The early work of the devil: Lapland may be one of the least likely locations for fashion-related production, but it will be home to a new $420 million textile fiber factory that is planned.
Finnish fashion and textile technology company Infinite Fiber Company will develop its first Infinna fiber production facility at Stora Enso’s Veitsiluoto industrial site in the city of Chemi. Located in the northernmost region of Lapland, Chemi lies on the northern edge of the Baltic Sea. The new factory is being developed and converted into a building with a closed paper production line.
Save the huge financial investments and commitment of the Infina order by major fashion powerhouses like Inditex, PVH Europe, H&M Group, Patagonia, Pangea and bestsellers, all this may sound strange. Expected to operate at full capacity in 2025, the factory is expected to create around 270 jobs in the area. By making multi-year commitments to Infinna purchase orders, apparel industry brands are helping to raise the bar towards circularity in fashion.
The fiber that will be made there is Infina, a new cellulosic fiber made entirely from textile waste. It looks and feels like cotton and can similarly be used to make textile products such as T-shirts, jeans, blouses, dresses, hoodies and other apparel. A company spokesperson said on Monday that Infina Textile Fiber is also biodegradable and can be recycled again in the company’s process, and does not contain any microplastics.
The facility will be able to churn out 30,000 metric tons of fiber, which is equivalent to producing enough fiber for about 100 million T-shirts. Anant Fiber Company is banking on exports of most of the production being generated at the new factory. The fact that Chemi is a port city makes it “an efficient link to the rest of the world,” according to the company. Infinite Fiber considered dozens of other sites before choosing Veitsiluoto Industrial. Existing infrastructure, availability of fresh water, renewable electricity, efficient port services and skilled local labor were selling points.
Once fully operational, the factory is expected to employ around 220 and 50 more people through on-site support for maintenance and logistics services. In addition, the indirect employment impact of the facility is expected to be around 800 jobs. The construction and installation phase of the project is expected to equate to 120 people per year.
The ambitious development is an example of how Finland is trying to become a leader in textile circularity. According to cofounder and CEO Petri Alava, Infinite Fiber Company aims to utilize existing resources. “Finland has a solid bio-economy and is very supportive of the circular economy. We see this as a key force that will enable Finland to become a leader in the creation of a new, circular economy-based textile industry valley chain.
For more on sustainability from WWD.COM, see:
Unilever, Geno aim to develop biotech solutions that foam, lift mess
Women-led venture companies are bringing sustainability to fashion
Lululemon Is Part of H&M Group’s New $250M Fashion Climate Fund
Originally published at Pen 18
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