Chapter 6 — full chapter
6.4.2 From Agricultural By-products to Textile Fibres
Orange Fiber is an Italian company that has developed a patented process to transform by-products from the citrus juice industry into regenerated cellulose fibres for fashion. The company uses chemical processing to extract cellulose from the collected orange peels, which is then dissolved, regenerated and spun into textile fibres. The resulting yarn can be woven or knitted into soft, silk-like fabrics that are biodegradable and suitable for high-quality fashion applications. By converting agricultural waste into a valuable textile raw material, Orange Fiber demonstrates how industrial by-products can be reintegrated into the value chain, reducing waste while creating new renewable feedstocks for the textile industry. In partnership with Lenzing, the company has also developed TENCEL™ Lyocell fibres containing cellulose derived from orange waste, further scaling this circular innovation.
