Nanollose Produces 580kg Tree-Free Fibre in Largest Commercial Pilot to Date
Nanollose (ASX: NC6) has completed its fourth pilot spin with strategic partner Birla Cellulose in India, producing 580kg of Nullarbor™ fibres in the company’s largest Nanollose Nullarbor fibre production run to date. The material met required technical specifications and passed dissolution and spinnability trials, validating the company’s microbial cellulose feedstock within an existing lyocell production environment.
Nanollose delivers 580kg of forest-friendly fibre in fourth pilot spin
The fourth pilot spin utilised a 200kg batch of processed microbial cellulose supplied by Hainan Guangyu Biotechnology. The batch yielded 425kg of Nullarbor-25™ (comprising 25% microbial cellulose and 75% FSC-certified wood pulp) and 155kg of Nullarbor-30™ (comprising 30% microbial cellulose and 70% FSC-certified wood pulp).
This pilot production represents the first full validation of Nanollose’s microbial cellulose acting as incremental, fungible feedstock within Birla Cellulose’s lyocell process without additional pre-processing. The fibre is now being shipped to Paradise Textiles, the innovation hub of global textiles company Alpine Group, for conversion into yarn and fabric.
For investors, the successful Nanollose Nullarbor fibre production at this scale signals manufacturing capability is advancing toward commercial viability. The lack of additional pre-processing requirements supports ease of adoption within existing industrial infrastructure, reducing potential barriers to commercialisation.
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What is Nullarbor™ fibre and why does it matter?
Nullarbor™ is a forest-friendly lyocell fibre produced using microbial cellulose instead of relying entirely on tree-derived pulp. Lyocell is a sustainable textile fibre used in clothing and fabrics, traditionally manufactured through wood pulping processes that require tree harvesting.
Nanollose’s production method uses agricultural waste and fermentation to create cellulose, the versatile raw material typically extracted from trees. The company filed a joint patent application with Birla Cellulose in 2021 for its high-tenacity, tree-free Nullarbor lyocell fibre. This technology addresses growing consumer and brand demand for sustainable textiles, positioning the company in a market where major fashion brands are actively seeking lower-impact supply chains.
Production validates scalability without additional pre-processing
The fourth pilot spin confirms Nanollose’s microbial cellulose works as an incremental feedstock within Birla Cellulose’s existing lyocell process. The material required no additional pre-processing, supporting potential ease of adoption by manufacturing partners. The processed microbial cellulose batch was produced using a new washing and treatment process from supply partner Hainan Guangyu Biotechnology (announced 5 January 2026).
Across four pilot spins completed to date, Nanollose has produced over 1.6 tonnes of cumulative fibre. This production volume demonstrates technical reproducibility and manufacturing consistency.
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pilot spin number | Fourth |
| Fibre produced (this spin) | 580kg |
| Cumulative fibre produced | 1.6+ tonnes |
| Cellulose input batch | 200kg |
| Pre-processing required | None |
Next steps: yarn conversion and partner evaluation
With the fourth spin completed, Nanollose’s immediate next steps include:
- Conversion of the Nullarbor™ fibres into yarns and fabrics at Paradise Textiles for testing and evaluation
- Distribution of yarns and fabrics to commercial development partners and potential customers for product development
- Continued engagement with development and manufacturing partners to advance commercialisation pathways and scale-up planning
These downstream activities are positioned to provide critical data and partner feedback to inform next-stage production strategies. Advancing to fabric production moves the company closer to potential commercial adoption by fashion and textile brands. Partner feedback will inform whether the product meets real-world market requirements and could influence the timeline for potential offtake agreements or brand collaborations.
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CEO outlines path to scale and cost reduction
CEO and Managing Director Andrew Moullin noted that areas for further improvement were identified during the spin, and that process improvements recently identified in the company’s laboratory should address these areas. Management’s attention remains focused on simplifying production and reducing costs to enable scale.
Andrew Moullin, CEO & Managing Director
“The completion of the fourth pilot spin represents a significant milestone for Nanollose. Notwithstanding that our attention is focused on simplifying production and reducing costs so we can scale, it is gratifying to receive confirmation that the fibre has met specification and passed dissolution and spinnability trials. Importantly, this production run delivers the largest quantity of Nullarbor fibre to date and allows us to progress immediately into downstream yarn and fabric manufacturing with Paradise Textiles.”
Management’s focus on cost reduction and process simplification signals a commercial mindset oriented toward scalability. The immediate progression to downstream manufacturing demonstrates execution momentum, moving the technology from pilot validation toward potential market entry.
Commercial partners positioned to evaluate fabric quality
The yarns and fabrics will be shared with what Nanollose describes as “high-profile commercial development partners and potential customers” for testing and evaluation. Paradise Textiles serves as a long-term co-development partner in this evaluation phase.
This distribution represents the critical evaluation phase that informs commercial uptake decisions. Positive feedback from partners could accelerate the commercialisation timeline and potentially lead to offtake agreements or brand collaborations. The company expects these downstream activities to provide the data necessary to refine product performance, evaluate end-use applications, and progress toward scalable production.
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