How Eastman Naia™ Is Shaping the Future of Fiber Innovation SPOTLIGHT

The textile industry is undergoing a profound transformation as sustainability and innovation reshape the future of fiber development. The shift is driven by rising environmental pressures, evolving consumer expectations, and stricter regulatory demands that require brands to rethink their material choices. In this shifting landscape, Eastman Naia™ is helping lead the transition by sharpening the focus on circularity and responsible sourcing. Through its Naia™ portfolio, the company produces innovative fibers engineered to provide environmental benefits alongside high performance, supporting a more responsible future for textiles.

The fiber’s journey toward sustainable fiber innovation began in 2017 with the introduction of Naia™, a cellulosic fiber derived from sustainably sourced wood pulp and produced through a low-impact, closed-loop process.

In 2020, the portfolio expanded with the launch of Naia ™ Renew, which incorporates 60% sustainably sourced wood pulp with 40% certified recycled materials using Eastman’s molecular recycling technology. Following an update to the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), since 2023 all Naia ™ Renew fibers achieved full GRS certification, validating its recycled content and sustainable manufacturing process. The next major step came in 2022 with Naia™ Renew ES, Eastman’s enhanced sustainability yarn produced from 60% certified recycled content. By 2024, Naia™ Renew ES reached commercial scale, marking a significant milestone in Eastman’s efforts to scale circular solutions in the fiber sector.

These innovations are produced in two fiber formats: Naia ™ filament yarn and Naia ™ staple fiber. Both have been developed to deliver high performance across different fabric types. Naia™ filament yarn delivers a smooth, silky hand, natural breathability and easycare properties, making it ideal for women’s wear, evening dresses and linings, whereas Naia ™ staple fiber offers softness, comfort and quick dry properties, making it a sustainable material of choice for casualwear, denim and home textiles. Both are biodegradable and compostable and are produced through a closed-loop process that prioritizes solvent recovery and resource efficiency.

Naia™ fibers are used across a wide range of apparel and home textile applications. In apparel, they support casualwear, formalwear, outerwear, denim and activewear making them adaptable across various fabric constructions. Most recently, Eastman introduced Naia ™ On The Move, an application concept based on Naia ™ Renew staple fiber for light sports and urban wear. It was developed to meet the functional needs of everyday modern lifestyles, with properties such as breathability, moisture management, and next-to-skin softness. The concept supports garments designed for changing conditions and active routines.

The fibers have also expanded into broader textile categories, with recent developments in home textiles. Eastman introduced Naia ™ Renew fill fiber to insulate products such as comforters and quilts, adding breathable warmth and moisture control to its performance profile. These diverse applications demonstrate the fiber’s potential to deliver sustainable solutions across both fashion and lifestyle markets.

Sustainability is embedded throughout every stage of Naia™ fiber development. Its performance is built on five core pillars: responsible sourcing, environmentally sound chemical management, advanced circular recycling through molecular technologies, reduced carbon and water footprints, and certified biodegradability. Together, these principles guide the fiber’s development from raw material to finished product. One of the core pillars of the sustainability model is Eastman’s molecular recycling technology, which transforms complex waste streams into high-quality fibers while reducing reliance on virgin resources. This approach enables traceability and supports circular end-of-life outcomes, including certified biodegradability and compostability. Naia™ fibers are backed by third-party certifications including FSC®, PEFC™, TÜV Austria, GRS, and the Higg Index, providing brands with measurable, verifiable environmental credentials.

This fiber innovation has enabled strategic collaborations with brands committed to sustainable design. Patagonia was the first to adopt Naia™ Renew ES in 2022, creating T-shirts demonstrating the fiber’s suitability for everyday apparel. In early 2024, Reformation incorporated Naia ™ Renew ES into its bridal collection, showcasing the fiber’s versatility across fashion categories. As Carrie Freiman Parry, Reformation’s Senior Director of Sustainability, stated, “Innovative materials like Naia ™ Renew ES help us drive sustainable fashion forward while continuing to deliver the high-quality, on-trend product customers love and expect from Reformation.”

Eastman Naia ™ has also partnered with Debrand, a next-life logistics company that works with leading apparel brands to divert post-consumer textiles from landfills. Together, they piloted the recycling of 5,000 pounds of pre- and postconsumer apparel waste using Eastman’s molecular recycling technology to produce Naia Renew fibers. The success of the initiative demonstrated the potential for scalable textile-totextile recycling.

“We are committed to advancing sustain able solutions for the fashion industry,” says Claudia de Witte, Eastman’s Marketing and Sustainability Director for Textiles. “Partnering with Debrand allows us to drive progress on our Naia™ sustainability goals, particularly to mainstream circularity by creating sustainable solutions for textiles that have reached end of life and turning them into valuable resources for new Naia™ Renew fibers.” www.eastman.com/en/products/ brands/naia/products/naia-renew

Collectively, these collaborations reflect a growing movement toward verified sustain able innovation. Brands are choosing Naia fibers not only for their environmental cre dentials but also for their traceability, quality, and adaptability across diverse applications, from everyday wear to formal collections and recycling initiatives that close the loop on material use.

Our Fi-Tech Team connects you to the most technologically advanced suppliers serving the Polymer, Synthetic Fiber, Nonwoven and Textile Industries.

Looking ahead, Eastman aims to make sustainable textiles accessible to a wider audience through continued innovation and strategic partnerships. A key objective is to further reduce dependency on virgin resources by increasing the recycled content of Naia ™ fibers and expanding partnerships with change-driven brands and organizations. Through innovation and collaboration, Eastman is driving a global shift toward circularity, placing Naia ™ fibers at the forefront of sustainable textile solutions.

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