Pangaia invests in bio-based yarn company Kintra

The material science brand, Pangaia is investing in Kintra fibre, which is a material science company that designs 100% bio-based, high performance and compostable yarns for the apparel industry. Pangaia’s investment will help Kintra scale up its patent-pending resin and yarn process through its supply chain to develop the first-ever compostable fabric and apparel utilising Kintra’s technology. Kintra aims to pioneer sustainability standards for synthetic materials.

The new material is aimed to be utilised as an alternative to petroleum-based synthetic fabrics. It also aims to act as a powerful solution to harmful microplastic ocean pollution propelled by traditional, non-biodegradable synthetics. The Kintra resin and yarns can gracefully be introduced into existing synthetic manufacturing and textile production supply chains at a competitive price point, providing a scalable and cost-effective sustainable alternative to synthetics such as PET, rPET, or nylon.

Amanda Parkes, the Chief Innovation Officer at Pangaia, stated that they were excited to be a value chain partner with Kintra and help them realise the commercialization of Kintra’s resin and yarn technology can bring a real systemic change of material possibilities for the industry. She added that she hopes that the material will become a model not just for Pangaia, but for the industry at large. She stated that the Kintra fibre was a true embodiment of Pangaia’s commitment to high tech naturalism, which is Pangaia’s material philosophy.

Billy McCall, the Co-Founder and CEO at Kintra Fibers, stated that Pangaia’s science-based standards for sustainability are unparalleled, and their commitment to the planet is visible in each step of their supply chain. He stated that they look forward to collaborating with the Pangaia team and integrating their technology into their fabrics and garments. Kintra Fibers stated that by designing material end-of-life at the start they are offering the industry a solution for microfiber pollution, as well as the ability to fit with chemical and physical recycling systems.

To replace traditional petroleum the inputs utilised to make the Kintra resin are sourced from sugar. Pangaia offers brands a chance to set up new standards of transparency in the synthetic material supply chain.

Alissa Baier-Lentz, the Co-Founder and COO at Kintra Fibers, stated that they are committed to bringing 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. She added that they are thrilled to work with Pangaia, a brand that has demonstrated the commitment to revolutionizing raw materials through their track record of working with eco-friendly innovations and processes.

Kintra joins Pangaia as a long-term innovation partner in the textile value chain, with the goal to bring new materials and science to the forefront of the fashion and textile industries.