A new assessment for Spinnova's first commercial factory reveals that the Finnish company has a positive climate impact: the Spinnova fibre saves 6.5 kg CO2e when replacing conventional cotton.
- The calculation methodology has been developed by the Finnish Technical Research Centre VTT and LUT University. Climate business consultancy Clonet calculated Spinnova's carbon handprint.
- The company claimed that the findings are significant for the competitiveness and climate impact of both Spinnova and its global brand partners. The fashion industry's single largest source of CO2 emissions are textile fibres.
- The assessment shows that Spinnova's carbon footprint is 1.28 kg CO2e/kg fibre which is 72% lower compared to conventional cotton (4.6 kgCO2e/kg fibre). The only byproduct of the factory is carbon neutral surplus heat, which will be reused in a local district heating network, reducing 3.2 kg CO2e/kg of emissions that would otherwise be produced in generating district heat.
- Taking this into account, the assessment concludes, Spinnova's production saves more CO2 emissions than it emits. The emission savings of Spinnova's annual production correspond to driving almost 14 million kilometres, or 350 times around the globe.
- The Spinnova fibre produced at the first commercial factory in Jyväskylä was compared to the average climate impact of conventional cotton production from cradle-to-gate—so from farming the raw material, wood or cotton, to the end of the fibre production process.
Carbon handprint calculation: The carbon handprint calculations were made according to the carbon handprint methodology developed by the Finnish Technical Research Centre VTT and LUT University, and they are based on the ISO 14067:2018 standard. Clonet made the calculation on their OpenCO2.net platform with widely used methodologies and emissions databases.
Low-emission technology and surplus heat: Spinnova's low-emission technology includes use of CO2-free energy and smart energy systems. The factory only uses wind power and heat recovered from its own process as its energy sources.
- The surplus energy recovered from Spinnova's process with heat pumps is recycled into the local district heating network, reducing the local energy provider Alva's emissions by replacing energy sources such as peat.
- The heat pump facility recovering and reusing energy from Spinnova's process is being built by energy systems supplier Calefa.
- Valmet, the supplier of fibre drying technology for the factory, has also been involved in planning and supplying technology for the energy solutions.
What they said:
The results confirm what we have expected: that Spinnova is an extremely climate positive textile fibre. It supports our brand partners' exceptionally sustainable products, achieving their carbon neutrality targets and a winning competitive advantage for both them and Spinnova.
-- Juha Salmela
Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder
Spinnova
The carbon handprint methodology was developed to holistically evaluate and communicate positive climate impacts of solutions tackling climate change. Spinnova is setting an example with their impressive result and transparent reporting.
-- Sari Siitonen
CEO and Founder
Clonet
