Altri to Take Majority Stake in AeoniQ™, Pioneering Sustainable Textile Innovation
Altri SGPS S.A., the leading Portuguese company in sustainable cellulosic pulp production, has announced a significant step towards enhancing sustainability within the textile industry. The firm has entered into an agreement to acquire a majority stake in AeoniQ™, a clean technology spin-off of HeiQ Materials AG. This acquisition represents a pivotal move in the production of environmentally friendly textiles, aiming to scale the world's first industrial production of climate-positive textile yarn.
The focus of this investment is to help AeoniQ™ expand its operations and production capabilities. The agreement also includes a capital increase, which will allow Altri to develop AeoniQ™'s commercial-scale production capacity further. With this strategic partnership, Altri is diversifying its portfolio into higher value and lower-impact applications using cellulosic materials.
AeoniQ™ has made headlines for creating the world's first biodegradable and eco-friendly filament yarn, which is designed to replace conventional polyester and nylon. This innovative product has the potential to revolutionize the global textile industry by offering a fully circular and plastic-free alternative that mirrors the performance characteristics of synthetic fibers without their detrimental environmental effects.
As part of the agreement, the first industrial plant for AeoniQ™ will be constructed at Altri's Caima pulp factory in Portugal. Construction is slated to begin in 2026 and will initially have a production capacity of 1,750 tons per year. This facility is expected to play a crucial role in enabling faster prototyping, brand partnerships, and capsule collections. Furthermore, a pre-industrial plant will be launched in early 2026 in Portugal to facilitate the same advancements.
The joint venture, aptly named AeoniQ, combines Altri's industrial expertise with HeiQ's technological prowess, creating a collaboration that aims to set new standards in sustainability within the textile sector. The yarn produced will be made from eucalyptus-based pulp, integrating recycled raw materials such as cotton textile waste and food waste-derived bacterial cellulose,
promoting a bioeconomic approach to resource management.
A key advantage of AeoniQ™ yarn is its complete biodegradability in various environments, including marine, terrestrial, and industrial composting conditions. Confirmed by TÜV Austria and OEKO-TEX®, the product exhibits natural elasticity, softness, and strength, making it suitable for a wide range of applications—from lingerie and workwear to home textiles and vehicle interiors.
Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) have shown that AeoniQ™ reduces CO₂ emissions by at least 3.2kg per kg of yarn when compared to polyester, showcasing its environmental benefits and market readiness. Notably, the yarn has already been featured in exclusive capsule collections by Hugo Boss and a vegan silk bedding line by Lameirinho, unveiled at Heimtextil 2025.
This strategic alliance benefits from the support of key players across the global textile value chain, including MAS Holdings, a major technical garment manufacturer in South Asia, and exclusive distribution rights acquired by THE LYCRA COMPANY. Other development partners include brands such as Riopele, Impetus, and many others, all collaborating to ensure the successful rollout of this new product line.
José Soares de Pina, CEO of Altri, has emphasized that this agreement reinforces Altri's strategy to ascend the value chain and invest in next-generation materials that transform the industry. Carlo Centonze, CEO of HeiQ, added that this investment transitions AeoniQ™ from a proven market innovation into a large-scale global production platform, offering a ready-to-market solution for one of the most polluting industries on the planet. Together, they are positioned to deliver a sustainable, high-performance textile manufactured in Europe, free from plastics.
In conclusion, Altri's acquisition of AeoniQ™ aligns with its ongoing strategy of increasing its foothold in the sustainable textile fiber sector and contributing to a greener future. The consortium's commitment to bioeconomics, circular economy principles, and utilizing renewable resources from certified forests showcases its pledge toward environmental sustainability. The finalization of this acquisition is expected in the third quarter of 2025, subject to standard closing conditions.
The focus of this investment is to help AeoniQ™ expand its operations and production capabilities. The agreement also includes a capital increase, which will allow Altri to develop AeoniQ™'s commercial-scale production capacity further. With this strategic partnership, Altri is diversifying its portfolio into higher value and lower-impact applications using cellulosic materials.
AeoniQ™ has made headlines for creating the world's first biodegradable and eco-friendly filament yarn, which is designed to replace conventional polyester and nylon. This innovative product has the potential to revolutionize the global textile industry by offering a fully circular and plastic-free alternative that mirrors the performance characteristics of synthetic fibers without their detrimental environmental effects.
As part of the agreement, the first industrial plant for AeoniQ™ will be constructed at Altri's Caima pulp factory in Portugal. Construction is slated to begin in 2026 and will initially have a production capacity of 1,750 tons per year. This facility is expected to play a crucial role in enabling faster prototyping, brand partnerships, and capsule collections. Furthermore, a pre-industrial plant will be launched in early 2026 in Portugal to facilitate the same advancements.
The joint venture, aptly named AeoniQ, combines Altri's industrial expertise with HeiQ's technological prowess, creating a collaboration that aims to set new standards in sustainability within the textile sector. The yarn produced will be made from eucalyptus-based pulp, integrating recycled raw materials such as cotton textile waste and food waste-derived bacterial cellulose,
promoting a bioeconomic approach to resource management.
A key advantage of AeoniQ™ yarn is its complete biodegradability in various environments, including marine, terrestrial, and industrial composting conditions. Confirmed by TÜV Austria and OEKO-TEX®, the product exhibits natural elasticity, softness, and strength, making it suitable for a wide range of applications—from lingerie and workwear to home textiles and vehicle interiors.
Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) have shown that AeoniQ™ reduces CO₂ emissions by at least 3.2kg per kg of yarn when compared to polyester, showcasing its environmental benefits and market readiness. Notably, the yarn has already been featured in exclusive capsule collections by Hugo Boss and a vegan silk bedding line by Lameirinho, unveiled at Heimtextil 2025.
This strategic alliance benefits from the support of key players across the global textile value chain, including MAS Holdings, a major technical garment manufacturer in South Asia, and exclusive distribution rights acquired by THE LYCRA COMPANY. Other development partners include brands such as Riopele, Impetus, and many others, all collaborating to ensure the successful rollout of this new product line.
José Soares de Pina, CEO of Altri, has emphasized that this agreement reinforces Altri's strategy to ascend the value chain and invest in next-generation materials that transform the industry. Carlo Centonze, CEO of HeiQ, added that this investment transitions AeoniQ™ from a proven market innovation into a large-scale global production platform, offering a ready-to-market solution for one of the most polluting industries on the planet. Together, they are positioned to deliver a sustainable, high-performance textile manufactured in Europe, free from plastics.
In conclusion, Altri's acquisition of AeoniQ™ aligns with its ongoing strategy of increasing its foothold in the sustainable textile fiber sector and contributing to a greener future. The consortium's commitment to bioeconomics, circular economy principles, and utilizing renewable resources from certified forests showcases its pledge toward environmental sustainability. The finalization of this acquisition is expected in the third quarter of 2025, subject to standard closing conditions.
Topics Consumer Products & Retail）
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