Capitalizing on their shared vision of a circular and bio-based textile industry, HeiQ and Renewcell have joined forces to commercialize 100% circular and biobased high-tenacity filament yarns as a viable replacement for fossil-based fibers like nylon and polyester at scale. Promising results in initial tests using Circulose® as a feedstock for production of HeiQ AeoniQ yarn create an opportunity to for collaboration between the partners in their effort to lead the current textile industry transformation, positioning both companies and Europe as a pioneer region incorporating recycled raw materials in the most modern and environmentally friendly yarn production processes that allow true circularity in the textile industry.

Circulose® – a Circular Cellulose

Circulose® is a branded dissolving pulp product that Renewcell makes from 100% textile waste, such as worn-out jeans and production scraps. Dissolving pulp cellulose is what the textile industry uses to make viscose, lyocell, modal, acetate other types of regenerated fibers (also called ‘man-made cellulosic fibers’). The only difference with Circulose® is that it’s made from textile waste instead of wood. Cellulose is the most abundant organic polymer in the world. It’s what makes up the cell walls of most plants and trees. The purest cellulose found in nature is cotton.

Patrik Lundström, CEO of Renewcell says: “Our 100% recycled textile pulp, Circulose®, was born of the idea to do something better than dump or burn the millions of tonnes of waste this industry creates every year, while also decreasing the need for new high impact virgin materials. Over the last years two years, we have successfully proven the applicability of Circulose® as a direct substitute to virgin cotton and wood as a raw material in fashion. The challenge of how to use Circulose® as a direct substitute for oil in high tenacity perfomance fabrics has remained, until now. Our partnership with HeiQ, a company that fully shares our vision, utilizes Circulose® as a feedstock for the game changing HeiQ AeoniQ yarn and positions us both for a massive breakthrough in the right disruptive direction for the global textile industry. 100% textile-to-textile recycled, bio-based, biodegradable and with the physical performance of polyester and nylon – a Circulose® HeiQ AeoniQ Yarn will excite any brand interested in climate and environment.”