The textile industry is widely known to be a major contributor to the pollution and exploitation of our natural environment. The current manufacturing processes rely mostly on non-renewable resources such as oil, fertilizers and dye, while consuming globally 93 billion cubic meters of water annually. That’s nearly the amount of water in the Dead Sea. In addition, around half a million tonnes of plastic-based microfibers, such as polyester, nylon and acrylic, are shed into the oceans every year during the washing and treatment of synthetic textiles. Despite the gloomy news coverage and research reports, we at Maki.vc want to believe that solutions can be found. When it comes to cutting down water waste and harmful emissions, no less than a superhero is needed. The closest to one we’ve come across is Spinnova and their team of Spidermen and –women.
In 2009, former fluid dynamics scientist Juha Salmela attended a lecture at Oxford University, given by a leading spider researcher about the structural similarities between the spider web and nanocellulose. During the lecture he got inspired: Would it be possible to replicate the spider’s nozzle technique and apply it to cellulose? As freaky as it may sound, it was. CEO Janne Poranen joined the team in 2014, and the spin off from VTT was finalized in early 2015. The Finnish company became Spinnova. Now, the business has the potential to be scaled to be bigger than the Finnish paper industry.
Spinnova’s technology mimics the spider’s silk spinning process: A finely ground pulp mass flows through a nozzle, creating a strong and elastic network of fibres. The fibre can then be directly spun into a yarn or weaved into a fabric, replacing heavily water-dependent cotton and oil-based synthetic textiles. Other application areas beyond wearable and home textiles include non-woven fabrics such as hygiene products, diapers, insulation products and biocomposites. The raw material is 100% cellulose, and the manufacturing process does not require any oil-based or harmful chemicals. The only side product of the process is evaporated water, and there is no waste, meaning that their solution uses altogether up to 99 % less water compared to traditional textile industry during the whole production cycle.
We know that this sounds too good to be true, but in fact, it is true. Spinnova is already collaborating with many globally renowned companies, such as the Finnish design brand Marimekko, in product development. Spinnova has also partnered with Fibria, the largest eucalyptus cellulose producer in the world, which brings the opportunity to reach economies of scale for mass production. Also, the opportunity doesn’t end with cellulose: The next step is to develop the technology further so that other sustainable cellulose-based materials such as straw, sugar beet and agricultural or bio waste can be used as raw materials. The trials are well under way and the results so far have been extremely promising. These two partnerships, and examples of technology extensions, are here to demonstrate how Spinnova’s yarn can soon suit you too.
Now Maki.vc and Spinnova are teaming up and the CEO Janne Poranen is happy to have us on board: “We’ve been discussing with Ilkka (Kivimäki) for a long time, and he has the best possible access to potential partners and investors, both locally and internationally. We’re very much looking forward to developing our business model and global go-to-market strategy together.”
Just last week, Spinnova launched its recent funding from Business Finland and OP Bank to support their factory investment. Spinnova will set up their pilot factory in Finland this year, to take one leap closer to the world’s most sustainable textile fibre.
Ready to make history with Spinnova? Let’s.
