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Q and A: What Is Viscose? What is Rayon?

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deforestation

Purchasers often compare viscose rayon to cotton products. In previous articles, we’ve compared viscose to purified cotton, and we’ve also discussed false labeling claims, where viscose rayon was used instead of bamboo in fabrics that claimed to be natural.  Whether you’re a product developer or a consumer, you’re probably quite familiar with the historic strengths and advancements in cotton applications, while you may need to learn more about viscose material.

Take a look at this brief Q + A that establishes some definitions and points of contrast between all-natural cotton and its artificial counterpart, viscose rayon. Continue reading →

Three Products Perfectly Suited for Organic Cotton

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Though organic cotton has a long way to go before it replaces conventional cotton, it’s been riding the organic wave that was started in the fruit and vegetable section of your local grocery store. While consumers mostly come into contact with organic cotton in their clothing, organic cotton is slowly moving into the consumer products market as well. Continue reading →

Barnhardt Exhibits at the 2019 IDEA Conference

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Barnhardt Exhibits at the 2019 IDEA Conference

In late March, the Barnhardt team traveled to sunny Miami Beach for the 2019 IDEA Conference, the premier global event for nonwovens and engineered fabrics, two important sectors for the company’s purified cotton products.

The IDEA Conference, an event produced by the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA) took place March 25-28 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The annual conference attracts more than 7,000 attendees and more than 550 exhibiting companies from over 70 countries representing nearly every continent. Continue reading →

What Is a Natural Fiber?

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In the world of fibers, certain terms are used loosely, especially in product marketing. The term “natural fiber” is such a term, and its meaning has been stretched in the last several years to include some fibers, such as viscose rayon, that don’t hold up well as natural fibers when submitted to credible scrutiny.

 

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Not All Natural Fibers Are Created Equal: The Truth about Viscose Rayon

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Not All Natural Fibers Are Created Equal: The Truth about Viscose Rayon

As the earth matures and we come to grips with humanity’s role in the degradation of the environment in multiple forms of pollution and the overarching condition of climate change, it’s important that we make the right choices as individuals and companies with regard to the products we use and the effects they have on the environment.

Product choices we make for sustainability should include the clothes we wear, which are predominantly made from cotton, an all-natural product; polyester, a man-made fiber, and viscose, the subject of this article. We can safely assume that natural products have a lower negative impact on the environment than man-made products, but they are certainly not equal; furthermore, not all products perceived to be natural actually are.

Let’s take a look at viscose, and why it shouldn’t be considered a fabric choice that’s also pro-environment. Continue reading →

Purified Cotton versus Mechanically Cleaned and Sterilized Cotton

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Purified Cotton versus Mechanically Cleaned and Sterilized Cotton

When considering the type of cotton to be used in applications such as nonwovens going into hygiene products, there are several considerations including the use of purified cotton or mechanically cleaned and sterilized cotton.

While purified cotton going into hygiene products is mechanically cleaned much like nonpurified cotton, that’s where the similarities end.  Let’s take a look at some of the important differences between cotton that has been prepared via purification vs. sterilization. Continue reading →

Wade Hubbard Jr. – new Director of Product Management for Natural Fibers Division

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Cotton growing in the wild.

January 09, 2019

Barnhardt Manufacturing Co. is pleased to announce Wade Hubbard Jr. as the new Director of Product Management for its Natural Fibers Division in Charlotte, NC.  Lewis Barnhardt, President of the company said, “We are very excited to have Wade on our team as a proven leader in strategic & innovative product stewardship having worked in the past for a leading global company.” Continue reading →

The Truth about Cotton and Environmental Safety: Separating Fact from Fiction

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The Truth about Cotton and Environmental Safety: Separating Fact from Fiction

If you’ve heard something on the street about the production of cotton, chances are, it’s likely wrong. One of the most versatile crops grown all over the world, the cotton story is one that’s commonly told with misconceptions and some outright falsehoods, especially with regard to the environmental impact of a product so crucial to the success of multiple industries, including apparel, non-wovens, upholstery, and many more.

Let’s take a look at some of the more common misperceptions that the public has as a result of misinformation on the world of cotton production, especially here in the United States, where scrutiny of many industries is more intense than in other markets. Continue reading →

An In-Depth Look at Cotton Bales

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An In-depth Look at Cotton Bales

It takes a lot of work and processing to bring raw, field cotton from the farmland to our homes, in its final form in a variety of products ranging from clothing and linens to nonwoven products like feminine hygiene and baby care.

In the course of reading about cotton at any point in the supply and distribution chain, you’ll often see the term “bale” referenced, as a unit for referencing cotton. In today’s article, we’ll take an in-depth look at cotton bales. Continue reading →