Swiss textile technology company HeiQ announces the introduction of HeiQ AeoniQ- a high-performance cellulose yarn based on a novel fiber created from carbon negative. HeiQ AeoniQ is derived from third-generation cellulosic biopolymers and is advancing to pilot production prior to mass commercialization.

The business, based in Zurich, Switzerland, points out that traditional cellulosic fiber production needs arable land during growth and has limited design diversity, but raw resources for fossil-based synthetic materials are finite. Existing technologies for recycling textile fabrics and clothes created with all fibers are, for the most part, still not at scale, and most fibers – synthetic or natural – take several years to decompose in landfills or seas, resulting in the environmental build-up.

Because the cellulosic biopolymers used in AeoniQ yarns bind carbon from the atmosphere while producing oxygen during growth, the high-performance yarn has the potential to replace synthetic filament yarns. Furthermore, unlike traditional cellulosic goods, AeoniQ yarns are produced without the use of arable land, pesticides, or fertilizer.

HeiQ AeoniQ yarns are designed for cradle-to-cradle circularity, which means they can be recycled multiple times while maintaining consistent fiber quality. HeiQ AeoniQ is designed to give comparable performance attributes to polyester, nylon, and traditional regenerated cellulose yarns, and the manufacturing method is expected to use 99 percent less water than cotton yarns.

The Lycra Company has joined HeiQ as a development partner, and up to 20 environmentally-conscious brand partners have been asked to be the first to market with items created from the new yarn. The first AeoniQ yarns are expected to be delivered from the pilot manufacturing plant in the second quarter of 2022.

Carlo Centonze, co-founder and CEO of HeiQ, said that new inventions are required to combat climate change. By introducing HeiQ AeoniQ yarn to the textile sector, they will be able to minimize their reliance on oil-based fibers, contribute to the decarbonization of our planet, and lessen the industry's influence on climate change. Consumers may contribute to the reduction of CO2 in the atmosphere by wearing AeoniQ clothing. Hundreds of millions of tonnes of CO2 could be binded to the atmosphere if billions of people adopt it.