Our Impact

NOOSA® provides a solution to shift towards a circular textile industry. NOOSA® fiber is entirely bio-based and designed to be recycled using our patented technology. This approach results in a lower environmental footprint compared to traditional materials used in the textile industry.

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Commitment

A field of corn and a blue sky showing the bio-based resources.

100% Bio-Based

NOOSA® is a bio-based fiber derived from GMO-free crops such as corn, sugarcane and wheat, highlighting a shift away from fossil fuels.

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Boosting circularity in textiles

Our NOOCYCLE® technology transforms discarded textiles back into a 100% virgin quality fiber, bringing the industry to an unprecedented level of circularity.

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Low environmental impact

We continuously reduce our environmental impact. Our lifecycle assessment shows NOOSA® fiber cuts CO2 emissions by 30% and water usage by 50% compared to conventional cotton.

TEXTILE WASTE AFFECTS ALL OF US

This is the impact of the industry

  •

    92M tons

    of textile waste is produced per annum globally.

  •

    70% fossil-based

    70% of the fibers produced are synthetics.

  •

    <1%

    of textile waste is recycled.

  •

    Carbon footprint

    The textile industry generates roughly 1.2. billion tonnes of CO2 eq., equivalent to 10% of global GHG emissions.

Our Answer

NOOSA® aims to revolutionize the textile industry by offering an innovative and circular fiber. Created from bio-based materials, NOOSA® fiber is recyclable thanks to its patented recycling process, and this endlessly.

A close zoom of NOOSA™ bio-based and circular textile fiber.

100% recyclable

Our technology transforms discarded textiles back into a 100% virgin quality fiber.

Verified Impact

At NOOSA®, we are dedicated to obtaining the appropriate certifications at every stage of the value chain, from feedstock sourcing to recycling. Our aim is twofold: to consistently lower our environmental footprint and eliminate the use of harmful chemicals. Additionally, our commitment extends to ensuring the well-being of individuals involved in our processes, as we believe in a holistic approach that considers both the environment and the people.

A grid, textile meter, fabric swatches for confection and measurement NOOSA® PLA fabrics
GMO free label NOOSA® PLA

GMO free

ISCC label circular economy

ISCC+

biobased certification PLA

Bio-based

Oekotex label NOOSA® PLA

Oekotex

ISO9001

Label ISO14067 NOOPSA® LA low carbon footprint

ISO14067

Solar Impulse Efficient Solution label. Shows a world map and text 'July 2021' redirects to NOOSA's page on Solar Impulse website.

Solar Impulse

B Corp logo. text: Certified B Corporation

B Corp

How our work impacts the SDGs

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 objectives set by the United Nations to address global challenges like poverty, inequality, and climate change by 2030. NOOSA® contributes to these goals by promoting circular production and consumption, demonstrating how businesses can support the SDGs and foster a better future.

SDG 9 logo: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.

NOOSA™ is a bio-based fiber derived from GMO free crops, highlighting a shift away from fossil-based fibers to bio-renewable fibers. This represents an important innovation in the material industry. Moreover, NOOSA™ fiber is produced with a reduced environmental impact compared to traditional fibers such as cotton and polyester.

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SDG 12 logo: Responsible consumption and production

By creating a 100% bio-renewable and 100% recyclable fiber, NOOSA™ promotes resources efficiency as it reduces the demand for virgin resources and generates less waste. Moreover, NOOSA™ has a reduced environmental impact compared to conventional fiber. NOOSA™ fiber shows a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to conventional cotton and a 50% reduction in water use. NOOSA™ contributes to the transition towards a circular economy by being designed for recycling at the end of its lifecycle promoting responsible consumption and production. 

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SDG 13 logo: Climate ction

NOOSA™ is a bio-based fiber derived from GMO free crops, highlighting a shift away from fossil fuels. Moreover, by creating a 100% recyclable fiber, the long-term objective of NOOSA™ is to reduce the demand for virgin resources by using the recycled fiber as raw material. In addition, NOOSA™ has a reduced carbon footprint compared to conventional fiber. NOOSA™ fiber shows a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to conventional cotton.

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SDG 17 logo: partnerships for the goals

Through its products, NOOSA™ also aims to re-boost the European textile industry that has lost skills, expertise, and infrastructure when it comes to advanced materials. NOOSA™ relies on a network of textile manufacturers, research institutions and government institutions to create global partnerships to promote the widespread adoption of more innovative textile materials. We believe we can only achieve a systemic change by working altogether.

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Get in touch

Do you want to help us bring the textile industry to circularity?

Are you interested to know more about our positive impact for the textile industry? Do you want to help us improve our impact even more? We look forward to connecting with you!

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What are the primary environmental advantages of NOOSA® PLA fiber?
    Unlike conventional petroleum-based fibers, NOOSA® PLA is made from renewable resources such as corn and sugarcane. It has a significantly lower carbon footprint than polyester, and - crucially - does not emit persistent microplastics. When combined with NOOCYCLE®, our patented recycling technology, it can be recycled repeatedly back into virgin-quality fiber without quality loss, supporting a genuinely circular lifecycle.
  • What is the carbon footprint of NOOSA® PLA fiber compared to polyester?
    NOOSA® PLA has a significantly lower carbon footprint than polyester. It is derived from renewable crops rather than fossil fuels, and does not emit persistent microplastics. Its end-of-life recyclability through NOOCYCLE® further reduces its overall environmental impact across multiple use cycles.
  • Is NOOSA® PLA biodegradable during normal use?
    No - and this is actually a feature, not a limitation. NOOSA® PLA only biodegrades under specific industrial composting conditions. During wear, washing, and storage, the fiber remains completely stable, maintaining strong mechanical and color performance throughout its useful life. Controlled end-of-life breakdown means NOOSA® PLA stays intact when it should, and can be recovered and recycled when it should not.
  • Does NOOSA® PLA biodegrade everywhere because it comes from plants?
    No. Being biobased does not mean biodegrading in nature. NOOSA® PLA only breaks down under industrial composting conditions - it remains stable in soil, water, and home environments. This is a strength: unlike fossil synthetics, it does not persist indefinitely in the environment, and unlike unstable biobased materials, it holds its integrity during use. When the garment's life ends, NOOCYCLE® - our patented recycling technology - recovers the fiber back into virgin-quality PLA. The preferred end of life for NOOSA® PLA is always recycling, not composting.
  • Does NOOSA® PLA release microplastics when washed?
    Studies confirm that NOOSA® PLA does not emit persistent microplastics - unlike petroleum-based fibers such as polyester, nylon, or acrylic, whose particles accumulate in ecosystems and the human body. Any fine particles that may be released from NOOSA® PLA during washing are not persistent: they are biocompatible and biodegrade over time without lasting environmental harm. This is one of NOOSA® PLA's most significant advantages for both environmental compliance and upcoming EU regulation.
  • What happens if NOOSA® PLA is not discarded properly?
    NOOSA® PLA microfibers are biocompatible and non-persistent - unlike conventional synthetics, they do not accumulate in ecosystems or the human body. In its purest form, PLA is biodegradable under industrial conditions. While dyes and treatments applied during processing may not be, the base fiber itself does not carry the long-term environmental risk of petroleum-based synthetics. Of course, the ideal end-of-life pathway is always recycling through NOOCYCLE® - which is why we actively organize take-back with our partners.
  • Does NOOSA® PLA compete with the food industry?
    No. NOOSA® uses industrial starch streams that are not intended for human consumption. The edible protein fraction from the same crops continues to go to food and feed markets, entirely separately. To give you an idea, we use the same fraction that goes to bioethanol production. NOOSA® PLA production does not divert food resources. Additionally, NOOCYCLE® recycling progressively reduces the need for new agricultural inputs - further decoupling NOOSA® PLA from land use over time.
  • Does NOOSA® PLA comply with EU textile regulations?
    Yes. NOOSA® PLA supports compliance with EU legislation on textile circularity, including mandatory recycling and sorting requirements (2026), minimum biobased content requirements, and extended producer responsibility under the ESPR framework. NOOSA® PLA's non-persistence in the environment is directly relevant to incoming microplastics regulation - a key topic for EU public health policy. The European Commission has prioritized the use of biomass for high-value material applications such as textiles - ahead of energy uses - as long as fair agricultural practices are followed (Cascading Use of Biomass, European Commission, 2022).
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