Spinnova, a sustainable fiber company based in Finland, has been recognized for its potential to reduce world emissions significantly. To commemorate Zero Emissions Day, Spinnova has received the first High Potential Carbon Handprint Innovation award from climate business network Climate Leadership Coalition (CLC).

In 2017, CLC introduced the concept to Finland in order to urge residents to think about their personal consumption habits. According to the CLC, two CLC members, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and LUT University, have been pioneering the development of standards-based carbon handprint calculation methodologies.

Many CLC member organizations are believed to have already established the size of carbon handprints for their own products and services, indicating that increasing carbon footprints is becoming a key goal for businesses.

Jouni Keronen, CEO, Climate Leadership Coalition, said that in order to enhance global awareness of a positive carbon footprint, they created the Carbon Handprint Award. They hope to highlight those products and services that assist citizens to minimize their carbon footprint in the spirit of Zero Carbon Day with the award.

CLC is presenting the Carbon Handprint Award in two categories for the first time this year: The Most Climate-Friendly Carbon Handprint Product and The High Potential Carbon Handprint Innovation.

The first High Potential Carbon Handprint Innovation was awarded to Spinnova. The company already started fiber production, and the first industrial-scale plant will open in Jyväskylä in 2022. Traditional cotton can now be replaced in textile items because of this breakthrough. CLC estimates that annual greenhouse emissions from cotton fiber production surpass 50 million tonnes of worldwide CO2e, with the carbon footprint of Spinnova's fiber is 64% less than traditional cotton.

Spinnova’s chief technology officer and co-founder Juha Salmela, said that continuous improvement of its carbon footprint is a huge priority to them; it's something they've thought about from the beginning. A climate-friendly product must obviously be created with minimum impact.

Neste's MY Renewable Diesel was named the Most Climate-Friendly Carbon Handprint Product, since it helps cut motoring emissions by up to 90% when compared to fossil fuels.

The awardees were chosen by the CLC board of directors based on the number of applications received and evaluations of the start-ups.