Textile Insight

May/June 2018 ~ Textile Insight • 15 textileinsight.com Outlook on Synthetics he Synthetic Yarns and Fibers Association's spring conference cov- ered many timely topics ranging from the U.S. economic outlook to the bur- geoning problem of marine litter. With an emphasis on U.S. markets and technologies, the April gathering in Charlotte, NC, delivered useful informa- tion and thought-provoking content. Dr. John Connaughton, an economics professor at UNC Charlotte, delivered an engaging lecture on the state of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product or GDP. He focused on the root causes of the current 106-month economic expan- sion, the second longest since 1854. The expansion is attributed to steady pro- ductivity and increased employment, the two factors that comprise GDP. The professor noted that to prolong the current economic expansion, the workforce must grow or must make more goods per worker or both. Labor growth potential is limited, cautioned Connaughton. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics pegs workforce growth at less than 1 percent and falling as birth rates decline. That indicates that GDP growth must come from productivity — technology innovations, lower energy prices, higher consumer confidence and consumption, and demand increases from expanded international trade. Connaughton is optimistic that the recent corporate tax cuts will improve U.S. productivity by making companies more competitive in global markets. He expects the personal tax cuts to have little to no impact. Alastair Carmichael encouraged SYFA members to join in the marine litter discussion as their European counterparts are doing. "If you're not at the table, you're on the menu," he warned. The escalating bad press associated with microplastics, which raises the specter of poisoned water- ways and contaminated seafood, is spilling over to synthetic textile micro- fibers. Carmichael shared "The Story of Microfibers" video by The Story of Stuff, the activist organization that successfully led the movement to ban microbeads. The movie concludes that the laundering of synthetic fabrics is a major factor in microfiber pollution. Will synthetic fleece taint the sustain- ability profile of the entire industry, wondered Carmichael? Quite possibly. Land pollution is another sustain- ability shortcoming that Carmichael encouraged SYFA members to resolve. Lack of biodegradability makes syn- thetics a villain in practically every environmental discussion. Carmichael shared that some universities are working on the decomposition problem and individual companies are responding as well. Many are using recycled plastics in creative ways. Econyl, for example, is turning reclaimed plastic fishing nets (the main culprit in marine litter) into fabrics. Intrinsic Textiles, another SYFA pre- senter, shared the CiClo technology that enables synthetic fabric degradability. O T IN THE MARKET | SYFA CONFERENCE An Update on Growth: Economically, and the Problem of Marine Litter. By Trish Martin Stretch Ultrasonic Tape Stretch Reflective Deco film Stretch Adhesive film

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