10.07.23 – Sustainable alternative to synthetics
MAS Holdings invests in HeiQ AeoniQ
HeiQ, a materials innovation leader and based in Switzerland, has partnered with MAS Holdings, apparel & textile manufacturing and tech conglomerate headquartered in Sri Lanka. As part of this collaboration, MAS Holdings has secured a stake in HeiQ AeoniQ GmbH, a subsidiary of the HeiQ Group that will produce HeiQ AeoniQ, a climate-positive cellulosic yarn.
MAS Holdings and HeiQ administrators in a joint visit to the HeiQ AeoniQ pilot plant, in Austria. © Christian Ukobitz Photography
This investment establishes MAS Holdings as the first manufacturer to partner with HeiQ AeoniQ in their mission to provide a sustainable alternative to polyester and nylon.
MAS Holdings' investment is aligned with its environmental strategy, known as the MAS Plan for Change, which aims to generate 50% of the company's revenue through sustainable products by 2025. The company is dedicated to revolutionizing the textile industry through innovation, sustainable sourcing, and the promotion of circularity on a large scale.
As part of the agreement, HeiQ and MAS have also entered into a 5-year Offtake Agreement. This agreement stipulates that MAS will purchase 3,000 t of HeiQ AeoniQ yarn in 2025 and 5,000 t per year from 2026 to 2029. MAS Holdings will finalize this commitment upon achieving a specified milestone. Both HeiQ and MAS firmly believe that rapid scaling is crucial in driving the widespread adoption of sustainable and circular technologies, such as HeiQ AeoniQ.
Through a proprietary manufacturing method, HeiQ AeoniQ has achieved a significant breakthrough in the production of cellulosic filament yarn. This development allows for the creation of a sustainable and endlessly circular yarn that replicates the performance characteristics of polyester or nylon. It is remarkable that a cellulosic filament yarn can be made from a wide range of non-valorized feedstock and is able to reproduce comparable performance features of polyester or nylon while being sustainable and endlessly circular.
The HeiQ AeoniQ pilot plant, located in Austria, has been manufacturing this continuous cellulosic filament yarn since the third quarter of 2022. Initially, the plant has a capacity of 100 t, which is expected to be upscaled to 300 t by the end of 2023.
To further expand production capabilities, a definitive boost is planned for HeiQ AeoniQ by early 2026. This entails the construction of an entirely new gigafactory, estimated to require a 250 m $ investment. The gigafactory will have the capacity to produce 30,000 t of HeiQ AeoniQ yarn per year, marking a milestone in scaling up the production of this sustainable material.