Orange Fiber is the world’s first brand to produce sustainable fabrics from citrus juice by-products. The innovative process has been patented since 2014 in the main citrus juice producing countries all over the world.

Citrus is the largest fruit produced world wide and after consumption 40-60% of the fruit is discarded. Over 700.000 tonnes of citrus peel waste is produced in Italy every year.

Orange Fiber is the Italian company that has patented and produces sustainable fabrics from citrus fruit (ornages, lemons, tangerines) by-products. Established in Catania in 2014, Orange Fiber creates high quality fabrics for the fashion-luxury sector. The company has established a fully traced and transparent supply chain to transform this by-product into the perfect ingredient for conscious designers. The process has been patented in 2014 and extended in the main citrus juice producing countries, aiming at replicating and scaling its solution in promising markets, thus extending the company impact.

The company takes leftovers from the citrus juice industry and converts them in cellulose in their plant in Sicily. After this, thanks to partnerships with other companies the cellulose is transformed in fiber or yarn. Finally, the fabric is created together with partners in Como. At the touch, the final product reminds of silk, and it is therefore well suited for luxury markets.

Enrica Arena, founder and CEO, states that starting from the same raw material, and mixing it with cotton or elastic textures, a final product well suited for shirt manufacturing can also be obtained.

Orange Fiber has collaborated with international brands such as Salvatore Ferragamo, H&M and E. Marinella for some limited collections using the company fabrics.

The biggest challenges concern the industrial scale up and the optimisation of the costs of production. Practically, on the one hand the company is working on the process and on the synergies with citrus squeezers and their processes, and on the other hand it is working with industrial players in the cellulosic industry for fabrics to adjust to their standard of productions, while keeping in mind the brand’s requests and preferences.

Also, this process requires time and investment, so the company needs to attract investors who believe in and support innovation in sustainable fashion.