NIKIN's Path to Circularity with NOOSA®
After the first successful steps with products made from naNea, we are delighted to continue this journey with another circular material: NOOSA®. With this innovative fiber, we are bringing two new products to our Circular Collection. On the one hand, a circular Treeanie, and on the other, a circular sock bundle. Both products are designed to be fully recyclable, while remaining comfortable to wear, durable, and functional.
By the way: If you want to learn more about our Circularity Strategy – and how we aim to achieve our ambitious goal – then take a look here.
What is NOOSA® and what makes this fiber so special?
NOOSA® is a bio-based fiber developed by a Belgian start-up. It consists of polylactide (PLA), a material derived from corn starch, more precisely from the residues of sugar production. This means NOOSA® is based on a renewable raw material that does not compete directly with food production. What truly makes NOOSA® special is its proprietary NOOCYCLE® technology. This enables products made from NOOSA® to be fully recycled, not just once, but over and over again. The result: a fiber that remains in a closed loop and leaves no waste, thus fitting perfectly with NIKIN.
In addition to its circularity, NOOSA® is also characterized by being a material very well suited for everyday clothing worn close to the skin, such as our socks. It is breathable, hypoallergenic, odor-inhibiting, and bacteriostatic, meaning it actively prevents the growth of bacteria.
How NOOSA® Recycling Works
For a material to be truly circular, it requires not only recyclability but also a well-thought-out recycling process. This is achieved through NOOSA®'s proprietary NOOCYCLE® technology. When a worn product is returned, it first enters the specially designated NOOSA® recycling facilities, where the fiber is fully chemically recycled. This means that the polylactide fibers are broken down at a molecular level and then processed back into new raw fiber, completely without loss of quality.
Unlike conventional textile recycling, which usually results in a lower-quality recycled fiber, NOOSA® maintains full quality. The fiber can therefore be reused repeatedly without needing to add new raw materials. This way, a used Treeanie or a pair of socks becomes new, high-quality material, ready for its next product life cycle.
Our New Circular Products Made from NOOSA®
With the Treeanie Circular Navy and the TreeSocks Bundle Circular Multicolor, our Circular Collection continues to grow. These two new products demonstrate how everyday life, comfort, and true circularity can be combined, as both are made from the innovative NOOSA® fiber, which is plant-based and fully recyclable. And the best part: both the Treeanie and the socks are part of our “Circular Cashback” program. The longer you wear and care for them, the more money you get back when you return them at the end, allowing us to put them back into the loop.
All details on how the “Circular Cashback” program works, how much money you get back and when, and how the products are returned to us, can be found in our "Circular Cashback" Portal.
Together Towards 100% Circularity
With our new NOOSA® products, we are taking another step on our path to 100% circular clothing by 2030. However, this path is not just about new materials, but about a fundamental rethinking: We question existing processes, continuously develop our designs, and collaborate with partners who share our vision of creating a textile industry where resources are not wasted but kept in a closed loop.
And you are an important part of it, because with every circular product, you choose durable alternatives and help close loops instead of generating new waste. Thank you for not just watching, but actively participating and rethinking fashion with us for a greener future, step by step and Tree by Tree.
