[pageLogInLogOut]

#Yarn & Fiber

Inside information: Spinnova and Ecco have signed a Letter of Intent regarding plans for their joint venture company Respin

Spinnova Plc and ECCO Investment Corporation have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) regarding the future plans for their 50/50 owned joint venture company Respin Oy. The development work of Respin’s leather waste-based fibre has shown good quality results during the current year. ECCO has successfully made a prototype shoe, which includes fibre from the Respin pilot line produced using Spinnova technology. A product launch by ECCO, using the fibre produced by Respin, is expected to take place before the end of Q1/2025.

Spinnova and ECCO see significant opportunities in scaling up Respin’s production volumes to a commercial level. According to the LOI, both parties are committed to scaling up operations and will work together in order to achieve a final decision, at the latest, by the end of Q1/2025 on how to proceed with the production scaling and commercialisation of Respin.

In line with Spinnova’s strategy and the Respin joint venture agreement, Spinnova will be the technology provider for any production scale-up. Furthermore, as stated in Spinnova’s strategy, Spinnova does not itself expect to raise further external financing to fund the increase in Respin’s production capacity.

“We are happy to move forward with our joint venture Respin. I am proud of the progress we have made with Respin’s fibre quality, which now meets commercial requirements and demonstrates the versatility of the Spinnova technology, which can use multiple different feedstocks, including protein-based leather waste. We now have a clear plan with ECCO for the next steps to reach the decision for scaling the leather waste-based fibre production,” comments Tuomas Oijala, Spinnova’s CEO.

“We are optimistic about the fibre quality reached at Respin and see a clear potential using the fibre in our future products. ECCO is committed together with Spinnova to continuing to work towards scaling the production of the leather waste-based fibre, and we are looking forward to the international scaling of the fibre,” comments Thomas Gøgsig, ECCO’s Chief Commercial Officer.



More News from SPINNOVA PLC

#Raw Materials

Spinnova and Rieter to publish a yarn spinning guideline for industrial partners

Spinnova and Rieter have published a comprehensive yarn spinning guideline for industrial partners, detailing how to produce compact yarn from SPINNOVA® fibre using Rieter’s state-of-the-art machinery. The step-by-step guide outlines key considerations at each stage of the spinning process and is available upon request.

#Yarn & Fiber

Binding agreements signed: Spinnova buys all Woodspin and Suzano Finland shares, and secures exclusivity rights on wood-based fibre

On 10 June 2025, Spinnova published a release detailing the results of the strategic review of the Woodspin joint venture and the non-binding agreement proposal agreed with Suzano S.A. Based on the prior agreement, Spinnova Oyj has today signed binding agreements to buy all Woodspin Oy and Suzano Finland Oy shares from Suzano S.A. for a total of EUR 2 (two euros). This grants Spinnova full ownership of the producer and distributor Woodspin, as well as the provider of raw material, Suzano Finland Oy, for manufacturing wood-based SPINNOVA® fibre.

#Yarn & Fiber

Spinnova updates its strategy

Spinnova announced on 28 February 2025 that it started to review its strategy, post Suzano’s announcement that the company decided not to continue to invest into the next steps of collaboration with Spinnova.

#Yarn & Fiber

Inside Information: Suzano will not invest into next steps of collaboration with Spinnova

Suzano will not invest into the next steps of the collaboration with Spinnova. Spinnova and Suzano have agreed to begin a strategic review of Woodspin and will renegotiate the exclusivity rights. Spinnova will commence its own strategic review.

More News on Yarn & Fiber

Latest News

#Recycling / Circular Economy

Toray develops recycling technology that retains carbon fiber strength and surface quality

Toray Industries, Inc., announced today that it has developed a recycling technology that can decompose diverse carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) made from thermosetting resins while retaining the strength and surface quality of those fibers. The company drew on this technology to create a nonwoven fabric employing recycled carbon fibers.

#Research & Development

Panty liners prevent bacterial vaginosis

Worldwide, almost one third of women of childbearing age suffer from bacterial vaginosis. This is when the sensitive microbiome of the vagina becomes unbalanced. Such a disorder of the vaginal flora can cause urogenital infections, abscesses on the ovaries or fallopian tubes or premature births. This significantly increases the risk of infertility in women and of contracting a sexually transmitted disease or HIV.

#Research & Development

Soft interfaces: Textile-integrated light switches, made possible by printable Liquid Metal Ink

A gentle tap on the knitted lampshade is enough to switch on the light. The lamp developed by Fraunhofer IZM in cooperation with WINT Design Lab works with a revolutionary conductive ink. Visitors can find out more and try the lamp themselves at the Berlin Science Week on November 1st and 2nd.

#Functional Fabrics

PERFORMANCE DAYS sets benchmarks with record attendance & strong industry presence

With around 4,500 professional visitors and 515 exhibitors, PERFORMANCE DAYS closed its doors on October 30, 2025, after two highly successful days in Munich. Expanded show areas, an international audience, a top-class Expert Talks program, and an inspiring DAY 0 Conference with an innovative concept underlined one thing clearly: PERFORMANCE DAYS has become the leading business platform for the functional textile industry.

TOP