Spinnova and Renewcell weave circular fibre innovation

The concept combines patented technology from both companies to enable spinning textile waste-based fibre into new fibre without harmful chemicals. The companies expect the first consumer products made from this fibre to launch by the end of 2024. 

At the core of the concept is Renewcell’s biodegradable pulp product, Circulose, made from cellulosic-rich textile waste such as cotton and viscose. Until now, it has been used to create man-made cellulosic fibres such as viscose. This is what the collaboration with Spinnova is set to change. Adopting its textile fibre production technology allows the two partners to strip any harmful chemicals from the fibre spinning process and turn Circulose into a new, bio-based textile fibre. 

Spinnova has already successfully tested the process and produced the first batches of 100 per cent Circulose-based Spinnova fibre for yarn and fabric development.

Spinnova and Renewcell see their collaboration as a big step towards addressing the fashion industry's growing textile waste problem and setting new standards for sustainable textile fibre production.

“The fashion and textile industry needs new solutions and collaboration across its supply chain, which makes this such an exciting partnership for us,” said Ben Selby, Spinnova's Deputy CEO. “Our goal is to accelerate the fashion industry's transition to a circular economy and explore options to scale textile-to-textile fibre production.”

The collaboration joins a long list of recent circular economy firsts in Finland. In June, the City of Lahti launched a groundbreaking pilot to incentivise textile waste recycling and address the environmental impact of discarded textiles. Two months later, Helsinki Airport became the world's first airport to open a second-hand store. 

Outside the fashion industry, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, TAMK University of Applied Sciences and Aalto University have teamed up with 17 industry partners to find environmentally friendly solutions for non-woven fibre-based materials as part of a 2.6-million-euro project.