Monocel is a yarn made from lyocell bamboo fiber and works as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional cotton.

THE PROBLEM

There is a movement away from using conventional cotton in the textile industry, replacing it with more sustainable materials. Large actors are beginning to phase out their use of conventional cotton. The reason for this is cotton production´s negative impacts on environment and health. Demand for substitutes is strongly increasing.

THE INNOVATION

Monocel is among the few sustainable materials that are as soft and strong as cotton. Monocel is a yarn made from lyocell bamboo fiber and works as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional cotton. The fiber is stronger than cotton both in wet and dry conditions.

The fiber used for Monocel is produced through a method called lyocell. The process differs from the viscose process mainly in that the chemicals used in the viscose process are replaced by an organic solution (N-Methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO)). Together with the water used in the production, the solution is recycled and reused in a closed loop system.

The bamboo used for Monocel grows wild on hillsides that are not suitable for growing food – thus, the bamboo does not compete with food production. The bamboo has soil improving roots and sequesters more CO2 than an equivalent cluster of trees. It demands no other watering than natural rainfall and is organically grown without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

THE VISION

Monocel has an established value chain of certified suppliers, and the concept is ready to scale.

The strength of the Monocel yarn, combined with an extreme softness, makes Monocel fabrics suitable for a wide range of applications and provides for comfortable, long-lasting quality products. Monocel fabrics have antibacterial properties and are suitable for sensitive skins.

“Monocel integrates the most sustainable raw material, the most environmentally friendly fiber production method and a hand picked supply chain into innovative, high quality fabrics.”
– Jonny Kristiansen, Founder and CEO, Monocel AS