Turning Crop Waste Into Textiles: A Cleaner Cellulose Source

A new approach developed at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden could reshape how cellulose textiles are produced. Instead of relying on resource-intensive cotton or chemically processed wood pulp, researchers have demonstrated that common agricultural residues—like wheat straw and oat husks—can serve as effective raw materials for dissolving pulp, the base for cellulose fibers.

The process centers on soda pulping, a simplified technique that involves boiling plant matter in sodium hydroxide (lye). This method sidesteps many of the environmental drawbacks of traditional pulping, significantly reducing chemical use and eliminating the need for intensive pre-treatment steps like debarking or wood chipping. By applying this cleaner process to crop byproducts, the team is addressing both raw material scarcity and agricultural waste management.

Sweden produces substantial volumes of cereal waste annually, and the study highlights how these byproducts can be redirected into the textile supply chain. The approach offers global potential to ease deforestation pressures, lower emissions, and provide new income streams for farmers and grain processors.

Scalable With Existing Infrastructure

One of the key advantages of this method is its compatibility with existing pulp and paper infrastructure. Because soda pulping can be implemented without the need for major new equipment, facilities already operating in forest-rich or agricultural regions could more easily transition to this alternative feedstock. This reduces both capital investment and the time required to scale.

The research, a collaboration between Chalmers, Tree To Textile, and the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, is funded by Bioinnovation’s Resource-Smart Processes program. It aligns with broader industry goals to reduce environmental impact while maintaining high fiber performance standards.

Beyond wheat and oat residues, researchers are also investigating other candidates including press-cake—a byproduct from grass juice extraction—which has shown potential in early tests. These developments signal a growing toolkit for climate-resilient cellulose sources that don’t rely on high-input crops or mature forests.

Pilot-scale fiber production is already underway using the newly developed pulps, moving the concept closer to commercial viability. For brands seeking lower-impact alternatives without overhauling existing supply chains, agricultural cellulose could present a viable next step.