Finland has become a global leader in sustainable solutions for the fashion sector. Over the years, various studies have shown the significant impact that fashion has on the environment.
One of the major problems in this sector is that available raw materials do not meet the growing needs for textile fibers. At the same time, millions of tons of waste from this industry are either incinerated or end up in landfills. That’s why many awareness campaigns and fundraising efforts have been made to curb this significant impact. Responding to the growing problems of textile waste, a new regulation on textile recycling will come into effect in the EU in 2025.
Sustainable solutions: fiber from wood pulp
Finland has become a leader in the revolution for sustainability, seeking new materials and sustainable business models in the textile industry.
This country studies and offers new solutions in handling textile waste and its treatment, from collection, recycling, and identification, to returning to the manipulation of the same. Finland aims to anticipate the new regulation scheduled for 2025 and initiate a new sustainable process in the textile sector by 2023.
The main Finnish experts in this field are Rester, NordShield®, Emmy, Spinnova, and Infinited Fiber Company, innovative companies with sustainable solutions.
Rester
Rester collaborates closely with the municipal waste management company in southwestern Finland, LSJH, on a project aimed at opening a textile refinement plant in Paimio, which will purify textiles at the end of their useful life to convert them into raw material fiber that can be used in new products.
It is expected to be one of the largest textile refinement plants in northern Europe, making Finland one of the recycling centers in the Nordic countries.
This plant is expected to process 12,000 tons of textiles at the end of its useful life annually, to double the capacity volume in the future.
“Our goal is to ensure the quality of recycled fiber, optimize the material to meet customer needs, and ensure the best possible product performance through further fiber development,” Outi Luukko, CEO of Rester.
NordShield®
NordShield® is a biotechnology company that has created a technology that allows for natural antimicrobial treatment of textiles, free of heavy metals.
This acts against bacteria, fungi, and viruses (including human coronaviruses) and can be applied to textiles and fibers, as well as medical devices, plastics, and even skin.
“By offering a superior alternative to existing antimicrobial products, we are making a positive impact on the world and making the new normal as safe as possible,” Kristoffer Ekman, CEO of NordShield®.
The company has launched NordShield® BioLayr, a durable antibacterial solution to make consumer textiles antimicrobial (available to wholesalers throughout the EU/EEA and Switzerland). Also, the revolutionary NordShield® Brilliant technology has a wide variety of applications, such as hand disinfection, foot disinfection, surface disinfection, and even masks.
Emmy Clothing Company
It is a leading online store in the Nordic countries that sells high-quality second-hand clothing. The website allows consumers, clothing retailers, and fashion brands to resell, discover, and buy high-quality fashion easily and effectively, with complete transparency regarding quality, availability, and delivery options.
Their goal is to reduce waste by making more use of clothing and enabling all actors in the ecosystem to participate in extending the life cycle of a textile.
“Our mission is to extend the life cycle of clothing. The most sustainable way is to use clothing in its original form. We want to offer our customers a fun, comfortable, and rewarding way to recycle clothing,” Taru Marjamaa, CMO of Emmy.
Spinnova e Infinited Fiber Company
Spinnova and Infinited Fiber Company have devised innovative ways to manufacture fiber from wood pulp and discarded textiles, becoming key suppliers of sustainable materials.
https://vimeo.com/521014969
Spinnova
Spinnova manufactures fiber directly from wood pulp or pulp made from by-products. Without dissolving it or using harmful chemicals.
The manufacturing of sustainable textile fiber made with Spinnova’s method generates 0% waste or by-products, 0% microplastics, and has minimal CO2 emissions and water usage.
Sustainable Spinnova Yarn
Inifinited Fiber Company
Infinited Fiber Company is known for Infinna™, a technology capable of converting discarded textiles into premium regenerated textile fiber. Infinna has the natural look and soft feel of cotton. And, it offers a circular alternative to conventional, less sustainable textile fibers that rely on virgin raw materials.
“Infinited Fiber’s technology offers a way to create value from multiple waste streams. It also reduces pressure on natural resources, land, and water,” Petri Alava, co-founder, and CEO of Infinited Fiber Company.
Infinited Fiber Company also leads the EU-funded “New Cotton Project”. It is a consortium of brands, manufacturers, suppliers, innovators, and research institutes that are pioneering a fully circular model for producing commercial garments. It is a world first in the fashion industry.
Over three years, textile waste will be collected, sorted, and regenerated into Infinited Fiber Company’s unique cellulose-based textile fibers, which will be used to create different types of fabrics for garments designed, manufactured, and sold by the global brand Adidas and companies in the H&M Group.
Fabric regenerated with Infinna technology
The projects of these Finnish companies demonstrate the country’s willingness to make the fashion world a sustainable sector that does not harm Planet Earth and its resources.
Images provided by Marco Agency and the mentioned companies.
