Keel Labs has been conferred the ‘Innovation Project of the Year’ at the just-concluded Textile Exchange Climate & Nature Impact Awards for displaying unconventional thinking in creating alternatives to new virgin synthetics and scaling preferred synthetics such as through textile-to-textile recycling, biosynthetics, and carbon capture technologies.
- Keel Labs is a sustainable materials company addressing the highly polluting systems of textile production with aquaculture-based technologies.
- Driven by the exploration of novel, regenerative resources, Keel Labs is broadening its vision for the potential of the ocean to accelerate the planet’s development towards a more sustainable future through the development of climate-focused material solutions.
- Keel Labs’ alginate fibre, or Kelsun, is a next-generation material that uses an abundant biopolymer called alginate found in seaweed to create a luxury and environmentally friendly fibre.
- By starting the process in the ocean, they remove the competition for arable land and the additives associated with it like harmful pesticides and fertilizers. This fibre can have many uses across apparel and interiors etc.
- This groundbreaking new material has already been used by designers such as Stella McCartney and Mr. Bailey.
The PROJECT OF THE YEAR awards celebrate four projects that show leadership in the following categories:
- Innovation (e.g. recycling);
- Climate (i.e. greenhouse gas reduction);
- Nature (e.g. regenerative practices, beneficial impacts to biodiversity); and
- Collaboration in Action (e.g. fostering long-term brand-producer relationships).
By showcasing those going above and beyond to drive beneficial impacts in these four categories the Project of the Year award recognises project teams and aims to inspire others into action.
- The awards were presented at the annual Textile Exchange Conference on 31 October.
- Textile Exchange’s fourth annual awards programme celebrates those in the fashion, textile, and apparel industry who show outstanding commitment and drive towards accelerating beneficial impacts for climate and nature.
WHAT THEY SAID:
Being awarded the Innovation Project of the Year by Textile Exchange is a profound honor, especially given the organization's renowned industry standing and insight. It is inspiring and validating to know that the hard work we've put in for years to scale our technology is resonating and that its necessity is understood. For the industry, it represents an important moment in time, where critical solutions like Kelsun are on the rise within the market to resolve the challenges textile supply chains have faced to date.
— Tessa Callaghan
Chief Executive Officer
Keel Labs
