Altri to Acquire a Majority Stake in AeoniQ™ to Scale World's First Industrial Production of Climate Positive Textile Yarn
AeoniQ™, a Swiss-based cleantech spin-off of HeiQ Materials AG, has developed the world's first climate-positive, biodegradable cellulosic filament yarn engineered to replace polyester and nylon. The AeoniQ™ platform is poised to disrupt the global textile industry by offering a fully circular, plastic-free alternative that mirrors the performance of synthetic fibers - without their environmental toll.
From Breakthrough to Scale: Industrializing AeoniQ™ in Portugal
As part of the agreement, the world's first industrial AeoniQ™ plant will be constructed at Altri's Caima pulp mill. Construction is expected to begin in 2026 with an initial capacity of 1.750 tons per year. On top of the already existing pilot lines in Austria, a pre-industrial plant will be launched in early 2026 in Portugal to accelerate prototyping, brand partnerships, and capsule collections.
The joint venture branded " A eon iQ," blends Altri's industrial expertise with HeiQ's technological prowess - " A" for A ltri and " iQ" for He iQ, a partnership for the next eon of mankind, the sustainable one! The venture will benefit from vertical integration of eucalyptus-based pulp to finished yarn, later expanding to incorporate recycled feedstocks such as cotton textiles waste, agricultural waste as well as bacterial cellulose derived from food waste.
Sustainability and Performance with Market-Ready Validation
AeoniQ™'s cellulosic filament yarns are fully biodegradable in marine, soil, freshwater, and industrial composting environments (certified by TÜV Austria and OEKO-TEX®). The product offers natural elasticity, softness, tenacity, and the unique ability to be textured—making it suitable for everything from lingerie and workwear to footwear, home textiles, medical apparel, and automotive interiors.
Two independent Life Cycle Assessments confirm that AeoniQ™ reduces CO₂ emissions by at least 3.2 kg per kg of yarn compared to polyester. The yarn has already appeared in four capsule collections from Hugo Boss and in Lameirinho's "vegan silk" bedlinen line presented at Heimtextil 2025.
Transforming the Textile Ecosystem Through Strategic Alliances
The AeoniQ™ joint venture is backed by global players across the textile value chain: German fashion brand Hugo Boss and MAS Holdings, South Asias leading technical garment maker, are equity co-investors, while THE LYCRA COMPANY acquired exclusive distribution rights. Additional development partners include amongst others Riopele, Impetus, Lameirinho, Beste, Feinjersey, Taiana, Dolinschek, Aunde Group, Amann and Strahle + Hess.
"This agreement gives concrete form to Altri's strategy of moving up the value chain and investing in next-generation materials," said José Soares de Pina, CEO of Altri. "We are scaling a game-changing innovation that aligns perfectly with our commitment to build a more renewable world."
Carlo Centonze, CEO of HeiQ, added: "Altri's investment transforms AeoniQ™ from a market-proven innovation into a full-scale global production platform. Together, we are offering a market-ready solution to one of the planet's most polluting industries, textiles. The joint venture brings together Altri's industrial expertise and HeiQ's innovation prowess to deliver a European-made, sustainable, high performance and plastic-free textile."
In addition to diversifying its operations, the acquisition of AeoniQ™ aligns with Altri's strategy to increase its involvement in the sustainable textile fibre sector and contribute to building a more renewable world. The group is founded on the principles of the bioeconomy, using renewable and recyclable resources from certified forests and transforming them through industrial processes aligned with the most efficient and environmentally advanced technologies, promoting circular economy principles.
The completion of the acquisition is subject to the fulfilment of closing conditions, as is standard in transactions of this nature. The companies expect the process to be completed in Q3.
HeiQ
HeiQ is a global cleantech and biotech materials innovator headquartered in Switzerland that delivers over 200 patented technologies for textiles, cosmetics, hygiene, batteries, building materials, and more. HeiQ's purpose is simple: make everyday products better and longer-lasting by using science.
www.heiq.com
Altri
Altri SGPS S.A. is a leading European producer of cellulosic fibers from FSC and PEFC certified forests, operating three modern pulp mills with over 1.1 million tons in annual production capacity. The Group is also active in renewable energy from forest sources, particularly in industrial cogeneration using black liquor. Its forest strategy is based on the full use of all forest components: cellulosic fibres, black liquor, and forest residues. Committed to the bioeconomy and decarbonization, Altri is now expanding into sustainable textiles to reshape the future of fiber.
www.altri.pt
AeoniQ™
AeoniQ™ is HeiQ's flagship textile innovation: a fully biodegradable, recyclable, plastic-free filament yarn made from renewable and circular cellulose feedstocks. Designed to replace heavily polluting and microplastic generating polyester and nylon, AeoniQ™ offers fashion and technical performance without environmental cost. Its independent corporate structure enables strategic investment and rapid commercialization.
CONTACTS
HeiQ Group
www.heiq.com
[email protected]
+351 96 500 91 29
SOURCE HeiQ Materials AG
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Cision Canada
2 hours ago
- Cision Canada
Siemens Receives Frost & Sullivan's 2025 Europe, Middle East, and Africa Company of the Year Award for Excellence in Smart Water Meter Data Management
Siemens sets the benchmark in innovation and customer impact, helping utilities digitalize their operations and improve sustainable water management across EMEA SAN ANTONIO, July 1, 2025 /CNW/ -- Frost & Sullivan is pleased to announce that Siemens has been awarded the 2025 Europe, Middle East, and Africa Company of the Year Award in the smart water meter data management (MDM) industry for its outstanding achievements in digital innovation, operational efficiency, and customer impact. This recognition highlights Siemens's leadership in delivering intelligent, scalable, and vendor-agnostic water MDM solutions that help utilities optimize operations, engage customers, and support long-term sustainability. Frost & Sullivan evaluates companies through a rigorous benchmarking process across two core dimensions: visionary innovation and customer impact. Siemens excelled in both, demonstrating its ability to align innovative smart water MDM solutions with real-world utility challenges while executing them at scale. "Siemens has strategically transformed MDM from a back-office billing tool to a front-line enabler of data-driven water management," said Fredrick Royan, vice president of research at Frost & Sullivan. "Its Gridscale X Meter Data Management platform brings together high-frequency data capture, AI-powered insights, and flexible deployment models—setting a new benchmark for utility digitalization." Guided by a long-term growth strategy centered on digital transformation and regional partnerships, Siemens has demonstrated its ability to navigate complex markets and sales cycles. The company's investment in cloud-based SaaS infrastructure, regulatory-compliant cybersecurity, and machine learning for anomaly detection has empowered utilities across EMEA to adopt next-generation MDM at scale. Innovation lies at the core of Siemens's value proposition. Gridscale X Meter Data Management, formerly known as EnergyIP® MDM, serves as a central hub for real-time data processing, high-accuracy billing, and customer engagement. With capabilities such as non-revenue water analysis, low-flow detection, and integrated customer portals, the platform turns raw meter data into actionable intelligence. Siemens's unwavering commitment to customer experience further strengthens its market position. By offering utilities flexible deployment models—from on-premises to SaaS—Siemens meets diverse operational needs while minimizing IT complexity. Its intuitive interface, automated VEE processes, and integration with AMI Head-End Systems and CIS platforms streamline operations and improve customer outcomes. Notably, Siemens has achieved 99.9% data accuracy and reduced daily operational task completion times by 85% for utilities leveraging its MDM system. Frost & Sullivan commends Siemens for setting a high standard in competitive strategy, execution, and market responsiveness. The company's deep domain expertise, multi-commodity integration capabilities, and strong customer support model are helping utilities modernize infrastructure, minimize losses, and increase consumer transparency—cementing Siemens's leadership in the smart water MDM market. Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents the Company of the Year Award to a company that demonstrates outstanding strategy development and implementation, resulting in measurable improvements in market share, customer satisfaction, and competitive positioning. The award recognizes forward-thinking organizations that are reshaping their industries through innovation and growth excellence. Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in various regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analyses, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry. For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, megatrends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion. Contact: Tarini Singh E: [email protected]
Global News
6 hours ago
- Global News
Bid by 23andMe's former CEO to buy company given greenlight by court
Anne Wojcicki's bid to buy 23andMe, the genetic testing company she cofounded nearly 20 years ago, has received the court greenlight. That means Wojcicki's nonprofit TTAM Research Institute will purchase 'substantially all' of San Francisco-based 23andMe's assets for US$305 million. The transaction — which arrives more than three months after 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy — is set to officially close in the coming weeks. 'I am thrilled that TTAM will be able to build on the mission of 23andMe to help people access, understand and benefit from the human genome,' Wojcicki said in a statement Monday — later adding that, 'the future of health care belongs to all of us.' The sale, which was approved by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Brian C. Walsh on Friday, marks the end of a monthslong bidding war between TTAM and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals — a biotech company that had previously agreed to buy most of 23andMe's assets for US$256 million in May. But Wojcicki's nonprofit later topped that offer, winning the final round of bidding held last month. Story continues below advertisement Under the deal, TTAM will acquire 23andMe's signature 'Personal Genome Service' provided through the company's saliva-based DNA testing kits — as well as research operations and its Lemonaid Health subsidiary, a telehealth services provider that 23andMe previously planned to wind down. Wojcicki had worked to take 23andMe private for some time. With the company struggling to find a profitable business model since going public in 2021, she's maintained that it would operate better outside market pressures. But that endeavor proved to be tumultuous — notably in September of last year, when all of 23andMe's independent directors resigned from its board citing a 'clear' difference of opinion with Wojcicki on the company's future following drawn-out negotiations. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Leading up to 23andMe's March bankruptcy filing, subsequent efforts from Wojcicki to acquire the company were unsuccessful. And when 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 in late March, Wojcicki resigned as CEO — noting at the time that she was stepping down to be 'in the best position' as an independent bidder. 1:19 23andMe lacked strong data protection allowing for breach: Canada's privacy head Now that Wojcicki's nonprofit will acquire 23andMe, it's unclear whether the co-founder will step back into the CEO seat. But despite stepping down from the top post months ago, Wojcicki has remained on the company's board throughout the bankruptcy process. Story continues below advertisement Beyond financial strains leading up to 23andMe's bankruptcy, privacy concerns related to customers' genetic information also emerged — dating back to even before the bankruptcy process with a 2023 data breach. But concern what new ownership could mean for 23andMe users' personal data has bubbled up in recent months. The genetic testing business had about 13 million customers at the time of its sale hearing, court documents note. In June, 27 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit seeking to block the sale of personal genetic data by 23andMe without customer consent. And in a memorandum opinion outlining his approval 23andMe's sale to TTAM on Friday, Walsh acknowledged these states' objections to the acquisition — but that noted many had since been resolved. Still, California, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah 'remain actively opposed to the sale.' In a statement to Politico on Monday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office maintained that 23andMe's sale 'does not comply' with genetic privacy law in the state — and said it was 'disappointed' with the court's approval, adding that it was evaluating next steps. The Associated Press reached out to Bonta's office and 23andMe for further comments on Tuesday. When announcing its intended sale to Wojcicki's nonprofit last month, 23andMe confirmed that TTAM 'has affirmed its commitment' to comply with the company privacy policies and applicable law. That means TTAM will honor existing policies around consumer data, the company said, which includes allowing users to delete their data and 'opt out' of research. Story continues below advertisement All customers will be emailed at least two business days before the acquisition closes — with details on TTAM's privacy commitments and instructions on how to delete data or opt out of research, 23andMe said. The company added that TTAM will offer customers two years of Experian identity theft monitoring at no cost. 23andMe reiterated those privacy policies on Monday. And Wojcicki added that, 'Core to my beliefs is that individuals should be empowered to have choice and transparency with respect to their genetic data and have the opportunity to continue to learn about their ancestry and health risks as they wish.'
Winnipeg Free Press
6 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Anne Wojcicki's nonprofit gets court approval to buy 23andMe for $305 million
NEW YORK (AP) — Anne Wojcicki's bid to buy 23andMe, the genetic testing company she cofounded nearly 20 years ago, has received the court greenlight. That means Wojcicki's nonprofit TTAM Research Institute will purchase 'substantially all' of San Francisco-based 23andMe's assets for $305 million. The transaction — which arrives more than three months after 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy — is set to officially close in the coming weeks. 'I am thrilled that TTAM will be able to build on the mission of 23andMe to help people access, understand and benefit from the human genome,' Wojcicki said in a statement Monday — later adding that, 'the future of health care belongs to all of us.' The sale, which was approved by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Brian C. Walsh on Friday, marks the end of a monthslong bidding war between TTAM and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals — a biotech company that had previously agreed to buy most of 23andMe's assets for $256 million in May. But Wojcicki's nonprofit later topped that offer, winning the final round of bidding held last month. Under the deal, TTAM will acquire 23andMe's signature 'Personal Genome Service' provided through the company's saliva-based DNA testing kits — as well as research operations and its Lemonaid Health subsidiary, a telehealth services provider that 23andMe previously planned to wind down. Wojcicki had worked to take 23andMe private for some time. With the company struggling to find a profitable business model since going public in 2021, she's maintained that it would operate better outside market pressures. But that endeavor proved to be tumultuous — notably in September of last year, when all of 23andMe's independent directors resigned from its board citing a 'clear' difference of opinion with Wojcicki on the company's future following drawn-out negotiations. Leading up to 23andMe's March bankruptcy filing, subsequent efforts from Wojcicki to acquire the company were unsuccessful. And when 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 in late March, Wojcicki resigned as CEO — noting at the time that she was stepping down to be 'in the best position' as an independent bidder. Now that Wojcicki's nonprofit will acquire 23andMe, it's unclear whether the co-founder will step back into the CEO seat. But despite stepping down from the top post months ago, Wojcicki has remained on the company's board throughout the bankruptcy process. Beyond financial strains leading up to 23andMe's bankruptcy, privacy concerns related to customers' genetic information also emerged — dating back to even before the bankruptcy process with a 2023 data breach. But concern what new ownership could mean for 23andMe users' personal data has bubbled up in recent months. The genetic testing business had about 13 million customers at the time of its sale hearing, court documents note. In June, 27 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit seeking to block the sale of personal genetic data by 23andMe without customer consent. And in a memorandum opinion outlining his approval 23andMe's sale to TTAM on Friday, Walsh acknowledged these states' objections to the acquisition — but that noted many had since been resolved. Still, California, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah 'remain actively opposed to the sale.' Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. In a statement to Politico on Monday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office maintained that 23andMe's sale 'does not comply' with genetic privacy law in the state — and said it was 'disappointed' with the court's approval, adding that it was evaluating next steps. The Associated Press reached out to Bonta's office and 23andMe for further comments on Tuesday. When announcing its intended sale to Wojcicki's nonprofit last month, 23andMe confirmed that TTAM 'has affirmed its commitment' to comply with the company privacy policies and applicable law. That means TTAM will honor existing policies around consumer data, the company said, which includes allowing users to delete their data and 'opt out' of research. All customers will be emailed at least two business days before the acquisition closes — with details on TTAM's privacy commitments and instructions on how to delete data or opt out of research, 23andMe said. The company added that TTAM will offer customers two years of Experian identity theft monitoring at no cost. 23andMe reiterated those privacy policies on Monday. And Wojcicki added that, 'Core to my beliefs is that individuals should be empowered to have choice and transparency with respect to their genetic data and have the opportunity to continue to learn about their ancestry and health risks as they wish.'
