MINNETONKA, Minnesota - Trevira GmbH, in conjunction with NatureWorks LLC, have announced Trevira of Bobingen’s purchase of the license to manufacture fibers from Ingeo™ .

  “Because of its technical expertise, exemplary reputation, capability to shorten time-to-market for custom products, and range of product offerings, Trevira is the ideal company to provide Ingeo™ fibers to a diverse base of European Union fabric producers, converters, and brand owners,” said Eammon Tighe, NatureWorks European business manager for fibers and nonwovens.

Trevira’s first discussed the purchase at the EDANA International Nonwovens Symposium in Milan.

“Expanding our portfolio of product offerings with a cost-competitive and versatile fiber like Ingeo™ is both a growth strategy and the next step in our company’s sustainability journey,”  said Günter Wittmann, Trevira’s director of sales and marketing, staple fibers.

Ingeo is made from renewable plant materials, emits up to 85-percent less greenhouse gas, requires up to 69-percent less energy to manufacture into resin, when compared to traditional polymers, and the biopolymer lowers the carbon footprints of products.

According to Tighe, NatureWorks has seen significant interest in the past 18-months among European Union converters, brand owners, retailers in locally sourced, low carbon footprint fibers and nonwovens for household, technical textiles, apparel, and personal care products.  

 “The close cooperation with NatureWorks fits perfectly into our strategy of offering specialty and customized fibers,” said Wittmann. “Leadership in quality and product development relies heavily on strong partnerships.”