The Finnish textile manufacturer Spinnova and the Swedish recycling specialist Renewcell will work together to produce sustainable materials in the future. The aim of the collaboration is to “develop and advance a concept for the commercial use and greater distribution of fibers produced from textile waste,” both companies explained in a joint press release on Wednesday.
As part of the partnership, Spinnova has developed a particularly environmentally friendly process to process the raw material Circulose, developed by Renewcell and based on recycled textile waste, into new fibers, according to the statement. In the meantime, the first fiber and fabric prototypes have already been produced, which consist of a mixture of circulose and cotton. According to the two companies, the first consumer goods made from the new materials are expected to come onto the market at the end of 2024.
“The fashion and textile industry needs new solutions and collaboration along the entire supply chain. That’s what makes this partnership so exciting for us,” said Ben Selby, Spinnova’s deputy CEO, in a statement. “Our goal is to accelerate the fashion industry’s transition to a circular economy and explore opportunities to scale textile-to-textile fiber production.” The first tests combining Renewcell’s material with Spinnova’s processes are “Very promising,” said Selby.