UTS and noéma develop first fully compostable 3D-knit clothes from plants

The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and noéma, a material innovation startup, announce the successful development of noéma’s first prototype garments made entirely from its novel biobased, fully compostable yarn. 

Working with UTS’s Advanced Fabrication Research Lab (AFRL) and the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Fashion + Textiles (CoE) the project leveraged UTS’s state‑of‑the‑art 3D knitting Shima Seiki wholegarment technology and thought leadership. They enabled noéma to transform its novel biobased yarn into wearable seamless garments employing an advanced manufacturing method that aligns with the company’s "zero-waste" philosophy by eliminating the off-cut waste inherent in traditional cut-and-sew manufacturing.

This breakthrough comes at a critical moment for the industry. Fashion generates over 92 million tonnes of textile waste annually, with the vast majority being fossil-fuel based and ending up in landfills. By combining compostable yarns with seamless, nearly zero-waste production, the two partners advance a circular model for fashion that considers material, manufacturing and end-of-life as a single system, with clothes returning back to earth as nutrients at the end of their lifecycle. 

Next steps for the partners include testing new designs, refining knitting structures and scaling production for trials with end users from noéma’s priority waitlist, positioning themselves at the forefront of circular textiles and waste‑free manufacturing.     

About Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Fashion & Textiles (CoE)

The CoE is a partnership between UTS and TAFE NSW with a remit to transition the Australian fashion industry towards a sustainable future through education, research and thought-leadership. Alumni from its industry short courses work in brands, retailers, production studios and small businesses around Australia. UTS leads the research efforts of the CoE and is located in the heart of Sydney’s innovation precinct. 

About noéma

noéma is a material innovation company reimagining textiles for a circular future. The company designs and develops compostable clothes from novel biobased yarns using renewable feedstocks & agricultural by-products. These are designed to safely return to earth at the end of their lifecycle successfully replacing synthetic fibres & eliminating textile waste. noéma  partners with academic and industry leaders to validate scalable, low‑impact pathways for the Fashion industry creating high-performance apparel solutions that are safe for People and the Planet.

website: noema888.com