Fresh backing for recycled fibre business

HELSINKI – Finnish tech business Infinited Fiber Company (IFC), which produces a cotton-like fibre from recycled fibres and cellulose, has received its largest single investment from Singapore-based manufacturing conglomerate, RGE. The size of the investment is undisclosed. The money will be used to help IFC scale its technology, which turns textile waste and other pulp-based materials into new textile fibres. A strategic co-operation agreement has also been signed between RGE and IFC to commercialise the start-up’s technology.

Since early 2018, IFC has been operating a 50-ton per annum pilot plant in Espoo, Finland, that produces fibre for testing purposes to be trialled by global brand owners such as H&M, VF Corp and their manufacturers. Recently, the company leased production facilities in Valkeakoski city, Southern Finland, for a new pre-commercial 500-ton per annum plant and customer training centre that will start up in early 2020. 

IFC has raised €8m this year, including €1.96m recently awarded by the European Innovation Council (EIC).

Infinited Fiber technology can turn textile, cardboard and agricultural waste into cotton-like fibres. It is claimed the new fibres can be circulated infinite times while preserving quality.

The business model of IFC is to license the Infinited Fiber technology for global fibre producers in textile and non-woven industries. The end-use applications include fashion, home textiles, disposable personal care products (e.g. wipes, diapers, pads) and technical products (e.g. automotive filters, dairy, construction applications). The production process is protected by several patents in key market areas.

Petri Alava, CEO of IFC said: “This new investment amount, the largest single IFC has received to date, supplements the earlier partnerships with H&M Group, Virala and Fortum, we announced in April this year. We are delighted to have RGE on board as a strategic partner as we can apply what we learn from their global operations to accelerate our plan to bring our technology to large-scale manufacturing. This new financing will enable us to finalise the scaling of the technology and to extend our fibre production capacity to enable global leading brands to bring capsule collections to the markets in 2020.”

Added Tey Wei Lin, president of RGE: “RGE is keen to support innovative next-generation solutions that can be applied at industrial scale. IFC’s technology is exciting as it brings together the use of recycled feedstock and clean solvent in a circular fashion to produce fibres. Our viscose business groups, Sateri and Asia Pacific Rayon, collectively produce about 1.4 million tons of viscose annually using raw materials from renewable plantations. As a leading viscose producer, we strive to continually seek solutions to improve the sustainability performance of our manufacturing practices and products.”