The companies said through their work together, they could provide the outdoor segment with a sustainable alternative to conventional textiles without compromises in technical quality.

Spinnova launched as a spin-off from the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland in 2014 and has worked steadily to develop its technology for making textile fibres out of wood or waste from leather, textile and food production. Its system works without the use of harmful chemicals. The process is zero-waste, generates no microplastics, minimal CO2 emissions and is low in water consumption.

Oliver Lang, vice-president of product development for The North Face, said: “It’s our over-arching goal to build more circular products, constantly develop innovative materials and to further reduce the environmental impacts of our products. Spinnova is the ideal partner on that journey.”