Orange Fiber: textiles from citrus waste

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.