Dissemination of ENTeR project results at the TCLF Symposium

The Symposium was organized cooperatively by the Association of Hungarian Light Industry (MKSZ), the Hungarian Society of Textile Technology and Science (TMTE), the Trade Union of Mine-, Energy- and Industry Workers (BDSZ) and the Rejtő Sándor Faculty of Light Industry and Environmental Engineering of the Obuda University, on the 9th of May in Budapest. More than 80 people from 40 companies, various professional organizations and educational institutions attended the meeting of the textile, clothing, leather and footwear industry.

Lívia Kokas Palicska PhD, president of MKSZ and Pál Pataki PhD, president of TMTE welcomed the participants, followed by the dean of ÓE-RKK, László Koltai PhD. He presented the nearly 50 years old faculty, which currently has 1200 enrolled students, a teaching faculty of 53, three BSc and two MSc academic programs and a Doctoral School on Materials Science and Technology.

Introduction of the Hungarian Fashion and Design Agency (HFDA)

The first presentation was held by Zsófia Bata-Jakab, CEO and Anita Forintos Szűcs, division manager of HFDA. Functioning as a public entity, they have made a study of how to coordinate the fashion industries’ development and to enhance international recognition of the Hungarian sector. Their strategic pillars include research, international sales and appearance, production development, education, mentoring and event organization. HFDA’s main goal is to make Hungary the fashion centre of the region, also trying to restore the prestige of industry-related jobs, coupled with an international level of education.

Challenges and strategies of the Czech TCLF sector focusing on sustainability

Ing. Olga Chybová, Envi-Affairs Specialist (Czech Republic) introduced INOTEX, which currently operates as a private textile testing institute with 47 employees. They are in charge of R&D transfer, development of new technologies (mainly wet processing: finishing, dyeing, flame retardant textiles, etc.) and the production of auxiliary materials. They also operate an accredited textile laboratory and provide consultancy with an active research and development background.

The audience was introduced to the Czech textile industry’s main properties: 400 companies working in the field of textile, clothing, leather and footwear sector. There is a significant role for technical textiles and car upholstery leather manufacturing. They also have special facilities such as the production of nanoporous membrane, electronics embedded in fabrics, 3D fabrics (e.g. hollow fabrics) and protective clothing production. The Czech Republic also produces certified children’s shoes and protective boots. There is an increased demand for smart textiles among the aging population; meanwhile young people indicate the need for personalized product manufacturing. New challenges for the industry are digitalization, robotization, the need for reusability and the replacement of substances with a negative environmental impact.

Finally, Ms. Chybová presented the international Interreg granted project named „ENTeR”, involving 5 countries’ experts on textile recycling and waste management. The Czech industry makes 80-90 000 tons of textile waste annually; an estimated 20 kg/inhab. of textile waste is being disposed every year, 97% of which is going to landfill, 3% is collected and sorted. After tearing, non-woven fabrics are produced of this waste; however, the situation of technical textile waste is more difficult due to composite materials and coated products.

Results of teaching eco-design at Obuda University

Prof. Márta Kisfaludy PhD DLA, director of the Product Design Institute introduced the wide range of subjects which are offered by the institute’s training program: scientific, legal and material studies, product design methodology, etc.; and highlighted the role of 6-week long professional internship.

Various examples illustrated the eco-conscious perspective from the fields of textile, clothing, packaging and interior design. To name a few successful products designed and made by students: workwear design, special outfits made of disassembled jackets, bags, furnitures and polarization-based lighting design, lamps and packaging designs.

Strategy for extreme fast changing business environments

István Tisótzki start up consultant and mentor (GM-VIP 77) described his method, which is a business model based on the knowledge of the customer. The task is to plan value proposition, starting from the facts: what does the market participant want, what hurts them, what do they do? We need to discover what they don’t like in a competing product. This paradigm shift process can also be called the shift from ego-driven development to empathy-driven. We have to recognize that customers do not buy a product but a solution.

Online assessment tool for CSR risks for small and medium-sized enterprises of TC sector

Christian Baio held a presentation via internet video conference. The on-line assessment tool system is based on the ISO 26000 (Corporate Social Responsibility Guideline) standard, enabling CSR risk assessment of textile and garment manufacturing companies, also giving suggestions to the users. The tool helps to ensure that the company works in a socially responsible manner, regardless of whether the organization operates in the public or private sector, or in a developed or a developing country.

Social responsibility differs from the traditional approach, dealing with risk analysis and spreading best practices throughout the entire textile supply chain. For example, CSR provides an opportunity to get to know our own suppliers even more extensively, and to create a network. The lecturer stressed that with software development implemented within the framework of the EU funded project provides an opportunity for all users to use the application to process human rights, ethical wages, environmental impacts (based on certificates for example), and manage consumer habits and customer problems. The tool provides opportunity to self-assessment (where do we stand at the moment, where can we get to having fixed the bugs), result evaluation and risk reduction.

The participants were invited to a trial of the online assessment tool, and were asked to provide feedback about the experiences of its use.

Corporate Social Responsibility at Hungarian SME-s

In the last presentation, Zsolt Valkár customer relationship manager of CWS-boco Hungary highlighted the importance of CSR in global business and introduced the CSR measures implemented by their management, especially regarding employee appreciation, health & safety. They also treat water, energy consumption, chemical use and carbon dioxide emissions as a priority and as good practice he gave examples how they reduced it dramatically.

After the presentations, Lívia Kokas Palicska thanked the speakers and the participants for their active participation, closed the symposium and invited the participants for a networking lunch.

/This report was written based on the article of Csaba Kutasi/