The era of bio-based materials
As the industry looks for alternatives to conventional textile inputs, bio-based materials are creating new opportunities to reduce environmental impacts and build more resilient supply chains. Commercial case studies from PACT Earth and SEFF will explore the development of bio-based textile materials and the challenges involved in progressing from technical innovation to industrial-scale production.
PACT
Cynthia leads sustainability strategy at PACT Earth, ensuring that its products meet the evolving needs of customers. She holds an Engineering Doctorate in sustainable materials and manufacturing, jointly awarded by Cranfield University, the University of Exeter and the University of Warwick. Her research focused on developing circular business models that convert industrial by-products into innovative materials. A Chartered Environmentalist and life cycle assessment practitioner, Cynthia has 10 years’ experience in sustainable materials and manufacturing.
PACT is a biomaterials pioneer founded in Cambridge in 2020. The company uses natural collagen as a platform for developing new materials for textile applications.Since its formation, PACT has evolved to address the textile industry’s requirements for scale, quality and reduced environmental impact. Its presentation will examine how the company has adapted to the changing needs of the industry and the challenges of bridging the gap between breakthrough material innovation and industrial-scale implementation.
SEFF
Josh Nusenbaum is the founder and CEO of SEFF and has more than 20 years’ experience in bast fibre cultivation, processing and testing. Throughout his career, Josh has worked to address the technical barriers that have historically prevented natural fibres from entering mainstream textile manufacturing. He led the development of SEFF’s patented Nano-Pulse™ process and has built direct relationships with farmers and processors across the UK, Europe and other international markets. Under his leadership, SEFF has progressed from a fibre innovation to a commercial supplier operating across the supply chain, from field to finished fabric.
SEFF is a UK-based technology platform working to unlock the hemp fibre supply chain for the global textile industry. Its Nano-Pulse technology uses precision high-voltage electricity to produce high-quality bast fibre designed to spin easily on standard textile production systems. SEFF materials combine a soft handle and luxury aesthetic with climate-comfort properties that respond to changing conditions. Through its Global Partner Network, the company is supporting the expansion of hemp cultivation and use, with the aim of decarbonising textile supply chains and improving soil health in farming communities worldwide.
Rethinking chemistry: Colour and finishing
Dyeing and finishing are among the textile industry’s most resource-intensive processes. Innovation in textile chemistry has the potential to reduce their impact while also improving the quality and value of materials recovered from post-consumer waste.
DyeRecycle
Dr Aida Rafat is CEO and co-founder of DyeRecycle. A chemical engineer with a PhD from Imperial College London, she invented the company’s core textile decolourisation and decontamination technology. Aida is an Enterprise Fellow at the Royal Academy of Engineering and was a winner of the 2023 Global Change Award.
DyeRecycle transforms post-consumer textile waste into materials that are ready to be respun. Its proprietary solvent process removes the dyes, finishes and contaminants that can prevent used textiles from being recycled. The process works in a single step using non-toxic, readily available ingredients and is designed for integration into existing recycling infrastructure. It enables recyclers to recover clean polyester suitable for recycling, reclaimed dyes and a separate cellulose stream from mixed textile waste. The case study will demonstrate how advances in chemical processing could expand the range of textiles suitable for recycling while improving the quality and commercial value of the recovered materials.
Amphico
Lara Pizzato is Brand, Marketing and Business Development Director at Amphico. Amphico is on a mission to remove hidden toxic chemistries from colour and performance textiles. The company does this through two core technologies: Amphitex, a PFAS-free, toxic solvent-free waterproof breathable membrane system; and Amphicolor a predictive colour intelligence platform enabling waterless colour through weaving.
From waste to value
Recovering value from textile waste requires technologies that can identify, separate and process complex materials at scale. Case studies from Epoch Biodesign and Matoha will examine how biotechnology, artificial intelligence and material identification are supporting the transition towards a more circular industry.
Epoch Biodesign
Charlotte Gruender is Business Development Manager at Epoch Biodesign, where she develops commercial partnerships in enzymatic polymer recycling, beginning with nylon 6,6. Her work covers commercial operations, supply chain partnerships, strategic marketing and brand relationships, combining technical understanding with commercial insight. Charlotte works closely with stakeholders across the textile industry to advance scalable approaches to textile waste and bring enzymatic recycling technology from the laboratory to the market.
Epoch Biodesign is a biotechnology company developing circular material systems. Starting with nylon 6,6, the company is pioneering enzymatic processes that break down complex textile and polymer waste into virgin-quality chemical building blocks. These building blocks can be used to manufacture recycled polymers for a range of high-performance applications, reducing reliance on virgin feedstocks. Bringing together specialists in biology, chemistry, artificial intelligence, process engineering and production, Epoch is scaling an integrated production system and working with manufacturers and end users across the textile supply chain.
Matoha
Dr Hans Chan is an inventor and entrepreneur with more than a decade of experience in science and technology. He completed his DPhil in quantum computing at the University of Oxford in 2024 and is CTO and co-founder of Matoha. His responsibilities span research and development, customer engagement and business development. Hans was included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2025 and has received recognition from organisations including the British Science Association, Imperial College London, the University of Oxford, the Institute of Physics, Amazon and McKinsey.
Matoha Instrumentation is a UK company producing affordable, AI-powered spectroscopic scanners that identify the polymer composition of textiles, carpets and plastic waste in less than one second. Its customers have used the technology to divert tens of thousands of tonnes of textile waste from landfill to fibre recycling. Matoha’s latest system, the S-Bench, adds computer-vision capabilities to help graders and third-party logistics providers process returned and second-hand clothing with greater speed and consistency. The company has exported more than 900 UK-manufactured instruments to over 300 customers across 60 countries.
The next frontier of traceability
As supply chain expectations and regulatory requirements develop, businesses need reliable ways to verify where materials and products originate. Oritain’s commercial case study will explore how forensic science can help organisations substantiate sourcing claims and manage supply chain risk.
Oritain
Sarah joined Oritain as Marketing Director in 2023 before becoming Chief Marketing Officer. She leads the company’s global marketing, brand and communications strategy. She brings more than 15 years’ experience in marketing and communications, including senior roles at Xero and Westpac Australia. Sarah holds an Executive MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management, a postgraduate honours degree in marketing and a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration in international business, commercial law and marketing from Victoria University of Wellington.
Oritain is a global specialist in forensic origin verification, helping organisations build trust and transparency across their supply chains. Its proprietary methodology combines isotope analysis, trace elements, advanced statistical modelling and a comprehensive global reference database to verify the geographic origin of products and raw materials. Through its membership network and structured verification programmes, Oritain works with sectors including fashion, cotton, leather and timber. Its services help organisations respond to regulatory requirements, manage reputational risk and provide evidence for sourcing claims. Oritain’s solution has received international recognition, including the Global Environment Award at the Greater Good Awards and the Judges’ Choice award for Environmental Impact at the Environment + Energy Leader Awards.
From innovation to implementation
Together, these commercial case studies will provide practical insight into how innovators are addressing some of the fashion and textile industry’s most complex sustainability challenges.
From collagen-based materials and hemp fibres to chemical separation, enzymatic recycling, rapid material identification and forensic origin verification, the presentations will show how scientific and technical advances are progressing towards implementation at scale.
They will also highlight the importance of commercial partnerships, manufacturing compatibility and collaboration across the supply chain in moving new solutions from research and development into everyday industry practice.
UKFT Sustainability Conference 2026
UKFT Sustainability Conference 2026: Progress in Practice will explore how innovation is driving measurable change across the UK fashion and textile supply chain.
Taking place from 9am to 6pm on Wednesday 23 September at Drapers’ Hall, London, the conference will showcase developments in textile recycling, circular business models, bio-based materials, lower-impact dyes and finishes, data-driven circularity, traceability and transparency.
Whether you work in sustainability, product development, sourcing, manufacturing, recycling, materials innovation or circular business strategy, the conference will provide practical insight into how organisations are turning sustainability ambitions into commercial action.
Find out more about UKFT Sustainability Conference 2026 at the link below.
