Panda Biotech has been recognized in the 2025 Just Style Excellence Awards for its innovation in fiber processing technology and commitment to zero-waste manufacturing within the textile industry.
The Just Style Excellence Awards honor the most significant achievements and innovations in the apparel and textile industry. Powered by GlobalData’s business intelligence, the Awards recognize the people and companies leading positive change and shaping the future of the industry.
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Panda Biotech received the Innovation Award for developing a mechanical process that enables large-scale production of high-quality hemp fiber. The company also earned the Environmental Award for its model that maximizes resource efficiency and minimizes environmental impact throughout its operations.
Innovation in fiber processing: Transforming hemp for modern textiles
Hemp has long been considered a promising material for textiles, but integrating it into modern manufacturing has not been straightforward. Panda Biotech has addressed this challenge with a mechanical process that transforms American-grown hemp into textile-grade fiber suitable for spinning.
When you walk through Panda Biotech’s facility in Wichita Falls, it’s clear this isn’t just another processing plant. The company’s team has managed to sidestep the usual pitfalls of hemp fiber production—no chemical baths, no water-intensive steps. Instead, the process is entirely mechanical, which is a rarity in this sector. That alone would be noteworthy, but Panda Biotech didn’t stop there.
One of the most practical breakthroughs is how its fiber fits right into existing cotton spinning systems. For textile manufacturers, this is a game changer. Existing equipment and team structures can remain in place—no retraining required. Hemp fiber, once considered tricky and inconsistent, can now be spun alongside cotton. This kind of compatibility has been a missing piece for years.
Notably, Panda Biotech’s fibers have earned OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certification, as well as USDA Biobased and USDA Biopreferred designations. These third-party certifications provide independent assurance of product safety, sustainability, and biobased content, further validating the company’s innovation and commitment to responsible manufacturing.
Scale matters, too. The operation is built to process up to 10 metric tons of hemp straw every hour. The automation on the floor keeps the fiber quality consistent, batch after batch.
But perhaps what stands out most is how nothing goes to waste. Beyond the main textile-grade fiber, the facility produces bast fiber, hurd, and even micronized coproducts. These materials find their way into countless products across various industries, including automotive, construction, plastics, nonwoven, and more.
Panda Biotech’s approach—mechanical processing, seamless integration with existing systems, a commitment to using every part of the facility, and adherence to leading certification standards explains why the company stood out to the awards panel. It’s not just about technology; it’s about making hemp a realistic, scalable option for the entire industry.
Zero-waste manufacturing: Environmental responsibility in practice
At Panda Biotech, the idea of “zero waste” is more than a slogan—it’s visible in how the company runs its operations day to day. Step onto the production floor, and you’ll find that every part of the hemp plant is put to use. Some of it ends up as fiber for textiles, while other portions are directed toward agriculture or even industrial products. It’s a practical approach that leaves little behind.
One detail that stands out is the company’s decision to eliminate the use of water and chemicals in its fiber extraction process. In an industry where water usage and chemical runoff are common concerns, Panda Biotech’s mechanical method sidesteps these issues entirely. For communities near textile plants, this cleaner process can make a real difference.
Energy use is another area where Panda Biotech has made deliberate choices. The facility leverages cleaner energy alternatives as a part of their commitment to environmental responsibility. It’s a move that puts the company in step with a growing number of manufacturers looking to shrink their carbon footprint.
The company’s relationship with farmers is also worth noting. Panda Biotech works directly with growers, offering contracts that guarantee payment. This arrangement makes hemp a more attractive crop, especially since it’s known for improving soil health and pulling carbon from the atmosphere. For many rural communities, such economic stability is a welcome change.
Traceability is woven into the company’s operations as well. From the moment hemp is harvested to the point it becomes finished fiber, Panda Biotech tracks and tags every bale from which it’s grown. The transparency helps ensure that environmental standards are met and gives farmers, buyers, and consumers confidence in the process.
Looking at the bigger picture, Panda Biotech’s efforts show that it’s possible to significantly reduce waste and emissions in textile manufacturing. At the same time, the company is supporting farmers and helping to build a supply chain that’s both sustainable, traceable, and accountable.
“We’re incredibly honored to be recognized by Just Style with awards in both fiber processing innovation and zero-waste manufacturing. What started as our mission to unlock hemp’s potential for American textile manufacturing has evolved into something much bigger – proving you can build industrial-scale operations that also benefit the environment. We’ve spent years perfecting a process that works with nature instead of against it, and it’s gratifying to see the industry take notice. The real validation comes from knowing we’re helping textile manufacturers access sustainable, traceable, American-grown hemp fiber without compromising on quality or efficiency. Most importantly, these awards represent our farmers, our team, and everyone who believed we could create a better way forward for American textiles.”
– Dixie Carter, President, Panda Biotech
Company Profile
Panda Biotech is a world leader in zero-waste hemp processing that is sustainable, traceable, and eco-friendly. Industrial hemp fiber and hurd will play a leading role in transforming, modernizing, and enhancing the sustainability of a multitude of industries including farming, textiles, construction, automotive/aviation/marine, paper, bio-plastics, and more. Panda Biotech aims to be America’s premier industrial hemp fiber processor.
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