There is one week remaining to participate in voting for the Discover Natural Fibres Initiative (DNFI) Innovation in Natural Fibres Award 2017. Voting began at the end of August and will end September 30. 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. As of September 25, people from 136 countries have participated in the voting process! This indicates worldwide interest in the award and appreciation for the excellence of the award submissions. A single winner will be chosen by majority vote and announced October 6.
From many highly-qualified nominations, five finalists were chosen by a sub-committee of DNFI members:
 
• 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.