The future of natural fibres is being widely redefined amidst growing demands for dependable sustainability, new legal requirements, and a multitude of innovative fibre solutions. Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences in Germany is testing alternative fibres and recently took part in an online workshop organised by the German ‘Internationaler Verband der Naturtextilwirtschaft e.V.’ IVN (International Association of Natural Textile Industry).
The workshop provided orientation and combined current research findings with practical applications. The University experts – Prof. Dr. Rabe and Marie Jennissen – compared conventional and certified natural fibres with innovative fibre developments and examined performance, resource efficiency, and scalability. Together with the audience, they held discussions on where innovation creates genuine added value and where expectations need to be critically examined.
After detailed facts and insights from research, a joint innovation analysis took place. The results lead to systematically classified fibres, analyzation of opportunities and risks, and identification of application potentials. Overall conclusion: it isn’t just about materials, but about strategic decisions for companies, markets, and value chains to help shape the future of textiles.
