EASTMAN NAIA™
A SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE FIBER
Naia™ is a sustainable cellulose acetate yarn developed by Eastman, headquartered in Tennessee, USA. Eastman was founded in 1920 and is renowned for its iconic Kodak brand, and with its strong heritage in innovation and design, the company continues to grow its business to various industries, including the textile industry. Eastman foresees the future need for more sustainable textiles in the fashion industry, and hence Naia™ was developed.
In this case study, we explore how Eastman has paired responsible sourcing with low impact manufacturing processes to develop a highly performing cellulosic fiber, Naia™. The careful use of chemicals, associated with low carbon and water footprint during the manufacturing process minimizes the impact it is leaving on the planet. The various certifications and recognitions Naia™ obtained will also provide us insight into Eastman’s achievements.
THE FOUR CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE FEATURES
Cellulose-based Naia™ has a relatively low carbon footprint. In a Cradle-to-Yarn perspective, its global warming potential and primary energy demand is two times smaller than cotton and nylon; while the water use is three times smaller than cotton, nylon and viscose.
Naia™ has four certified sustainable features:
A sustainable origin
A safe and environmentally sound chemical use
A low impact manufacturing process
And a safe return to nature
Sustainable Origin
Naia™ has a full transparency from tree to yarn, the wood pulp used is sustainably sourced from suppliers hold FSC® and / or PEFC™ Chain of Custody* certifications.Safe and environmentally sound chemical use
Naia™ is produced in a safe, closed-loop process where solvents are recycled back into the system for reuse that is OEKOTEX® 100 Product Class I certified. It also does not involve any hazardous solvents listed on the ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances List.A Low-impact manufacturing process
Naia™ has a low environmental impact production process with a low tree-to-yarn carbon and water footprint. It has a third party reviewed Life Cycle Assessment compliant with ISO14044 and is ranked on the Higg Materials Sustainability Index.Return To Nature
Naia™ has received the ‘OK biodegradable WATER’ and ‘OK biodegradable SOIL’ conformity marks from TÜV AUSTRIA, which are the certifications that guarantee biodegradation in a natural freshwater environment, such as rivers, lakes or any natural fresh water, and soil, hence contributes to waste reduction. In addition, Naia™ has also received an ‘OK compost INDUSTRIAL’ conformity mark from TÜV AUSTRIA recently.
THE VERSATILITY OF NAIA™
The application of Naia™ in fashion is versatile with possibilities for use across womenswear, intimate apparel, and linings. Clothing brands ranging from luxury to lifestyle labels use Naia™ to create a variety of garments, which could be dyed into soft and bold colours or printed with detailed or abstract patterns, to meet designers’ creative needs.
NAIA™ AND THE REDRESS DESIGN AWARD
In order to nurture the next generation of designers for a more sustainable industry and support young designers on their journey towards building the fashion brands of the future, Eastman partnered with the Redress Design Award 2019 to incorporate fabrics made with Naia™ into the finalists’ runway collections for the Grand Final fashion show in Hong Kong. With a dedication to environmental stewardship and social responsibility, Eastman strives to work collectively with partners and customers to continually develop innovative and sustainable products for everyday life.
LEARN MORE FROM EASTMAN/ Naia™
Fashion brands adopt Eastman Naia™ into their collections: Brands like Weekday, Reserved and Derek Lam are using Naia™ to make garments with different drapes and silhouettes in both vibrant and soft colours
Carbon renewal technology: Eastman breaks mixed plastic waste down into molecular building blocks to generate new materials.