Natural Fiber Welding, Inc. (NFW), a company revolutionizing the materials industry through the use of all-natural and fully circular ingredients, was selected among hundreds of candidates as one of the World Economic Forum’s “Technology Pioneers.” NFW’s patented technology platforms, MIRUM® and CLARUS®, utilize naturally abundant resources to produce high quality textiles without relying on plastic. Through MIRUM, NFW has created a new class of high-performing 100% plastic-free, plant-based materials with limitless possibilities. With CLARUS, NFW uses a closed-loop chemistry process to engineer radical new performance fabrics while utilizing abundant waste and virgin plant fibers, and creating high-performance, durable garments and products without synthetics.
The World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneers are early to growth-stage companies from around the world that are involved in the use of new technologies and innovation and are poised to have a significant impact on business and society. NFW technologies are disruptive to the linear plastic economy and the company is scaling comprehensively sustainable, circular materials solutions for fashion, footwear, automotive, and home applications.
Despite their ubiquity today, materials like polyester and polyurethane can never scale to meet the needs of our entire civilization. In fact, products of petroleum have been scaled in the industrialized world to support the standards of living of just 20% of the world’s population. What’s worse is that many consumers are being misled to believe that recycling is a viable solution to the plastics problem. In particular, complex products made from plastic — shoes, handbags, furniture — can only ever become polluting trash, whether that’s in a day, a week, a month, or two years.
With their selection as Technology Pioneer, NFW will contribute to Forum initiatives over the next two years, working with global leaders to help address key industry and societal issues. In the company’s role as Technology Pioneer, NFW will continue to help tackle society’s dependence on petroleum and create a textile supply chain fueled entirely by natural materials, not oil and other finite fossil resources.
“We’re excited to welcome Natural Fiber Welding to our 2021 cohort of Technology Pioneers,” says Susan Nesbitt, Head of the Global Innovators Community, World Economic Forum. “NFW and its fellow pioneers are developing technologies that can help society solve some of its most pressing issues. We look forward to their contribution to the World Economic Forum in its commitment to improving the state of the world.”
“It’s an honor to be recognized as a pioneer by the World Economic Forum,” said NFW’s Founder and CEO Luke Haverhals. “The textiles industry is far too dependent on petroleum and plastic, which simply can’t scale to sustainably nurture life on earth. Regenerative agriculture and plants are inexhaustible in their abundance and ability to meet the needs of the world’s population. At NFW, we’ve always focused on creating materials that free product designers from the plastic supply chain without compromising performance or limiting creativity.”
Technology Pioneers have been selected based on the community’s selection criteria, which includes innovation, impact and leadership as well as the company’s relevance with the World Economic Forum’s Platforms.
