Altri acquires majority stake in fibre specialist AeoniQ

Portuguese fibre producer Altri SGPS S.A. is set to acquire a majority interest in Swiss clean technology company AeoniQ, a spin-out of HeiQ Group. The investment, which includes a capital increase, is intended to support the commercial-scale development of the first fully biodegradable cellulose-based filament designed to replace polyester and nylon. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

The move represents a strategic step for Altri, a company specialising in sustainable cellulose fibre production, as it seeks to expand into higher-value applications with lower environmental impact. AeoniQ’s proprietary technology enables the production of cellulosic fibres with synthetic-like properties but a significantly improved sustainability profile. The resulting filament offers a plastic-free, fully circular alternative intended to replicate the performance of conventional synthetic fibres while avoiding their environmental burden.AeoniQ™ is produced by bacteria and from circular cellulosic  raw materials. Designed to serve as an alternative to polyester and nylon — which are associated with high levels of environmental impact and microplastic pollution — AeoniQ™ offers technical and fashion performance without the associated environmental cost. Its independent corporate structure facilitates strategic investment and enables rapid commercialisation.

AeoniQ™ filaments are certified as fully biodegradable in marine, soil, freshwater, and industrial composting environments by TÜV Austria and OEKO-TEX®. The product offers natural elasticity, softness, durability, and a high level of texturisation, making it suitable for a wide range of textile applications, including lingerie, workwear, footwear, home textiles, medical clothing, and automotive interiors.

Two independent life cycle assessments indicate that AeoniQ™ reduces CO₂ emissions by at least 3.2 kg per kilogram of yarn compared with polyester. The filament has already been used in four capsule collections by German fashion brand Hugo Boss and in the vegan silk bedding line by Lameirinho, presented at Heimtextil 2025.

Industrial production in Portugal

As part of the transaction, Altri will construct the first industrial-scale AeoniQ™ facility at its Caima site in Constância, Portugal. Construction is scheduled to begin by the end of 2026, with an initial annual production capacity of 1,750 tonnes. In addition to existing pilot lines in Austria, a pre-industrial unit will be operational in Portugal in early 2026 to accelerate prototype development, brand collaborations, and capsule collections.

The resulting joint venture will operate under the AeoniQ name and combine Altri’s industrial expertise with HeiQ’s technological capabilities, with a joint emphasis on sustainability. The project will benefit from vertical integration of eucalyptus fibre through to finished yarn, with the planned inclusion of recycled raw materials such as cotton textile waste, agricultural residues, and bacterial cellulose derived from food waste.

Strategic partnerships across the value chain

The joint venture is supported by key stakeholders in the textile value chain. Hugo Boss and MAS Holdings — the largest manufacturer of technical apparel in South Asia — are co-investors, while The LYCRA Company has secured exclusive distribution rights. Additional development partners include Riopele, Impetus, Lameirinho, Beste, Feinjersey, Taiana, Dolinschek, Aunde Group, Amman, and Strahle + Hess.

Altri CEO José Soares de Pina commented: “This agreement reflects Altri’s strategy to move up the value chain and invest in next-generation materials. We are scaling a transformative innovation aligned with our commitment to building a more renewable world.”

HeiQ CEO Carlo Centonze added: “Altri’s investment transitions AeoniQ™ from a market-proven innovation to a global industrial production platform. Together, we offer a market-ready solution for one of the world’s most polluting industries — textiles. The joint venture combines Altri’s industrial capabilities with HeiQ’s innovation capacity to deliver a sustainable, high-performance, plastic-free product made in Europe.”HeiQ, founded in 2005 as a spin-out from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich), is a global company specialising in clean technologies and materials biotechnology.  HeiQ’s stated purpose is to enhance and extend the functionality of everyday products through scientific innovation.

The acquisition is also aligned with Altri’s broader strategy to expand its presence in the sustainable textile fibre segment and support the transition to a circular, bio-based economy. The group utilises renewable and recyclable resources from certified forests and transforms them through environmentally advanced industrial processes.

Completion of the transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to take place in the second half of the year.

The replacement of petroleum-based textile fibres made of polyethylene or polyamide, whose landfilling is considered a major source of the increasing microplastic pollution of water bodies, is also one goal of German biotech company Amsilk GmbH that is currently scaling up its production in collaboration with Evonik and Danish 21st Century A/S.