Sustainable Textile and Apparel Business (CESTAB) founded.Allen E. Gant Jr., president and CEO, Glen Raven Inc., and chairman of the Institute of Textile Technology (ITT) Board of Trustees at North Carolina State University’s (NCSU’s) College of Textiles says that CESTAB is dedicated to providing information, analyses and resources to foster sustainable social, economic and environmental practices within the global textile supply chain. More...
Tensartech embankments build solid base for business park sustainability--Prominent landscape features for Nottingham's new high-sustainability Castle College Technology Park and Number 1 Science and Technology Park are the surrounding green embankments. More...
Sustainable Design Competition: SKYShades partnered with the California Center for Sustainable Energy and NewSchool of Architecture to create a new contest. More...
Tensile architecture’s Greening Installations add eco-friendly expression to structures: Ronstan has contributed to some of the world’s most innovative and successful greening projects. Council House 2 (CH2) in Melbourne houses the City Council’s new chambers and was the first Australian building to achieve a 6 Star Green Star Certified Rating from the Green Building Council of Australia. More...
"What do you have that's green?": Aurora Specialty Textiles Group talks about the growing fabric graphics market. Earth-friendly entries are made of recycled polyester and other reused content. More...
Fabric structures advance nutrient management:Clear Span designed and constructed four fabric buildings for a cattle farm's 75,000 sq. ft. composting operation. The buildings, are highly resistant to corrosion, with trusses made of Allied Gatorshield steel tubing and duraweave fabric covers. More...
ShadePlex makes a "power-generating" fabric frame for flexible solar panels: The panels themselves are 3 to 5 times lighter than metal-framed panels, so shade structures that can't support a lot of weight can still support these. More...
TenCate providing geotubes as a filtration and storage system for dewatering and storing calcium sulfate in an environmentally friendly manner on a project in Malaysia. More...
Homeowners get increased energy efficiency with high-tech awning controls which balance the use of sun and shade, according to Steve Englund of G & J Awning and Canvas. More...
The Green Issue - Climate change in business, going green often means saving green.
In Search of Better (and Greener) Building Blocks - McGraw-Hill Construction projected that the so-called green building market will grow to $60 billion by 2010 from $12 billion in 2008. Industry experts such as architect Blaine Brownell said that the materials can pay for themselves in energy savings and that many of the latest products are comparable in price to their conventional counterparts.
IFAI's Fabric Architecture magazine caught up with Brownell since he was featured in the story above. Read his latest ideas about sustainable skyscrapers: "A sustainable bridge to the future." Brownell’s proposal advocates sustainable interdependent skyscrapers.
Science fiction-like projects using nanofibers may revolutionize textiles--Textiles saturated with timed-release pesticides or other crop chemicals/nutrients and incorporated into the soil at planting would not only biodegrade by the end of the growing season, but would replenish the soil with nutrients as they degrade. More...
Water bank stores stormwater underground--Geosynthetic materials play a major role in new underground stormwater detention system. More...
The annual Review Buyer’s Guideis your comprehensive guide to products, services, equipment and supplies for the specialty fabrics industry.
Events coming up...
2010 MFA Great Lakes Workshops 15-17 Oct 2010 - Traverse City, MI USA
Advanced Textiles Conference 2010 26-27 Oct. at IFAI Expo Americas 2010 Orange County Convention Center - Orlando, FL USA
IFAI Expo Americas 2010 - 27-29 Oct. - Orange County Convention Center Orlando, FL USA
The 98th IFAI Annual Meeting - 8:00-8:45 am, 27 October -Room N320 - Orange County Convention Center - Orlando, FL during IFAI Expo Americas 2010
MFA National Convention 2011 - 21-23 Jan. 2011 - San Diego, CA USA
IFAI Tent Expo 2011 - 24-27 Jan. - St. Pete Beach, FL USA
Geo-Frontiers 2011 - 13-15 March - Dallas, TX USA
IFAI Expo Asia 2011 -22-25 March - Singapore
Outlook Conference 2011 - 2-3 May - White Sulphur Springs, WV USA
