Project Latvus & Bio2™Textile

At Chempolis, we believe that the future of textiles lies in innovation that respects both people and the planet. Project Latvus is a groundbreaking collaboration that brought together global brands, NGOs, and supply chain partners to transform agricultural waste – specifically wheat straw – into high-quality textile fibres.

Initially launched by Canopy and the Laudes Foundation in 2023, Project Latvus demonstrated the technical and commercial viability of using wheat straw as a sustainable feedstock for textile production. In India, wheat straw is an abundant agricultural residue often burned in fields. By leveraging Chempolis’ formico® biorefining technology, Finnish and Indian wheat straw was refined into our Bio2™Textile dissolving pulp suitable for lyocell production, reducing carbon emissions and forest degradation, and saving straw from the burn pile.

Completed in 2025, the pilot project successfully demonstrated that dissolving pulp made from wheat straw can directly replace wood-based pulp as a “drop-in” feedstock for staple lyocell fibre production. The pilot validates technical feasibility through successful processing from farm to finished garment; confirmed compatibility with brand performance thresholds; and highlighted areas for improvement through scale-up and supply-chain coordination.

The potential social, economic, and environmental benefits of scaling production of pulp for lyocell made from agricultural residues is significant. Each year, over 90 million tonnes of agricultural residue are burned in India alone, contributing significantly to air pollution and climate change. Simultaneously, more than 300 million trees are cut down annually to meet the growing demand for Man-Made Cellulosic Fibres, or MMCFs. Project Latvus has showcased a scalable Next Generation Solution to both challenges by turning residues into value; preserving forests while improving regional air quality and supporting rural livelihoods.

Traceability was also essential in Project Latvus. Through collaboration with TextileGenesis™ and their traceability platform, the journey of the straw supplies could be documented – from farm field to processing in our Oulu pilot plant through the value chain that turned it into yarn and fabrics, and finally into finished garments.

Project Latvus is more than a pilot. It’s a proof of concept for a future where fashion regenerates rather than depletes and sourcing decisions work for business and the planet.

For more information, please contact nextgen@canopyplanet.org.