As fibers derived from biomass and fiber manufacturing using bioprocesses attract attention, companies developing biofibers are pursuing mass production while facing challenges in recovering their capital investment, prompting them to revise production plans and develop their own strategies.
The textile industry faces pressure to respond to digitalization and sustainability, and fiber materials derived from biomass and fiber manufacturing using biological processes are attracting particular attention in terms of reducing microplastic generation and promoting resource circulation. New technological trends are emerging in the long-established textile sector, and, together with efforts to promote recycling and extend the life of textile products, a turning point for the industry is coming into focus.
In recent years, companies developing biofibers have been pursuing mass production, while the recovery of capital investment has emerged as a challenge. Companies are therefore revising their production plans and considering their own strategies. This first installment of a series reviewing trends in biofibers examines the difficulty of recovering capital as manufacturing scale expands.
Going forward, the focus could include promoting recycling, building collaborative frameworks and reducing costs through the development of new materials. Flexibility in production planning is considered important in this field, and cooperation among companies and technological innovation are likely to form the core of strategies alongside efforts to reduce reliance on fossil resources.