As part of a new agreement, the first AeoniQ industrial unit is set to be established at Altri’s fiber plant in Caima, Constância, in the Santarém district. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with an initial capacity of 1,750 tons per year.
The project investment amounts to 90 million euros, according to the company.
A pre-industrial unit will be launched early next year in Portugal to accelerate prototypes, partnerships with brands, and capsule collections.
The investment, including a capital increase, will enable the commercial scale production capacity of AeoniQ and strengthen the strategic vision for diversification into high-value, low-environmental-impact cellulosic applications.
“This agreement realizes Altri’s strategy to move up the value chain and invest in next-generation materials. We are scaling a transformative innovation that perfectly aligns with our commitment to build a more renewable world,” stated José Soares de Pina, CEO of Altri, in a press release.
AeoniQ is a Swiss spin-off of HeiQ Materials AG, which developed the first biodegradable cellulosic filament designed to replace polyester and nylon.
“The investment from Altri transforms AeoniQ from proven market innovation into a large-scale global production platform. Together, we are offering a market-ready solution for one of the world’s most polluting industries: textiles,” said Carlo Centonze, CEO of HeiQ, in a statement.
[Updated at 19:15]
