Textiles from sea-based materials

Purpose and goal

Within the project we identified material from the ocean and from lakes in Sweden that can be used for textile purposes. Biomass from marine-based raw materials is an important alternative to replace fossil raw materials and complement traditional land-based materials like cotton. The project mapped the existing technologies and the opportunities for economic and environmentally sustainable production systems for the production of textile fibers and other materials from biomass components such as polysaccharides or cellulose.

Results and expected effects

Two approaches have been identified as the currently most promising: Bio-based polyester material, e.g. PLA, can currently be produced from starch from maize. Alginate is an option to avoid the known disadvantages of land use and competition with food. Suitable algae with high content of polysaccharide that grow in cold climates include kelp and Ulva. Cladophora, which is often seen as a nuisance, contains cellulose which can potentially be used to produce high-performance fibers.

Approach and implementation

The project was carried out by experts at Swerea IVF in textile processes and sustainability assessment, together with managers from IKEA working with material procurement and technology development. We started with a literature and patent study. Experts in algae research participated in a workshop where we presented the results and discussed key findings. This helped to establish a network of partners that covers the entire chain from cultivation and harvesting algae to produce fabrics with a high market potential.