[pageLogInLogOut]

#Raw Materials

Evonik and AMSilk extend partnership for sustainable biotech silk materials

Evonik and AMSilk, a global leader in advanced biomaterials based on silk proteins, have deepened their collaboration with a long-term agreement to produce sustainable silk proteins at industrial scale. Building on their initial manufacturing agreement from 2023, the companies have commissioned a manufacturing line at Evonik’s Slovakian site for AMSilk’s high-performance silk. This innovative biomaterial is produced with minimal environmental impact and is designed for use in premium fashion and highly demanding automotive interiors.
Evoniks fermentation facility in Slovakia © 2025 Evonik
Evoniks fermentation facility in Slovakia © 2025 Evonik


“Our collaboration with AMSilk is a powerful example of how together we can shape the future of materials through biotechnology. By scaling production of sustainable silk proteins, we are not only expanding our portfolio of precision biosolutions — we are creating solutions that enhance life and redefine what’s possible,” said Guido Skudlarek, Head of the Health Care business line, Evonik.

Evonik has established a dedicated production line at its biotech production hub in Slovakia. Equipped with advanced infrastructure, upgraded systems, and renewable energy, the facility enables consistent monthly output of several tons of AMSilk’s high-performance silk proteins. Tailored to AMSilk’s process requirements, the line meets certified industrial quality standards for spinning-grade biomaterials and supports the Company’s market entry phase.

Ctibor Kohutovic, Chief Production Officer at AMSilk added: “Building on our earlier successful cooperation with Evonik as a trusted partner, we have signed this agreement and jointly designed a dedicated, specialized manufacturing line for the precision fermentation of AMSilk’s biomaterials, providing increased output and efficiency, alongside reduced material unit cost. This lays the foundation for the next phase of our growth while ensuring reliable supply for our customers.”

AMSilk transforms the silk protein powder produced by Evonik into high-performance yarns, which offer premium production quality and regulatory compliance, including full supply chain transparency from European manufacturing. AMSilk’s biomaterials are designed with sustainability at their core. Vegan, biodegradable and derived from renewable plant-based carbon, these biomaterials leave no microplastics at the end of their lifecycle. AMSilk addresses a total protein fiber market — including silk, cashmere, and merino – valued at approximately €26 billion. Within this, the Company targets a €16 billion serviceable market.

Drawing on deep expertise in fermentation, from strain development and process optimization to large-scale manufacturing, Evonik helps innovators scale disruptive technologies in the life sciences industry including pharmaceutical excipients, personal care, advanced foods and nature-identical materials. With over 4,000 m³ of CDMO fermentation capacity across sites in the US and Europe, Evonik serves as a global one-stop-shop for biotech production, supporting projects of any scale and complexity.

Evonik leverages biotechnology to deliver high-value, sustainable solutions across diverse markets, expanding its portfolio of precision biosolutions. Its collaboration with AMSilk reflects a shared belief in biotechnology’s potential to unlock transformative alternatives to fossil-based products and reduce environmental impact across industries. Biotechnology often uses renewable raw materials, operates under milder conditions, and can generate fewer emissions and waste, making it in many cases more sustainable than fossil-based or conventional chemical processes.


More News from AMSilk GmbH

#Man-Made Fibers

AMSilk appoints Jeno Schadrack as CFO ahead of key growth financing round

AMSilk GmbH (“AMSilk”), a global leader in bio engineered performance materials made from silk proteins, today announces the appointment of Jeno Schadrack as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He will assume full responsibility for the finance function.

#Natural Fibers

AMSilk’s silk protein yarns debut in Balenciaga collection

AMSilk GmbH (“AMSilk”), a global leader in advanced biomaterials made from silk proteins, today announced that its bioengineered yarns are featured in commercially available garments within Balenciaga’s Spring 2026 collection.

#Yarn & Fiber

AMSilk secures EUR 52M strategic financing to accelerate commercial growth

AMSilk GmbH (“AMSilk”), a frontrunner in advanced biomaterials made from silk-based proteins, today announced it has successfully secured EUR 52 million financing led by existing investor ATHOS (AT Newtec), along with strong participation from fellow existing investors MIG Capital and Novo Holdings. The financing combines EUR 30 million in equity, and EUR 22 million in convertible bonds. This reflects strong investor confidence and long-term commitment in AMSilk’s technology and market potential.

#Raw Materials

AMSilk announces successful partnership negotiation with Ajinomoto for industrial fermentation

AMSilk GmbH (“AMSilk/the Company”), a frontrunner in advanced biomaterials made from spider silk-based proteins, today announces that the Company and Ajinomoto Foods Europe (AFE), a company with over 50 years of experience in industrial fermentation, and the affiliate of the globally established Ajinomoto group, have expressed mutual interest to step into a long-term partnership to biomanufacture silk proteins at Ajinomoto Foods Europe’s manufacturing facility in Nesle, France.

More News on Raw Materials

#Man-Made Fibers

Lenzing commissions 14 MW power‑to‑heat facility, strengthening grid stability and heat management

The Lenzing Group has successfully commissioned a new power‑to‑heat (P2H) facility with an electrical capacity of 14 megawatts. The installation converts renewable electricity directly into process heat, is fully integrated into the existing heat network at the industrial site, and represents a key building block for a fossil‑free heat supply. As project partner, VERBUND was responsible for the energy‑market integration and will operate the facility for balancing energy marketing, enabling it to respond flexibly to short‑term fluctuations in the power grid.

#Raw Materials

Kraig Biocraft reaches next step in production growth

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) (“the Company”, “Kraig Labs”, or “Kraig’s”), a world leader in spider silk technology*, today announced that it has produced more than 1.3 metric tons of recombinant spider silk cocoons in a single month. This is a new world record and shatters the Company’s previous production record by a factor of five. Today marks a pivotal step forward in the transition of spider silk from laboratory innovation to an industrial-scale material platform.

#Raw Materials

New study shows low environmental impact by Cotton made in Africa Organic Cotton from Tanzania

Today, the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) is announcing the results of a comprehensive life-cycle analysis (LCA) for cotton produced in Tanzania under the Cotton made in Africa Organic (CmiA Organic) standard. The study emphasises the small ecological footprint of CmiA Organic verified cotton. This can largely be traced back to the absence of synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilisers, and artificial irrigation. Consequently, CmiA Organic cotton can help the textile industry meet regulatory requirements as well as science-based targets. The results also show that the consequences of climate change threaten the livelihoods of these cotton farmers, even though the type of agriculture they practise barely contributes to climate change.

#Raw Materials

Better Cotton Initiative strengthens regenerative focus in standard update

The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has strengthened the regenerative focus of its field-level standard with the launch of a new version of its Principles & Criteria (P&C), which marks the next step in the organisation’s journey to becoming a regenerative standards system.

Latest News

#Techtextil 2026

From carbon to canvas: DORNIER presents flexible and reliable weaving technologies for 3D weaving and dynamic markets at Techtextil

At Techtextil from 21 to 24 April 2026 in Frankfurt am Main (Hall 12.0, Stand D95), Lindauer DORNIER will be showcasing reliable and flexible weaving technologies for ever-changing market requirements. The machine and plant manufacturer will present retrofits for existing machines, the new TRITOS® FLEX 3D weaving technology, intuitive automation concepts and software solutions for data-sovereign networking of the weaving machine fleet.

#Techtextil 2026

SAHM Winding Solutions and Vandewiele Automation present integrated automation solution for winding processes

For the first time at the Techtextil trade fair in Frankfurt am Main, Germany (21 - 26 April), SAHM Winding Solutions (Hallo 12.0. / Booth 95) and Vandewiele Automation will be showcasing their combined automation expertise for industrial winding processes. Under the motto “Combining Automation. Maximizing Flow”, the two companies will demonstrate how automated package handling and robot-assisted yarn knotting can be integrated into a continuous production flow.

#Recycled Fibers

UNIFI celebrates recycled and circular Innovation with ninth annual REPREVE® Champions of Sustainability Awards

Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI), the makers of REPREVE® and one of the world’s leading innovators in recycled and synthetic yarns, today announced the winners of its ninth annual REPREVE Champions of Sustainability Awards, recognizing brands and mills that are advancing circularity and responsible manufacturing across the global textile industry.

#Man-Made Fibers

Teijin Frontier announces new Stretch Polyester yarn offering exceptional compatibility with high-performance Polyester materials

Teijin Frontier Co., Ltd. announced today that it has developed a new stretch polyester yarn that offers new opportunities to create comfortable, all- polyester fabrics for sports and outdoor wear. The new polyester yarn demonstrates exceptional compatibility with high-performance polyester materials. Further, Teijin Frontier’s proprietary polymer design and spinning technology impart excellent elasticity to the new yarn. In turn, this yarn adds stretchability and recovery to the advanced functionality and excellent texture of high-performance polyester materials.

TOP