Textiles are fundamental to our society, providing us with curtains, furniture, and clothing. The fashion industry in itself, which consumes 70% of total textile production, is one of the most rapidly growing industries in the world. Global fiber production to meet this rising demand has doubled over the last 20 years to 107 million mt in 2018 and is expected to reach 145 million mt in 2030. Unfortunately, the textile industry has a significant impact on people and the planet. Globally, the sector has been significantly contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, chemical pollution, and water pollution. Meanwhile, extensive demand for natural fiber farming is driving deforestation and impacting biodiversity. Next to those environmental impacts, the supply chain is known for poor labor practices, driven by hard-working conditions, limited workers' rights, and a lack of fair wages.

Pine trees are the world’s main source of timber. Every year 600 million pine trees are cut down in the EU alone. But there is more to the tree than just wood: pine needles account for 10-30% of its mass and to this day they are an unappreciated and underutilized waste-product of logging.

By utilizing locally available resources to their best, we have a chance to decrease the dependency on precious farmland and resource-intensive crops like cotton.