#Sustainability

2019-10-10

Spinnova’s technology for sustainable textile fibres gets 11 MEUR investment for commercial scaling

With new growth capital of 11 million euros, the sustainable fibre technology company Spinnova is now starting the commercialization phase of the world’s most sustainable textile fibre. The company aims to revolutionize the raw material base of the textile industry with its cellulose-based fibre products in collaboration with major textile brands.

Spinnova is a Finnish, sustainable deeptech company that has developed a disruptive technology for manufacturing cellulose-based textile fibres. Spinnova’s patented method includes 0% harmful chemicals and 0% waste or side streams, making the fibre and the production the most sustainable in the world.

Spinnova is beginning to plan for its commercial phase after passing its most important milestone so far; getting proof of concept from its pilot factory. The pilot line was completed in Finland last December and ramped up over early 2019. Now fully operational, the pilot is producing fibre for Spinnova’s brand partners, while Spinnova scales towards a commercial facility.

Spinnova recently completed a financing round that ensures getting to the commercial phase without further financing needs. The 11 million euro total investment came entirely from Spinnova’s existing investors; family investment offices, private investors, a venture capital investment fund and industrial partners.

There has been a significant amount of brand interest towards Spinnova’s innovation. As Spinnova and its industrial partners begin to plan for the first commercial facilities, uptake agreements will be available to brands who want to make sure they are early adopters of the world’s most sustainable fibre. The fibre recently passed industrial spinning tests, which was an important step of the fibre’s journey towards a commercially viable drop-in material.

Following close collaboration with piloting brands, several demo products will be introduced to consumers in the near future. Spinnova’s vision is that its sustainable fibres become an attractive option to brands and this way available to all consumers.

– We have proven success in both strategic focus areas related to our vision: We work closely with brands in developing our fibre products and will scale the sustainable technology to big volumes with industrial partners, comments Spinnova’s CEO and co-founder Janne Poranen.

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

Updated supply chain taxonomy advances apparel alignment

The apparel alliance (Apparel Impact Institute, Cascale, Textile Exchange, and ZDHC Foundation) today announced the launch of Version 2 of the Supply Chain Taxonomy, an updated harmonized framework designed to improve consistency, transparency, and collaboration across the textile, clothing, leather, and footwear (TCLF) sectors of the broader apparel industry.

Ministry of Industry Delegation visits NatureWorks’ second global manufacturing site at Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex

NatureWorks Asia Pacific Limited welcomed a high-level delegation led by Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Industry, to its manufacturing site at the Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex (NBC). The visit follows the successful inauguration of the site on April 29, 2026, and highlights the role of public-private collaboration in advancing Thailand’s sustainable industrial development and bioeconomy ambitions.

Indorama Ventures advances circularity tthrough PETValue Philippines' “Zero Waste to Landfill Partnership” with Republic Cement

Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, a global sustainable chemical company, is advancing the circular economy through a new Zero Waste to Landfill initiative at its recycling site PETValue Philippines, further demonstrating how collaboration across industries can maximize resource efficiency and reduce waste.

Networking Day 2026: Industry stakeholders unite around textile recycling

In 2026, the Industry Research Group (IRG) Polymer Recycling once again brought together some of the key stakeholders in textile recycling for its annual Networking Day. This year, the event took place at EREMA’s premises in Ansfelden, Austria. It brought together key players from across the textile recycling value chain for a day of structured exchange and in-depth discussions.