Innovations Preview: Fibers & Yarns: Innovation at the Heart of the Energy Transition
Balancing performance, resilience, and durability has become the defining challenge of today’s fashion industry. Every stage of production — from fiber to finished product — is being scrutinized, every method put to the test. Reducing environmental impact is no longer optional but imperative, prompting upstream actors, from fiber producers to spinners, to ramp up investment in disruptive technologies that pave the way for sustainable fashion.
Fiber: A Strategic Lever
Reducing carbon footprint has emerged as a priority, in line with the European Green Deal and new regulations. For brands, Scope 3 emissions — those generated upstream — account for the largest share of their footprint. The choice of raw materials has thus become strategic, with producer innovations opening new perspectives.
Innovation in Synthetics: 70% Less Carbon Emissions
Fibrant illustrates this transition by rethinking the production of nylon-6, achieving a 70% reduction in carbon footprint compared to conventional nylon—the equivalent of 8 tons of CO₂-eq avoided per ton consumed. This performance is driven by multiple technological levers: lowering energy use through patented processes, recycling steam, capturing greenhouse gases, adopting low-carbon raw materials (excluding coal), and relying entirely on renewable electricity.
New Polyesters Targeting Circularity and Accelerated Biodegradability
To reduce dependence on fossil resources and safeguard natural ones, Nilit, the global leader in nylon 6,6 for apparel, is placing circularity at the heart of its strategy. In partnership with Samsara Eco, the company plans by 2026 to launch the first industrial-scale textile-to-textile recycled polymer facility, producing premium nylon 6,6 that can be endlessly reused in supply chains. At its core is EosEco™, a technology combining biophysics, chemistry, biology, and artificial intelligence to develop a family of enzymes capable of “digesting” plastics. Nylon 6,6 textile waste is thereby broken down into raw materials that can be seamlessly reintegrated into existing processes without any loss of performance. The resulting yarn will be added to Nilit’s SENSIL® Preferred range, offering designers durable, high-performance, and environmentally responsible fabrics.
Meanwhile, Jiangsu Guowang is transforming industrial pollution into raw material. Its technology captures carbon emissions released by the steel industry and converts them into textile fibers—a decisive step toward circular production. Aditya Birla Yarn, for its part, is targeting an end of life without synthetic microplastic release through Eco Poly by CiCLO®. This technology enables polyester to biodegrade like a natural fiber. Rigorously tested (ASTM, ISO), the solution offers a concrete response to the dispersion of microplastics in the oceans, while preserving polyester’s competitiveness.
Stretch and Polymers from Renewable Resources
In the strategic segment of elastic fibers, Hyosung—the company behind Creora®—is focusing on regen™ BIO Spandex to lower its environmental footprint. This elastane partially replaces fossil resources with renewable materials, and reduces carbon emissions by 20% and water use by nearly 50% compared to conventional spandex (LCA assessment). By 2026, the company plans to shift from corn to higher-yielding sugarcane, which captures more carbon and generates bagasse as an energy source. Similarly, Sorona® offers a partially bio-based stretch fiber that combines high performance with reduced emissions.
Color and Finishing Processes: Alternatives to Petrochemistry
Innovation goes beyond fiber, with dyeing and textile finishing also undergoing a revolution. IndiDye is pioneering the use of natural dyes from organic co-products, combined with patented ultrasonic technology to fix the dye. The result: colorations achieved without petrochemicals, more respectful of ecosystems and less energy-intensive.
Innovative Raw Materials Driving Deep Transformation
These initiatives have moved beyond experimentation, marking a structural shift. The goal is not merely to limit damage, but to radically transform production methods. Bio-based, circular, low-carbon—the fiber and yarn sector is shaping the DNA of a new textile industry.
Discover these innovations at Première Vision Paris, from 16 to 18 September, 2025, where 36 companies specializing in yarns and fibers will present high value-added developments—sustainable in essence, refined in quality, and resolutely shaped by the future.
