Nanollose (NC6) has signed a collaboration agreement with global fibre marker, Grasim Industries. The agreement is to develop and commercialise Nanollose’s tree-free fibres, including nullarbor and nufolium. Grasim belongs to an Indian company, Aditya Birla Group, worth $48.3 bn (AUD$71.8 bn), which is one of the world’s largest man-made cellulosic fibre producers. Aditya is a leading global producer of man-made cellulosic fibres for textiles, apparel and non-woven applications.
Nanollose uses an eco-friendly fermentation process to grow fibres that could become a sustainable alternative to the common plant-derived cellulose fibres. It uses streams from various large-scale industries like sugar, wine and food, to create plant-free cellulose. Cellulose is the hidden polymer building block most consumers know nothing about but forms a huge part of items used in their everyday life such as clothing, paper and hygiene products.
The collaboration will provide Nanollose with a world-class and globally recognised industrial partner, who will help accelerate development and commercialisation. Grasim will also help the company with a manufacturing foundation for future textile and clothing brands that uptake its tree-free fibres. Currently, Grasim creates its fibres from managed forest trees and its new sustainable processes and technology to safeguard the environment.
Under the agreement, Nanollose and Grasim will work together exclusively to further refine and develop the process to allow fibre production on Grasim’s pilot spinning line at the tonne scale. The combination of Nanollose’s Tree-Free cellulose fibre technology and Grasim’s sustainability initiatives, has the potential to make this union one of the most eco-friendly and sustainable fibre offerings on the market.
Nanollose Managing Director Alfie Germano is thrilled to have Grasim as an industrial partner.
“This collaboration will allow Nanollose to scale with a globally recognised fibre maker and create a number of commercially ready sustainable fibre products that will meet the growing demand from brands seeking eco-friendly alternatives,” Alfie said. “Grasim will also bring a high level of credibility when Nanollose begins offering textile and clothing brands with our breakthrough products,” he added. Both companies aim to work together to optimise the entire end-to-end process for optimum commercial uptake of Nanollose’s Tree-Free fibres.
“We feel this is a natural joining of forces that creates an alliance that will pioneer a new bio-material supply chain along with ticking many large sustainability boxes and increasing market demands,” Alfie told the market. On market close, Nanollose is up 7.25 per cent and trading at 7.4¢ a piece.
