125 presentations on the main topics of fiber innovation, recycling, circular economy, sustainability, nonwovens, technical textiles, sports and apparel were presented to the Professional audience.
The successful GFC Organisation is very lean and operational lead by Friedrich Weninger as Managing Director and operational and well as executional driven by Sonja Spöcker.
As Friedrich Weninger gave already in the past signals to step back from his role and responsibilities the upcoming 2-3 years ,there was the proposal made and approved by all the necessary decisionmakers of the Austrian fiber institute to start a recruitment process and look for a successor to orchestrate a soft hand-over process the upcoming years. During the search and selection process Andreas Dorner was appointed in summer 2023 by all necessary stakeholders of the Austrian fiber institute to start first as a Co-Managing Director and during the hand over process taking over lead the next 2-3 years.
Dornbirn GFC takes up the Challenges of the Textile Industry
"The challenges currently facing the fiber industry require fundamental changes in the value chains. We see new strategic partnerships being formed to take advantage of new opportunities around innovation, circular economy and new business models. The 62nd edition of the Dornbirn GFC shows once again that it is the perfect place for such new partnerships" said Robert van de Kerkhof, Chief Sustainability Officer of Lenzing AG and President of the Dornbirn GFC. Fritz Weninger, Managing Director of the Dornbirn GFC adds, "That is why we are proud that leading representatives from politics, the energy sector, but also from many companies and start-ups from the entire fiber value chain will come together for three days to exchange ideas on how to accelerate our progress in greening our industry.”
To discuss the challenges of the textile industry in a controversial way, to be inspired by interesting expert presentations from international speakers, and to arrive at sustainable and scientifically based solutions together in the end- this is what the Dornbirn GFC has established itself as a networking platform for over decades.
“For us, it is the conference of the year, where hundreds of ideas for shaping a green future for our industry can become reality." With this statement Andre Wissenberg, Oerlikon, confirmed the importance and task of the Dornbirn GFC in the textile network.
Meeting the New Legislation
The opening morning plenary presentation by Dirk Vantyghem, Euratex, Brussels, entitled "The EU Sustainable Textiles Strategy- its impact on the Global Textile Ecosystem" concerns another challenge for national and international producers and suppliers. The European institutions are making rapid progress in implementing the EU textile strategy in legislation. European textile companies are committed to investing in sustainability, developing new circular business models and producing high quality textile products as required by the new legislation. However, for this to happen, companies need a clear and coherent regulatory framework and a level playing field for all companies.
