The RELIANCE project, represented by partner Centexbel, took center stage at INFOHappening 2024 in Zwijnaarde, Belgium, held from May 28 to 31. The project was featured in an oral presentation titled "Designing PU for Sustainable Coatings, showcasing important outcomes obtained from the project activities.

During this session, participants were introduced by David de Smet to the pioneering results of a wash-resistant, bio-based polyurethane (PU) coating developed by Centexbel, showing RELIANCE advancements on environmentally conscious materials in textile applications.

INFOHappening is an annual, free-to-attend event hosted by Centexbel that brings together industry leaders and innovators in textile coating, finishing, and printing. The 2024 edition brought together 20 companies specializing in in textile chemistry and coatings, coming together to explore a range of cutting-edge themes.  

The topics of the programme during the workshop encompassed:

• Paving the way for sustainable flooring
• Plasma treatment of hemp fabrics for composite applications
• Safety considerations when working with carbon fibres
• Flame retardant biobased epoxies
• Physical testing of coated & printed materials
• Designing sustainable PU for coatings
• Biodegradable coatings for textiles and packaging
• PHA based plastisols as an alternative for PVC in artificial leather
• Biobased screenprinting and microfibre release finishes for apparel

INFOHappening 2024 proved once again to be an invaluable event for fostering new ideas and inspiring eco-friendly innovations in the textile industry.