In Sweden, "OnceMore from Södra" and TreeToTextile AB have completed a one-and-a-half-day field trip, bringing together brands, retailers, and industry experts for an end-to-end view of how next-generation man-made cellulosic fiber (MMCF) can be scaled – from responsible forestry and recycled textile feedstock to dissolving pulp, fiber innovation, and end-use applications.
The field trip was arranged in connection with the Challenge The Fabric conference in Paris, France, and in collaboration with the global non-profit organization Textile Exchange.
The opportunity for brands, retailers, and industry partners to visit production systems is key to understanding how materials are made and how production systems can be improved. This trip provided valuable insights into textile-to-textile recycling as well as responsible forestry management practices, said Adam Gardiner, Recycling Lead at Textile Exchange.
Supported by the owners H&M Group, Inter IKEA Group, Stora Enso, Lenzing Group, and LSCS Invest, TreeToTextile develops renewable, resource-efficient cellulose fibers with attractive properties and low environmental impact, affordable to all.
The fibers have the potential to complement or replace part of the cotton, viscose, and polyester markets.
The development of next-generation cellulose fibers is really exciting for the MMCF industry. Not only is it a matter of sustainability, but it is also imperative that we remain competitive in Europe and become less dependent on imported resources, commented Frédéric Van Houte, Director General of CIRFS, a participant on the tour.
Recycling process for blended textiles
Developed by forest owners and forest industry major Södra, “OnceMore” pulp is a blend of recycled textile fibre and high-quality dissolving pulp from sustainably managed Swedish forests.
It is the world’s first large-scale process for recycling blended fabrics from textile waste and is seen as one solution to circularity for MMCF products.
Participants visited Swedish forests owned by one of Södra’s more than 50,000 forest owner members, toured the OnceMore production at Södra’s Mörrum pulp mill, and visited TreeToTextile’s demonstration plant in Nymölla.
It was a first, showcasing how innovation in the earliest steps of the value chain can drive sustainability while also enhancing the properties of the final garments.
The textile industry needs solutions that work in practice, and that requires transparency and collaboration across the value chain. This field trip created a shared baseline, from sustainable forestry and recycled textile feedstock to industrial production, and it gave participants the opportunity to ask detailed questions and see the processes up close, said Tina Lemke, Marketing & Brand Experience Manager, OnceMore from Södra.
Scaling innovation is about building confidence in performance, in supply chain readiness, and in the people and partners behind the technology. It was highly valuable to host open discussions with brands and experts on what is needed next, and to share progress from our demonstration plant as we continue the journey toward industrialization, said Dr Roxana Barbieru, CEO of TreeToTextile.
Connect strategy with operational realities
The field trip took place May 28–29, 2026, in Mörrum and Nymölla, Sweden, with start/end in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The program was designed for brands, retailers, industry experts, and textile value chain partners seeking deeper insight into scalable MMCF pathways.
By opening their doors together, OnceMore from Södra and TreeToTextile enabled participants to connect strategy with operational realities, including forest stewardship and traceability, the integration of recycled textile waste into dissolving pulp, and the technical pathway toward next-generation cellulose fibers designed to complement existing material portfolios.
The program also included a sample session featuring fashion items already on the market based on OnceMore pulp, as well as apparel and home textile samples crafted from TreeToTextile’s Nyense fiber, enabling dialogue on performance requirements, sourcing considerations, and what is needed to move from pilots to broader adoption.
The field trip was a great experience and truly gave us the opportunity to witness something exciting. In a few years’ time, I will be able to say that I was there from the beginning, when you first opened the Demo plant to an external audience and demonstrated what can be achieved with this new fiber technology. For ZDHC, we must acknowledge the challenges involved in developing new technology and ensure that our guidelines and tools are designed to match the new conditions that such innovation brings, said Maria Arroyo, Sector Partnership Lead, ZDHC.
Field trip participants experienced:
- Sustainable forestry practices in FSC and PEFC-controlled Swedish forests
- OnceMore dissolving pulp production, integrating recycled textile waste with pulpwood from responsibly managed forests
- TreeToTextile’s demonstration plant in Nymölla and the development of its next-generation cellulose fiber
- Hands-on sample session with materials and products made from OnceMore pulp and TreeToTextile’s Nyense fiber.
Key outcomes of the field trip included:
- Shared understanding of traceability and stewardship considerations from forest to fiber
- Deeper technical dialogue on feedstock, process requirements, and performance expectations for MMCFs
- Identification of next collaboration topics, including data needs, sampling, and pathways to scale
- Increased alignment on the role of recycled textile content and next-generation fibers in diversified material strategies.
This field trip highlighted the importance of looking at environmental impact as well as material performance when evaluating new fiber solutions. In addition to promising environmental performance, TreeToTextile’s fiber shows characteristics such as low pilling and strong color fastness, which are important to support garment durability, commented Anneke Keuning, Nature & Climate Impact Manager, BESTSELLER.
