Altri Acquires Majority Stake In AeoniQ™ To Launch World's First Industrial Production Of Climate-Positive Textile Yarns

Zürich and Porto, Portugal /PRNewswire/ - Altri SGPS SA (ALTR.LS), a leading publicly listed company in Portugal for sustainable cellulosic pulp production , has signed an agreement to acquire a majority stake in AeoniQ^™, signaling a decisive commitment to sustainable textiles. Altri's investment, which includes a capital increase, will expand AeoniQ^™'s production capacity to commercial scale, reinforcing its strategic vision to diversify into high-value, low-impact cellulosic applications.

AeoniQ^™, a Swiss^™eoniQ^™ platform is poised to disrupt the global textile industry by offering a fully circular, plastic-free alternative that mirrors the performance of synthetic fibers without their environmental impacts.

From innovation to commercial manufacturing: industrializing AeoniQ^™ in Portugal

As part of this agreement, the world's first AeoniQ^™ industrial plant will be built at the Caima pulp mill in Altri. Construction is expected to begin in 2026 with an initial capacity of 1,750 tons per year. In addition to existing pilot lines in Austria, a pre-industrial plant will be launched in early 2026 in Portugal to accelerate prototyping, brand partnerships, and exclusive collections.

The joint venture, named “ A eon iQ ,” combines Altri’s industrial expertise with HeiQ’s technological prowess—“ A ” for A ltri and “ iQ ” for HeiQ — a partnership for the next eon of humanity, that of sustainable development! The company will benefit from vertical integration from eucalyptus-based paper pulp to finished yarn, and will subsequently expand to recycled raw materials such as cotton textile waste, agricultural waste, and bacterial cellulose derived from food waste.

Durability and performance with market-ready validation
AeoniQ^™ cellulosic filament yarns are fully biodegradable in marine, soil, freshwater, and industrial composting environments (certified by TÜV Austria and OEKO-TEX®). The product offers natural elasticity, softness, and tenacity, as well as a unique ability to be textured, and is compatible in many areas, such as lingerie, workwear, footwear, home textiles, medical clothing, and automotive interiors.

Two independent life cycle assessments confirm that AeoniQ^™ reduces CO₂ emissions by at least 3.2 kg per kg of yarn compared to polyester. The yarn has already appeared in four exclusive Hugo Boss collections and in Lameirinho's "vegan silk" bed linen line presented at Heimtextil 2025.

Transforming the textile ecosystem through strategic alliances
The AeoniQ^™ joint venture is supported by global players in the textile value chain: German fashion brand Hugo Boss and MAS Holdings, South Asia's leading technical apparel manufacturer, are co-investors, while THE LYCRA COMPANY has acquired exclusive distribution rights. Other development partners include Riopele, Impetus, Lameirinho, Beste, Feinjersey, Taiana, Dolinschek, Aunde Group, Amann, and Strahle + Hess.

“This agreement embodies Altri’s strategy of moving up the value chain and investing in next-generation materials,” said José Soares de Pina, CEO of Altri. “We are developing a game-changing innovation that aligns perfectly with our commitment to building a more renewable world.”

Carlo Centonze, CEO of HeiQ, added: “Thanks to Altri’s investment, AeoniQ^™ is moving from a commercially proven innovation to a large-scale global production platform. Together, we are delivering a market-ready solution for one of the most polluting industries on the planet: textiles. The joint venture brings together Altri’s industrial expertise and HeiQ’s innovation prowess to deliver a sustainable, high-performance, plastic-free European textile.”

In addition to diversifying its business, the acquisition of AeoniQ^™ aligns with Altri's strategy to increase its involvement in the sustainable textile fiber sector and contribute to building a more renewable world. The group is founded on the principles of the bioeconomy, using renewable and recyclable resources from certified forests and transforming them through industrial processes aligned with the most efficient and environmentally advanced technologies, thus promoting the principles of the circular economy.

The completion of the acquisition is subject to the satisfaction of closing conditions, as is customary in transactions of this nature. The companies expect the process to be completed in the third quarter.

About HeiQ
HeiQ is a global innovator of clean, bio-based materials headquartered in Switzerland, offering over 200 patented technologies for textiles, cosmetics, hygiene, batteries, building materials, and more. HeiQ's goal is simple: to improve everyday products and make them more sustainable through science. www.heiq.com

Others
Altri SGPS SA is one of Europe's leading producers of cellulosic fibers from FSC and PEFC-certified forests. The company operates three modern pulp mills with an annual production capacity of over 1.1 million tons. The group is also active in the field of forest-based renewable energy, particularly in industrial cogeneration using black liquor. Its forestry strategy is based on the comprehensive utilization of all forest components: cellulosic fibers, black liquor, and forest residues. Committed to the bioeconomy and decarbonization, Altri is now expanding into sustainable textiles to reshape the future of fiber. www.altri.pt

AeoniQ^™
AeoniQ^™ is HeiQ's flagship textile innovation: a fully biodegradable, recyclable, and plastic-free filament made from renewable and circular cellulosic raw materials. Designed to replace highly polluting and microplastic-generating polyester and nylon, AeoniQ^™ offers fashion and technical performance without the environmental cost. Its independent corporate structure allows for strategic investments and rapid commercialization. www.heiq-aeoniq.com