Altri SGPS, a Portuguese leader in sustainable cellulosic pulp production, has signed an agreement to acquire a majority stake in AeoniQ, the Swiss-based cleantech spin-off of HeiQ Materials.

AeoniQ has developed a biodegradable cellulosic filament yarn engineered to replace polyester and nylon – a circular, plastic-free alternative that mirrors the performance of synthetic fibres without their environmental toll.

The Altri investment, including a capital increase, will see the world’s first industrial AeoniQ plant constructed at Altri’s Caima pulp mill in Portugal. Construction is expected to begin in 2026 with an initial capacity of 1.750 tons per year. On top of the already existing pilot lines in Austria, a pre-industrial plant willalso  be launched in early 2026 in Portugal to accelerate prototyping, brand partnerships, and capsule collections.

The venture will benefit from vertical integration of eucalyptus-based pulp to finished yarn, later expanding to incorporate recycled feedstocks such as cotton textiles waste, agricultural waste as well as bacterial cellulose derived from food waste.

AeoniQ’s cellulosic filament yarns are fully biodegradable in marine, soil, freshwater and industrial composting environments, as certified by TÜV Austria and Oeko-Tex. The products offer natural elasticity, softness, tenacity and the unique ability to be textured, making them suitable for everything from lingerie and workwear to footwear, home textiles, medical apparel and automotive interiors.

Two independent Life Cycle Assessments confirm that AeoniQ reduces CO2 emissions by at least 3.2 kg per kg of yarn compared to polyester. The yarn has already appeared in four capsule collections from Hugo Boss and in Lameirinho’s vegan silk bedlinen line presented at Heimtextil 2025.

Both Hugo Boss and MAS Holdings, South Asia,s leading technical garment maker, are equity co-investors, while The Lycra Company has acquired exclusive distribution rights. Additional development partners include, amongsothers Riopele, Impetus, Lameirinho, Beste, Feinjersey, Taiana, Dolinschek, Aunde Group, Amann and Strahle + Hess.

“This agreement gives concrete form to Altri’s strategy of moving up the value chain and investing in next-generation materials,” said José Soares de Pina, CEO of Altri. “We are scaling a game-changing innovation that aligns perfectly with our commitment to build a more renewable world.”

“Altri’s investment transforms AeoniQ from a market-proven innovation into a full-scale global production platform,” added Carlo Centonze, CEO of HeiQ. “Together, we are offering a market-ready solution to one of the planet’s most polluting industries,.”

www.altri.pt

www.heiq-aeoniq.com