NEW YORK CITY — December 14, 2020 — PANGAIA announced today its investment in Kintra Fibers, a material science company that makes high-performance, 100-percent biobased, and compostable yarns for the fashion and apparel industry. PANGAIA will help Kintra scale its patent-pending resin and yarn process through its supply chain and will develop first-of-its-kind compostable fabric blends and apparel leveraging the Kintra technology, pioneering increased sustainability standards for synthetic materials. The material will be available to use by additional brand partners.
The new Kintra material is positioned as an alternative to the global overuse of petroleum-based synthetic fabrics, as well as a powerful solution to harmful microplastic ocean pollution perpetuated by traditional, non-biodegradable synthetics. The Kintra resin and yarns can be seamlessly integrated into existing man-made manufacturing and textile production supply chains at a competitive price point, providing a scalable and cost-effective sustainable alternative to synthetics such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), recycled PET (rPET0 or nylon.
“We are excited to be value chain partners with Kintra and help them realize the commercialization of their resin and yarn technology, bringing real systemic change of material possibilities for the industry. We hope this material will become a model not just for PANGAIA, but for the industry at large,” said Amanda Parkes, chief innovation officer at PANGAIA. “The Kintra fiber is a true embodiment of PANGAIA’s commitment to ‘high tech naturalism,’ our material philosophy. Kintra’s breakthroughs in responsible, bio-based chemistry allow us to design for the performance and end-of-life of our garments from the molecule up.”
“PANGAIA’s science-based standards for sustainability are unparalleled, and their commitment to the planet is visible in each step of their supply chain. We look forward to collaborating with the PANGAIA team and integrating our technology into their fabrics and garments,” said Billy McCall, cofounder and CEO at Kintra Fibers. “As a lifelong surfer, protecting the oceans is near and dear to me. By designing for the material end-of-life at its start, we offer the industry a solution for microfiber pollution, as well as the ability to fit with chemical and physical recycling systems.”
Instead of petroleum, the inputs used to make the Kintra resin are sourced from sugar. This offers brands the opportunity to set a new standard of transparency in the synthetic material supply chain: A 2019 survey by Textile Exchange of 170 fashion brands found that only 8 percent knew their polyester supply chain to the chemical supplier level, and none have made this information public. Yet polyester represents 52 percent of the global fiber market.
“We are committed to bring visibility to an opaque part of the supply chain to help brands build a better, more sustainable future and share this with their consumers in a more meaningful manner. We’re thrilled to work with PANGAIA, a brand that has demonstrated their commitment to revolutionizing raw materials through their track record of working with eco-friendly innovations and processes,” said Alissa Baier-Lentz, cofounder and COO at Kintra Fibers.
PANGAIA invested alongside Tech Council Ventures, which focuses on science and technology companies, and FAB Ventures, which invests in the sustainable fashion and beauty sector and is founded by Odile Roujol, former CEO of Lancôme.
Kintra joins PANGAIA as a long-term innovation partner in the textile value chain, with the vision to bring new materials and science to the forefront of the fashion and textile industries.
Posted December 14, 2020
Source: PANGAIA
