Voting continues for the Discover Natural Fibres Initiative (DNFI) Innovation in Natural Fibres Award 2017. Voting began at the end of August and will continue through the end of September.
Anyone, anywhere in the world, including persons who are not members of DNFI, may create a voter ID on the DNFI website < http://dnfi.org/dnfi-award/> and vote for their top choice.
A single winner will be chosen by majority vote and announced October 6.
Nominations for the award were accepted through July 28, 2017, and a sub-committee of DNFI members narrowed the list in the first round to five finalists. The finalists represent a diverse set of technologies and approaches, each with good commercial possibilities:
• Cloppenburg, Frederik, M.Sc. Head of Research Group Nonwoven Technology, Institute für Textilechnik (ITA) der RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany and Dr. Sangeetha Ramaswamy: “System4Green - Methodology for development of products with renewable raw materials.”
• Popzyk, Marie-Isabel, Dipl.-Ing., Scientific Assistant, Institute für Textilechnik (ITA) der RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany and Klein, Roland, Dr., Group Manager Design of Interfaces, Fraunhofer-Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF, Darmstadt, Germany: “Reduction of the moisture absorption of natural fibers and production of no-twist yarns for use in structural components.”
• Thouvay, Stéphane, Managing Director Product Management & Innovation, Südwolle Group, Schwaig, Germany: “Naturetexx® Plasma: making wool machine-washable without chlorine - just plasma and air.”
• Wonneberger, Maik, Employee research and development, INVENT GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany and Thiele, Elke; Helbig, Reinhard, Falck, Corinna; and Thielemann, Günther; Saxon textile research institute, Chemnitz, Germany: “Biogenic Heavy Tows Based on Hemp Bast Bark.”
• Wuzella, Günter Dipl.-Ing. Dr., Research team Green Composites, W3C, Kompetenzzentrum Holz GmbH: "Innovation in Renewable energy - Rotor blades from hemp-based composites.”
About DNFI
The Discover Natural Fibre Initiative (DNFI) was created in January 2010 as an outgrowth of the International Year of Natural Fibres 2009, declared by the United Nations General Assembly. The purposes of DNFI are to advance the interests of all natural fibre industries and to encourage increased use of natural fibres in the world economy. DNFI is a voluntary association of individuals and organizations with interests in promoting natural fibres through collaboration, consultation and cooperation. The Organization (www.dnfi.org) works to further the interests of natural fibres by serving as a platform for information exchange, by providing statistics on fibre production and use, and by working to raise awareness of the benefits of natural fibre industries to the world economy, environment and consumers.