NFW, a materials company that is innovating revolutionary new sustainable textiles, has announced the appointment of Greg Stillman, previously of Fashion for Good - Plug and Play, as Director of Business Development.

Mr Stillman’s career has been driven by a dedication to environmental stewardship, both in energy and now in textiles, which is one of the most polluting industries, producing 1.2 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) per year.

Prior to his work at Fashion for Good, Stillman spent five years as a research and development scientist within the Department of Energy, helping to develop new technologies for the geothermal industry. He also holds an MBA and MS in Environmental Sciences from Stanford University.

Funding and commercialisation

Recognising the opportunity to improve the environmental impact of global industries beyond just energy, he joined Fashion for Good to facilitate the funding and commercialisation of breakthrough innovations. In his role as Venture Investor and Innovation Management, Mr Stillman lead an accelerator program that transferred technologies from startups to large fashion brands and invested in fundamental new technology to re-order the supply chain.

“Having worked as both researcher and investor, Greg is the rare expert that bridges science, commercialization, and sustainability. He can have a conversation about the research and development of new materials in the context of what customers need and want in a changing world,” said Luke Haverhals, CEO of NFW. “It’s truly a superpower and one we’re excited to have on board as we scale the production of our materials to new partners and use cases.”

Key industry partnerships

As Director of Business Development, Mr Stillman will help bring materials produced with NFW’s proprietary technology to market through key industry partnerships, as well as integrate ongoing R&D phases to ensure the company is addressing market needs while meeting core company sustainability goals. In this new role, he will also deepen existing strategic partnerships with retailers and designers in fashion, automotive, and other industries that rely heavily on textiles in their products.

“I’m honoured to be joining a science-first, impact-based company like NFW, which leverages the natural strength and diversity of nature to prove the feasibility and tunability of circular materials,” said Mr Stillman. “Right now, we need action. We need companies that aren’t sitting on the sidelines, thinking about what can be done to solve our environmental crisis, but who are actively developing new solutions and even more importantly, bringing them to market. NFW is going to be a force for good and has a stellar team that I’m excited to be joining.”

Natural materials platform

NFW has developed a natural materials platform that consists of closed loop processes and clean chemistries that produce beautiful, luxurious and durable items that have a positive impact on the environment. In addition to its Welded Fiber Technology, NFW also produces Mirum, a high-performance, plant-based material that uses 100% natural inputs and is completely free of petroleum-based plastics.

NFW is currently based in Peoria, IL, with a team of 27 people.

www.naturalfiberwelding.com