hahi has reported reductions of approximately 25% in water consumption and 49% in steam consumption compared to conventional pretreatment systems. Credit: Xiangli Li/ Shutterstock.

The move marks the largest industrial-scale deployment of the technology globally and a significant step forward in lower-impact cotton processing at scale.

The partnership combines Fibre52’s patented biochemistry platform with Shahi’s manufacturing scale to advance more resource-efficient cotton processing within large-scale textile production.

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Fibre52 aims to address the resource-intensive cotton pretreatment stage by introducing a drop-in, low-temperature system that uses ZDHC MRSL
v3.1 and OEKO-TEX-approved chemistries. The process can preserve the natural wax and softness of cotton fibre while eliminating the use of caustic soda and reducing resource intensity compared to conventional pretreatment.

Following trials as early as 2024, Shahi has reported reductions of approximately 25% in water consumption and 49% in steam consumption compared to conventional pretreatment systems.

As part of the scale-up roadmap, Shahi plans to transition approximately 25% of its knit processing capacity to the Fibre52 pretreatment system, representing close to 3,000 tons per annum. This marks the shift from controlled trials to industrial adoption within a large, vertically integrated manufacturing environment.

Laura Thornquist, president of Innovo Fiber, Fibre52’s parent company, said:
“What makes this partnership unique is not just the technology, but the alignment of vision. Shahi and Fibre52 came together with a shared commitment to rethinking cotton processing at scale. When innovation capability and manufacturing discipline work in sync, real transformation becomes possible.”

Anant Ahuja, director of ESG and sustainability at Shahi Exports, added: “This collaboration reflects the value of close partnership. The Fibre52 team brought a different approach, and Shahi focused on how it could work within our production environment. Together, this has progressed from early validation to measurable production outcomes. It is encouraging to see how sustainability and performance can come together at an industrial scale.”