Lenzing Group, the Austria-based global leader in wood-based speciality fibers, has joined forces with OceanSafe AG, a Swiss innovator in circular and toxin-free polymer technology, to develop a next-generation biodegradable performance yarn.
The collaboration aims to create scalable, circular materials that meet the performance demands of sportswear, outdoor and functional textiles while eliminating microplastic pollution.
The partnership’s new fiber platform will deliver 100 percent biodegradable, non-toxic alternatives to polyester and nylon. The materials will comply with the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles and the European Microplastics Restriction Regulation.
The collaboration
The new yarns combine Lenzing’s Tencel and Ecovero cellulosic fibers with OceanSafe’s biodegradable polymers to produce a material that performs like a synthetic yet decomposes safely at end-of-life.
The collaboration will yield fibers with the Cradle to Cradle Certified Gold and Oeko-Tex Standard 100 labels. Prototypes are currently being tested for durability, elasticity and moisture management, with commercial rollout slated for 2026. This partnership could reduce the industry’s dependency on fossil-based synthetics by offering a circular performance alternative.
Why it matters for the sporting goods industry
The partnership signals a breakthrough for sustainable innovation in activewear, outdoor and athleisure. Sporting goods manufacturers are under increasing pressure to eliminate non-degradable synthetics and align with EU circularity standards.
For the sector, the Lenzing-OceanSafe collaboration offers a circular, high-performance alternative to polyester and nylon with full biodegradability, reducing microplastic release. The new fibers deliver compliance-ready materials aligned with new EU regulations, while unlocking innovation in apparel, footwear and equipment.
Competitive context
The Lenzing-OceanSafe partnership enters a rapidly evolving field of sustainable performance fibers, where several major players are racing to reduce dependence on fossil-based synthetics like polyester and nylon.
Comparable innovations include:
- HeiQ AeoniQ: A cellulosic filament yarn designed to replace polyester and nylon, developed by Swiss textile innovator HeiQ. It offers CO2 capture potential and infinite recyclability, for sportswear brands focused on decarbonization.
- Hyosung regen nylon and regen polyester: Recycled yarns made from post-consumer and pre-consumer waste, widely adopted by brands like The North Face, Patagonia and Asics. These emphasize circularity within existing synthetic systems.
- Polartec bio-based fabrics: Developed under Milliken & Company, these use plant-based raw materials to deliver technical insulation and moisture management without petroleum inputs.
- BASF Ultramid Ccycled and Toray’s Ecodear Nylon: Chemical-recycling initiatives providing drop-in sustainable alternatives for performance brands.
What sets Lenzing x OceanSafe apart is a combination of three factors. Unlike chemically recycled synthetics, these new fibers offer full biodegradability, breaking down completely without releasing microplastics. They are also designed to meet forthcoming EU microplastic and circularity directives, to give brands early compliance advantages. Perhaps most significantly, the model supports textile-to-textile circularity within local European supply chains, reducing dependence on both fossil feedstocks and overseas waste processing.
The bottom line
The Lenzing-OceanSafe partnership illustrates a material transition in sportswear – a convergence of performance, circularity and compliance. As regulatory frameworks tighten and consumer expectations shift towards accountability, collaborations like this could redefine the design, use and decomposition of performance textiles.
The innovation positions Lenzing as a key upstream partner for brands seeking credible solutions to microplastic reduction and low-impact performance design.
