"Better than any google search"

“We provide three services: participation in workgroups, use of a reusable materials exchange and a technology phone service,” says Ulrike Möller, head of business and network management at the AFBW. Since the initiation of the cooperation with Swiss Textiles, the strongest demand has been for participation in workgroups. Here the main focus is on exchanges and efforts to find solutions to major current issues, especially those relating to sustainability. “The circular economy and the use of recyclable materials are gaining rapidly in importance,” says Ulrike Möller. The AFBW focuses on the pre-consumer segment, i.e. the segment that still manufactures products in Europe. A new project called “Cycle Text BW” was initiated, which is open to Swiss Textiles members.

The reusable materials exchange is a platform that functions according to the “bid/search” principle, and mediates no longer required recyclable materials. “It’s an up-to-date and excellent service. It would be great if even more players from Switzerland were to use it,” adds Ulrike Möller.

The technology phone service offers Swiss Textiles members advice on issues relating to fibre-based reusable materials, new technologies and development concepts. It directly connects partners with one another. If there is no suitable direct partner, an “AFBW wanted” request can be sent via the network. “We use the platform to obtain as much input as possible, utilise network potentials and learn about new developments,” says Ulrike Möller. The received information is then passed on to the company that submitted the request.

Two Swiss Textiles members – Dimpora and Flawa Consumer GmbH – have used the “AFBW wanted” service and informed us about their experiences. Mario Stucki, founder and CEO of Dimpora, learned about it at a networking event organised by Swiss Textiles and the AFBW at the House of Switzerland in Stuttgart in September 2021. The event focused on materials of the future and sustainable entrepreneurship with textiles. Stucki’s team were looking for recyclable polymers for use in fabrics or non-wovens. They want to produce breathable and waterproof membranes that do not contain any toxic substances. Their customers are outdoor clothing manufacturers and their long-term objective is to participate in the circular economy. “With respect to the closing of cycles, our industry is still in its infancy, so we also had numerous contacts in the field of research. These are of course useful, but we are primarily interested in large-scale production,” explains Stucki. He has already sent some samples to the contacts he made via the AFBW, and he and his team are continuing their development efforts.

Flawa Consumer GmbH has also benefited from contacts via the AFBW. Cristina Didavide, head of product development, was looking for a vegan leather that could be used for making shoe insoles. “I didn’t know where I could otherwise find such helpful contacts so easily,” she explains. While you cannot always immediately find a ready-made product or solution, these contacts lead to developments and follow-up contacts that take you a step further and offer new opportunities. Cristina Didavide learned of a company that makes fibres from pineapple crop waste. These are now undergoing initial tests, as is “leather wool”, which is produced from recycled leather.

Flawa also learned of a start-up that makes vegan leather from hemp fibres. The management was so enthusiastic about this that it is considering investing in the company and thus becoming involved in this innovative solution. “The AFBW’s services are incomparable. I am impressed at how efficiently and professionally the Alliance has helped us with all our enquiries. I strongly recommend members of Swiss Textiles to use the AFBW’s services. No Google search can match this service,” says Cristina Didavide.