Startup Update – Noosa
In this exclusive dialogue, Luna Aslan, CEO of Noosa, a Green Alley Award 2024 finalist, shares some insights on how the startup has been performing since the award ceremony and the potential of their 100% bio-based recyclable fiber.
Congratulations on being a finalist of the Green Alley Award 2024! How do you think this has impacted or will impact your company? What changes have you already experienced since the event?
Being a finalist in the Green Alley Award and participating in similar contests significantly raises awareness around NOOSA, our innovative product, and our mission to revolutionize the textile industry. These platforms provide invaluable visibility, allowing us to reach a broader audience, of textile manufacturers, and end-consumers who are crucial to our growth and impact.
By showcasing our commitment to circularity and innovation in such esteemed forums, we not only receive recognition but also inspire industry-wide change. Increased awareness is essential for driving adoption of our eco-friendly practices, and ultimately achieving a more sustainable future for textiles.
Have you initiated any new partnerships since after participating in the award? If so, can you share more details about them?
We already have a strong network of partnerships with European textile manufacturers that we keep on consolidating and growing over the years. Through the contests to which we participate, we are able to raise awareness and to grow this network of textile manufacturers. No new partnerships have been initiated after Green Alley though.
How do you believe collaboration and partnerships can support the growth and development of your business?
NOOSA™ is dedicated to democratizing its solution to textile waste as well as raising awareness and educating people on the need for a switch from fossil-based materials to bio-based materials and on the reduction of textile waste. NOOSA™ believes that our bio-based and circular fiber is only one of the solutions that we should use to tackle textile waste. We thus try to collaborate as much with other positive impact projects ad to create partnerships.
Partnerships are essential for NOOSA™ to achieve its mission. NOOSA™ has already established solid partnerships in Europe with various spinners and fabric manufacturers. The purpose of those partnerships is to create a European network of textile manufacturers to create a positive impact together. Partnership with universities and research centers are also essential to improve our technology and products. Moreover, partnerships also help us raise awareness about the importance of bringing the textile industry to circularity and making politics and laws develop laws towards that objective.
At NOOSA™, we are committed to continuous improvement and innovation, working closely with partners and customers to reduce the environmental footprint of the textile industry by promoting 100% recyclable fibers throughout the entire value chain. We believe in transparency, accountability, and ethical practices, and we are committed to creating a positive impact on the communities where we operate.
What are the next steps, and how do you envision your company's evolution in the coming months/year?
NOOSA™ is currently setting up the production pilot line in Belgium with the aim to industrialize the production in Europe within the next 5 years. It is expected that more and more textile manufacturers/brands will use NOOSA™ products in their processes, in different fields of application. Once the volume of NOOSA™ PLA fibers increase on the market, the recycling unit will undergo scaling up, to process and revalorize larger volumes of waste. NOOSA™ processes are scalable and replicable, with production and recycling units easily implementable across Europe. In the future, NOOSA™ can license its patented recycling technology NOOCYLE™ to other companies and partners, to increase the recycling rate of post- and pre-consumer waste containing NOOSA™ products.
What is one achievement of your company that you would like to share?
After a few years of dedicated research and development, we are now establishing our production pilot line in Brussels. This milestone will enable us to produce our innovative fiber locally. To support this expansion. Additionally, we have successfully raised another round of funding. This marks a major accomplishment for NOOSA, reflecting our hard work and commitment over the years but also the growing interest of Europe in bringing circularity to the textile industry.
Thank you!!