Sustainability

Sustainability is the very foundation of our business. Our technology was created to solve major sustainability challenges in the global textile industry.

Our sustainability approach

PASSIONATELY INNOVATIVE

Sustainable innovation is in our DNA. We test and learn passionately to ensure that our operations and products create the biggest possible positive impact.

CLIMATE CHAMPION

We are a pro-climate company: from raw materials and production to the behaviour we encourage in all our stakeholders. Our technology enables textile fibre production with low carbon emissions and climate benefits.

NATURALLY CIRCULAR

We apply circular principles that go way beyond recycling - both in own operations and value chain. We encourage our partners to join us in the transition to a circular economy.

SPINNOVA® fibre

SPINNOVA® fibre is a biobased textile fibre made from renewable raw materials.

SPINNOVA® fibre is FSC certified and raw material is traceable

Wood-based SPINNOVA® fibre is FSC certified. All wood raw material comes from our partner Suzano’s FSC certified eucalyptus plantations or FSC controlled wood sources in Brazil. The eucalyptus plantations grow on degraded land instead of replacing natural ecosystems.

74% less CO₂ emissions

When produced from eucalyptus pulp, the greenhouse gas emissions of SPINNOVA® fibre are 74% lower than the global average emissions of conventional cotton. These emissions include raw material supply, transportation of raw materials, and manufacturing the fibre product (cradle-to-gate).

98% less water consumption

From farming to fibre processing, eucalyptus-based SPINNOVA® fibre consumes as much as 98% less water compared to the average water consumption in conventional cotton production. This is mainly due to the heavy watering required by cotton plants, while eucalyptus trees rely on rainfall for irrigation.

Fibre spinning technology

Our technology is based on circularity.

The cleanest process

The best way to impact the world is not to. Our ground-breaking technology spins textile fibre without harmful chemicals or pollution and it is designed for zero waste. Our technology includes a closed-loop water and energy concept, which means water and heat are recovered from the process for minimal water use and maximum energy efficiency.

No harmful chemicals

We don't use any harmful chemicals in the fibre spinning process. As the pulp for SPINNOVA® fibre is refined mechanically, it does not need to be dissolved using harmful chemicals. The refined cellulose is then transformed into a spinning-ready fibre suspension without harmful chemistry.

SPINNOVA® fibres are recyclable

SPINNOVA® fibres can be recycled in the same process without losing quality. We have tested the recyclability of SPINNOVA® fibre with its own technology, and the tests show that when the fibre is recycled in this way, it does not lose quality – in some cases, the quality of the fibre improves.

Find out how choosing SPINNOVA® fibre helps mitigate climate change.

Megatrends

Our business is driven by the megatrends of the natural fibre gap, climate crisis, waste problem, and lack of recycling.

Cellulose is a natural solution

We are running out of textile fibres that don't burden the environment as much as current fibres. What we need is renewable raw materials like wood, and novel production processes with minimal environmental harm.

By 2030, the proportion of cellulose-based textile fibres other than cotton would need to grow significantly, as cotton farming is on a non-sustainable foundation. Innovators like us are working hard to create commercially and ecologically sustainable solutions out of cellulose. This will help fill what is known as ‘the cellulose gap’– the increasing shortfall created by the demand for cellulosic textile fibre and cotton's limited ability to meet it.

As well as bridging the cellulose gap, the SPINNOVA® fibre also helps fight climate change. Created with minimal water and emissions, it offers a solution to other huge megatrends challenging our planet and worsening the climate crisis; fresh water shortage and CO2 emissions.

Our Supplier Code of Conduct

As we build our supply chain, we have formulated our Supplier Code of Conduct for our suppliers. The Supplier Code of Conduct includes requirements related to human rights, the environment, and ethical business practices. It is aligned with the labour standards set out by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).


Sustainable raw material is a priority for Spinnova

We have signed the Fibre Procurement Policy for Protecting Forests by Canopy. We acknowledge that Ancient and Endangered Forests need to be protected and conserved, and we ensure to the best of our knowledge that we are not sourcing from any controversial sources. Rigorous certification systems, transparency and traceability are some of our key focus areas in ensuring sustainable sourcing. The policy we are committed to supports principles that result in long-term environmental, social and economic benefits.