Ecco and Spinnova move Respin closer to commercialisation
Finland-based Spinnova and Ecco Investment Corporation have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) regarding the plans for their 50/50 owned joint venture company Respin Oy.
The development work of Respin’s leather waste-based fibre has shown good results, said the partners.
Ecco has successfully made a prototype shoe, which includes fibre from the Respin pilot line produced using Spinnova technology.
A product launch by Ecco is expected to take place before the end of the first quarter of 2025.
According to the LOI, both parties are committed to scaling up operations and commercialising Respin.
Tuomas Oijala, Spinnova’s CEO, said: “I am proud of the progress we have made with Respin’s fibre quality, which now meets commercial requirements and demonstrates the versatility of the Spinnova technology, which can use multiple different feedstocks, including protein-based leather waste.”
Thomas Gøgsig, ECCO’s chief commercial officer, added: “We are optimistic about the fibre quality reached at Respin and see a clear potential using the fibre in our future products."
Based in Finland, Spinnova has developed a patented technology for making textile fibre out of wood pulp or waste, such as leather, textile or agricultural cropping waste, without harmful dissolving chemicals. The technology creates no side streams in the fibre production process, and the Spinnova fibre has minimal CO2 emissions and water use, as well as being biodegradable and recyclable. The technology uses a mechanical process which gives the fibre the look and feel of a natural cellulosic fibre such as cotton, according to the company.
