Inside the Microfiber Innovation Challenge Solutions Fair
Under Armour and Conservation X Labs Hosted the Microfiber Solutions Fair to Stop Plastic Pollution from Clothing & Textiles
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND June 17, 2022 — Entrepreneurs, scientists, investors, and environmentalists from around the world came together on June 16, 2022 to Under Armour’s global headquarters for the Microfiber Innovation Challenge Solutions Fair to work towards creating a more sustainable textile industry.
The Solutions Fair was a networking event that showcased some of the top solutions to prevent microplastic pollution, as selected through the Microfiber Innovation Challenge, which was funded by the Flotilla Foundation and The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations.
Conservation X Labs, a Washington D.C.-based technology organization with a conservation mission, led the Microfiber Innovation Challenge and awarded prize funds totaling $650,000 to five innovations that are poised to make a big impact on preventing microfiber pollution from clothing and textiles.
“We recognize that innovation plays a huge role in changing the world for the better. We know that this is only the beginning to imagine and bring reality to the exciting changes that we seek.”
The highlighted innovations featured at the Solutions Fair were selected for their potential impact to reduce or prevent microfiber pollution, and ultimately, prevent the sixth mass extinction. They included companies using biotechnology to create textiles and processes to alter the surfaces of fibers within a fabric to prevent microfiber shedding.
Innovators featured at the Solutions Fair connected with partners and potential funders who may help companies to pilot their innovations or provide other assistance to get to market. The innovators also toured Under Armour’s proving grounds, their lab for developing new, cutting-edge products and efficient manufacturing processes – and where many of the innovators could hope to see their innovation next.
“One of the biggest environmental challenges our industry faces today is fiber shedding. We hope that this event will spark more innovative ideas, foster stronger partnerships, and ultimately help bring to reality the exciting and groundbreaking solutions that are featured today.”
Under Armour & Conservation X Labs CEOs also came together for a short discussion about innovation and sustainability, including providing their insight and advice for innovators.
The finalists and winners in attendance are already making progress to implement and scale their innovations across the textile supply chain. Recently, Microfiber Innovation Challenge winners Natural Fiber Welding received an $85 million Series B investment for the company’s biobased materials platform expansion; while Pangaia x MTIX Ltd. successfully launched their first physical installation of their Microfiber Mitigation platform. Challenge finalist AlgiKnit recently closed a $13 million Series A round. In addition, it’s expected that many of the Challenge finalists will have more news about their successes in the coming months.
“When we run these challenges, we are building communities of solvers. Everyone represented here today has created amazing innovations, products, and processes. You are all part of the solution and we are honored to be a part of your success.”
Solutions Fair attendees were in agreement that there is a need to “turn off the tap” to stop plastic pollution – and the textile industry has a critical challenge and opportunity to support scalable innovations that can make a difference.
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About the Microfiber Innovation Challenge
The Microfiber Innovation Challenge Solutions Fair is organized by Conservation X Labs (CXL), a technology organization with a conservation mission that supports solutions to prevent extinction through innovation competitions and transformative products that protect biodiversity and planetary health.
Five winners were awarded through the Microfiber Innovation Challenge in March 2022. The Challenge was made possible through funding provided by the Flotilla Foundation and the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, and is supported by more than two dozen partners.
To learn more, visit https://microfiberinnovation.org or https://conservationxlabs.com
For more information, contact:
Amy Corrine Richards
amy@conservationxlabs.org
952-217-7102