Raw Material Innovation

As the material scientist, Mehmet Sarikaya said: “We are on the brink of a materials revolution that will be on par with the Iron Age and the Industrial Revolution. We are leaping forward into a new age of materials.” And he explains :

“We learn from nature’s molecular evolution, formation, and functions, and apply these biological insights with engineering mindset to innovate practical, high-entropy, low-energy technologies for the present and the future.”

The aim is to create materials and process them in a way that we do not take the high level of resources from nature that is the case today with conventional methods. To move away from synthetic fibres and petrochemical dyes.

With a regenerative mindset, we want to give more than we take, when managing our operations. Today this is hardly possible, but we have to aim high and work in this direction.

When customers place inquiries and styles with Win-Win Textiles we inform of alternative materials and production methods to reduce the impact. Having a number of solutions already available at industrial scale, we do have many options to work with. We propose to work with brands with a 3-track material sourcing strategy:

1/immediate implementation

Preferred materials and processing with lower impact. Solutions are tested at industrial scale and are available practically without difficulties. These materials cannot be considered regenerative, but are better solutions, which will help us take more responsibility and move away from conventional materials. A few examples are certified materials in general, organic materials, nettle, linen, hemp, kapok, natural dyes, mineral dyes, a big variety of recycled materials including 100% recycled fibres, pigment digital printing, e-Flow technology with nano-bubbles.

2/ research to be done

Newer materials and solutions, which are available at an industrial scale, however, represent some challenges or a higher level of information to brands before implementation. We source these materials both within a normal collection rhythm, but also with a longer time span. The challenges can be reduced availability and longer lead-times with other planning needs, a high price level limiting uptake by brands, certain issues with natural materials and dyes relating to variation and quality parametres (e.g. colourfastness to light). Some of these materials and processing methods are considered regenerative. A few examples are: biosynthetic materials, regenerative cotton and regenerative wool, recycled wool, peace silk, certain chemically recycled materials using post-consumer waste as feedstock and the use of engineered microorganisms to produce pigments. All solutions, which significantly or even dramatically reduce the use of water, energy and chemicals.

3/ need for industrial testing

Next generation materials and solutions, which are not fully available at a commercial level. Some of these materials need testing, some are sold exclusively to selected brands, which are part of the development process, others need reservation of capacity/materials and long term planning. As part of this strategy we invite brands to create projects with us, so that we can be part of the first movers introducing new and regenerative materials. We work in collaboration with brands, supply chain partners, science centres, universities and labs to co-create new solutions.

You can read more about this here and how the Portuguese industry works at the forefront of technology. In the Journal you will find articles about fibres and our recommendations.