SBIR-STTR Award

Current methodologies utilized for production of fibers for clothing are environmentally harmful costly and labor intensive. To reduce environmental pollution particularly synthetic microplastic pollution in the marine environment and provide an alternative bio-based rotational fiber crop for small and medium sized farmers and textile producers; Bear Fiber is developing a novel biotechnological cottonization process and manufacturing platform for fiber production with hemp that uses less water and energy and is more environmentally friendly than traditional fibers. The outcome of the proposed activities will be a hemp fiber cottonization process that is more environmentally friendly economical and consistent than current methods; and a cotton-like hemp fiber that can be easily spun with and compliment cotton. The technical hurdles currently limiting the market opportunity for hemp fiber for textiles addressed in this proposal are: 1) development of an appropriate biotechnological and chemical treatment called cottonization (=degumming wet processing) process to ensure that consistent hemp fiber can be produced economically for spinning mills and apparel brands thus completing the supply chain to allow agricultural producers a market for hemp fiber they cultivate and 2) proof of concept yarn spinning of a standard cotton yarn blended with our proprietary hemp fiber. The first technical objective will focus on development of a biotechnological cottonization method to process hemp fibers. The second technical objective will provide proof of concept yarn produced as a result of the novel approach. These aims will identify a novel biological platform for use in US and global textiles in Phase II.