HeiQ and Archroma win ITMF International Collaboration Award 2026

Swiss innovators recognized for accelerating the global adoption of sustainable textile technologies through an industry-leading partnership

HeiQ and Archroma are proud to announce that their strategic partnership has been awarded the ITMF International Collaboration Award 2026, recognizing outstanding cooperation that advances innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness across the global textile industry. 

The award acknowledges the success of the HeiQ-Archroma collaboration in bringing next-generation antimicrobial and odor-control technologies to textile manufacturers, brands, and retailers worldwide through a unique combination of innovation, technical expertise, and global market reach. 

The partnership combines Archroma's worldwide commercial and technical platform with HeiQ's expertise in creating high-performance and sustainable material technologies. Together, the companies have established a model for scaling innovation globally, enabling textile mills and brands to access advanced functional technologies more efficiently and effectively than ever before. 

"Our collaboration demonstrates what can be achieved when two organizations with complementary strengths unite around a shared purpose," said Raquel Vaz Vieira, Executive Vice President, HeiQ Advanced Materials. "This award is not only a recognition of what has been achieved so far, but also an encouragement to continue pushing the boundaries of sustainable textile innovation. We thank ITMF for this honor and our customers, partners, and teams across both organizations whose commitment made this collaboration a success." 

Dhirendra Gautam, Vice President, Marketing at Archroma, said: "This recognition from ITMF validates our belief that innovation has greater impact when it is made accessible at scale. Together with HeiQ, we are advancing meaningful transformation for brands and mills worldwide as they adopt more sustainable, high-performance textile technologies." 

Since forming their co-marketing and global distribution partnership, HeiQ and Archroma have focused on making planet-conscious odor-control and antimicrobial solutions broadly available across the textile value chain. The collaboration provides mills with simplified implementation, global technical support, compliance-ready solutions, and access to technologies that support durability, freshness, and responsible manufacturing. 

Among the technologies benefiting from the collaboration is HeiQ Mint, a bio-based, non-biocidal odor-control technology that captures odor molecules and releases them during laundering, helping garments remain fresher for longer while reducing washing frequency. The technology contributes to lower water, energy, and detergent consumption while enhancing wearer comfort and garment longevity. 

The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) is an international forum for the world's textile industries, founded in 1904 and dedicated to keeping the world-wide membership informed through surveys, studies and publications.

© 2026 Archroma

Media Relations

• Marilyn Chua

Archroma

media@archroma.com

• Philip Ghekiere

HeiQ Advanced Materials

philip.ghekiere@heiq.com

• Kim Lommaert

EMG

+31 164 317 021

klommaert@emg-marcom.com

About Archroma

Archroma is a global, diversified provider of specialty chemicals serving the textiles, paper, packaging and construction markets. Headquartered in Pratteln, Switzerland, Archroma operates with over 4,000 employees located in 42 countries and with over 30 production sites. Archroma is passionate about delivering leading and innovative solutions, enhancing people’s lives and respecting the planet. The company is committed to the principles of "The Archroma Way to a Sustainable World"; an approach reflected in its innovations, world-class quality standards, high service levels and cost-efficiency. 

www.archroma.com

About HeiQ

HeiQ is a Swiss deeptech materials innovator founded in 2005 as a spin-off from ETH Zurich, translating breakthrough science into scalable technologies across biotechnology, specialty chemicals, and advanced materials. HeiQ combines scientific expertise, Swiss-quality manufacturing, and commercialization capabilities to serve more than 300 brands in over 60 countries.

www.heiq.com