Patented invention by Germany based SMARTFIBER AG.
SEACELL is a patented, eco-friendly fiber that has limitless applications in textiles. The fibers are suitable for a broad spectrum of uses in sports and leisure textiles – from underwear and loungewear to soft furnishings.

SEACELL is produced using a closed-loop production method that works with nature and during which no chemicals are released as waste. The fibers are made from eco-friendly, low-resource, and 100% biodegradable natural materials. That is why this process won the “Process Innovation” award at the European Business Awards for the Environment.

Watch out for these brands using Seacell: Another Tomorrow, Calida, FTC Fair Trade Cashmere, Speidel, WYLD1

HeiQ is of the expert opinion that currently there is no viable alternative to polyester within or outside the textile industry and has positioned AeoniQ™ as the first zero environmental impact, sustainable textile possessing all the qualities and properties to directly replace polyester. Moreover, AeoniQ™ can be processed similarly to polyester (e.g., dyed or texturized) and be made in already existing equipment (e.g., looms and knitting machines).

AeoniQ™ is manufactured through an innovative proprietary process. Water is recycled more than 99% and the choice of raw materials prioritize those that help to decarbonize the atmosphere. AeoniQ™ can be manufactured from different cellulosic raw materials which can be locally sourced depending on regional availability.

First pilot plant: Herzogenburg (Austria).
Textile manufacturer using AeoniQ™: BESTE

cycora® is a first-of-its-kind regenerated polyester created entirely from textile ‘waste’. Made by the Los Angeles-based materials science innovators at Ambercycle Inc., cycora® is a material ingredient for sustainability-driven clothing brands.

It is created entirely from textile ‘waste’ that is regenerated into virgin-grade polyester. this includes ‘unusable’ material from every stage of textile production—like excess yarn or cutscraps that fall to the factory floor—and worn garments that have been discarded.

cycora® is created using an advanced molecular regeneration technology that breaks down textile waste to its base molecules, then separates, purifies, and reconstitutes them into a virgin-grade raw material.

Brands using cycora®: Reformation, Ganni

The name Tencel™ stands for the textile brand of Lenzing AG, a company based in Austria. This term refers to the three industrially produced fibers Lyocell, Viscose, and Modal, which are made from natural cellulose using the direct solvent process. The three synthetic fibers are known for their comfortable, elastic, and absorbent properties.

The Austrian company has invested extensive research and development in this area in recent years, establishing a well-known name for itself. Lenzing AG processes certified wood from sustainable forestry. One of the company's successes: the solvent is reused and returned to the closed production cycle. For this, Lenzing AG was also honored with the "European Award for the Environment" from the European Union.

Circ© is focussed on addressing the global textile waste problem by recycling polycotton. Using a patented hydro-thermal process, Circ© separates and recovers both polyester and cellulose, enabling true textile-to-textile recycling into new fibres made from post-consumer and post-industrial materials.

Circ© France is the first commercial facility engineered for polycotton recycling at scale.

Circ’s lyocell is regenerated cellulose from textile waste, using closed-loop production to produce staple & filament fibers that match (or exceed) the quality of virgin, tree-based lyocell.

Circ’s regenerated polyester looks, feels, and performs just like virgin, instead using fibers that were already in circulation.

Based in the US and France.
Brands collaborating in terms of capsule collections (broad scale still to be seen): Zalando, Zara, Christian Siriano, Allbirds

CIRCULOSE® makes fashion circular.

It is a Next Generation material made by recovering cellulose from worn-out clothes and production scraps. Brands choose CIRCULOSE® as it replaces the use of virgin materials such as wood pulp or cotton, is available at scale through the CIRCULOSE® Supplier Network, and helps to close the loop on textile production.

CIRCULOSE® is made from 100% recyled textiles, like that worn-out pair of jeans at the back of your closet. It is a ‘dissolving pulp’ that can be used to make viscose, lyocell, modal, acetate, and other types of regenerated fibers (also called man-made cellulosic fibers). These fibers are then spun into yarns, woven or knitted into fabrics and finally cut and sewn into new high-quality textile products.

The only difference with textiles made with CIRCULOSE® is that they are made from textile waste instead of new cotton, oil or wood.

Based in Sweden.
Recent brand collaborations using CIRCULOSE® : Ganni, Reformation, Patrick McDowell

naNea is a novel co-polyester designed for both biodegradability* and recyclability*. The material is made from biobased, recycled or virgin feedstock. Its polymer structure enables rapid biodegradability in the open environment, without the use of chemical additives.

naNea does not release persistent micro or nano plastics* and is the world’s only synthetic textile material to receive Cradle to Cradle Certified ® Gold. It is safe for both the biological and technical cycle.

naNea is an obvious choice for brands facing increasing legislative pressure to adopt environmentally responsible materials.

naNea is soft, matches the performance of PET* and has an excellent built-in moisture management*. As a drop-in technology, switching to naNea in manufacturing is easy.

Consumers benefit from a safe, durable material without harmful substances or heavy metals like antimony, a common contaminant of conventional polyester. At end of life, naNea is recyclable along with PET.

naNea is available today in industrial quantities as chips, fibers and filament yarns.

* The company provides relevant documents for validation upon request!
Based in Switzerland

HyphaLite™ is a product by ISA COSM business unit which focusses on the development of next gen materials. It is a 100 % biobased, biodegradable* and compostable* material made from certified natural latex, FSC-certified regenerated cellulose fibers and contains mushrooms.

*Test Method: EN 14855-1:2012 with reference to EN 13432:2000

The fabric is currently used mainly for bags and shoes.
Brands using HyphaLite™: Tamaris, Puma, Merrell, Saucony, Camper

If farmed carefully, plant-based fibres like flax (the basis for linen) and hemp can be more environmentally sustainable than cotton, wool or synthetics. Clothes made with these fibres are quick to dry, durable and biodegradable. They might, however, also be a bit coarse or prone to wrinkling. That’s why certain modern fits are not feasible with these kinds of fibres.

More advantages:
Flax and hemp are both carbon sink crops, meaning that they absorb more carbon than they release into the atmosphere.
They are both naturally pest-resistent, thus needing less chemicals.
They have short growth cycles, making them ideal mix-crops to grow between growth cycles of other crops
Hemp is additionally antibacterial, thermoregulating and highly resistant.

See the webpage of the Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp to know more or read our blog post about the different textiles and their environmental impact. Links below.