TreeToTextile invests €35 million to build its demo plant in Sweden

TreeToTextile, owned by H&M Group, Inter IKEA Group, Stora Enso, and LSCS Invest, invested €35 million in building a textile fiber process technology demonstration plant in Sweden. From 2016 until 2022, AFRY assisted TreeToTextile with the development and implementation of the project. The demonstration plant is currently beginning its operation.

In order to make sustainable textile fibers accessible to everyone, TreeToTextile is providing a novel technique to generate bio-based textile fibers with little environmental impact. Cellulosic fiber that has been recovered from renewable and sustainably supplied forest raw materials makes up the new fiber. A new demonstration factory in Nymölla, Sweden, was developed and built with a €35 million investment by TreeToTextile. Before this technology is scaled up and commercialized, this investment is an essential step.

From the project’s early conception stages in 2016 to the engineering for the installation of the demo plant in 2020–2022, AFRY has been the principal consultant and engineering partner of TreeToTextile. A number of pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, process design, up-scaling assessments, and supplier pilot run planning were all part of AFRY’s assignment during the project development period. AFRY was in charge of the engineering, project management, and site services during the demo plant implementation phase. They also provided a wide range of extra services, such as assistance with permits and procurement as well as equipment and Technology solutions. Keep reading.

Olli Ylä-Jarkko, CTO at TreeToTextile, said that they wish to maintain the long-standing, mutually beneficial connection that AFRY and TreeToTextile have. Together with AFRY, they overcame the obstacles through close coordination, adaptability, depth of knowledge, and, most importantly, shared dedication.

In the summer of 2022, the demonstration plant was put into commission. TreeToTextile was given the project to start up and continue the process’ optimization.

Lisa Vedin, Head of Process Industries Sweden at AFRY, said that she is pleased with their close and ongoing relationship with TreeToTextile. This project demonstrates AFRY’s capacity and breadth of expertise to meet varied requirements of customer investment projects, from conception to realization. They are a unique partner for industrial clients in accelerating their bio-based fibers to scalable commercial production because of their long experience with bio-based materials and their extensive process industry and project execution experience.