Norwegian outdoor brand Norrøna has partnered with Australian materials company Uluu to develop performance fibres using polymers derived primarily from seaweed. The collaboration aims to explore seaweed-based alternatives to fossil-derived synthetic materials and develop fibres and fabrics capable of meeting the durability and performance requirements of outdoor apparel.

Uluu produces a plastic alternative using seaweed-derived sugars through a fermentation process in saltwater. The resulting material, Uluu PHA, can be processed into fibres, with seaweed serving as a feedstock that does not require farmland, substantial freshwater resources or fertilisers.

The companies have already spun fibres using Uluu PHA as a core ingredient. The material is designed to biodegrade and has passed TÜV marine and home biodegradability tests, according to the companies. Norrøna will now work with one of its key suppliers to test the fibres for durability and other performance characteristics before considering their potential use in its products.

Jørgen Jørgensen, CEO of Norrøna, said the partnership allows the brand to bring its outdoor performance requirements into material development at an early stage. Uluu co-founder Julia Reisser said the project aims to use biological processes to transform seaweed into plastic-like materials, offering another route for developing materials for the textile industry.