The first annual International Active Textiles Symposium, a new event for the textiles community, was held on April 18-19, 2007.The event was organised and hosted by Cognis, a speciality chemicals company, at its headquarters in Düsseldorf, Germany.The company is a worldwide supplier of innovative speciality chemicals and nutritional ingredients which are suitable for personal care.
All of these chemicals and ingredients are said by Cognis to be sustainable.It supplies a number of industries—including coatings and inks, lubricants, textiles and agriculture and mining.
The company also holds a 50% stake in the joint venture Cognis Oleochemicals—one of the world’s leading manufacturers of oleochemicals.The company has chosen to focus on sustainability in reflection of society’s changing values, increased regulations and the need for greater efficiency.
According to the company, the demand for sustainable products is forecast to reach US$1,000 bn by 2010.