Naturalfiberwelding
2 known investors
Natural Fiber Welding (NFW) develops plant-based, plastic-free performance materials, including a leather alternative (MIRUM), engineered textiles (CLARUS), footwear outsoles (PLIANT), and biobased foam (TUNERA). It supplies these materials to fashion, footwear, and consumer brands seeking sustainable alternatives to plastic-based products.
Also known as Natural Fiber Welding Β· NFW
Founders & leadership
Investors Β· 2
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Natural Fiber Welding (NFW) develops plant-based, plastic-free performance materials intended to replace plastic-based inputs across consumer goods. Its product portfolio spans four branded platforms: MIRUM, a plant-based leather alternative; CLARUS, tunable precision-engineered textiles; PLIANT, footwear outsoles made without plastic; and TUNERA, described by the company as a first-in-kind 100% biobased foam.
The company positions its materials as inputs for brand collaborations and lists a wide range of partner brands across automotive, apparel, footwear, accessories and luxury goods, including BMW, Reformation, H&M, Patagonia, Pangaia, New Balance, Allbirds, Camper, Chaco, Deckers, Vivobarefoot, Bellroy, Richemont, IWC, RLX, Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Anita Dongre, Unless Collective, Melina Bucher, Baabuk, Veshin and others. NFW also markets co-developed finished products directly, such as a Runner K21 shoe made with MIRUM.
Business model
NFW supplies its branded materials platforms to consumer brands that incorporate them into finished goods, and also promotes and sells collaboration products made with those materials through its own site.
Traction
The company lists collaborations with roughly thirty consumer and automotive brands and offers products built with its materials, alongside awards recognition in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Latest developments
In 2024 NFW was shortlisted and named a finalist for the Earthshot Prize.
βΈFull profile β market position, technology, go-to-market
Market position
NFW has been recognized as a 2024 Earthshot Prize finalist, one of fifteen chosen from nearly 2,500 nominees across 139 countries, and was named by Fast Company among the world's most innovative companies in 2022 (Style) and 2023 (Energy & Sustainability).
Technology
The company develops materials derived from plant inputs and formulated without plastic, spanning a leather alternative (MIRUM), engineered and tunable textiles (CLARUS), footwear outsole material (PLIANT), and a biobased foam (TUNERA). Its technical leadership includes chemists and material scientists, two of whom were recognized as IPOEF 2022 Inventors of the Year.
Go-to-market
Materials are commercialized through creative collaborations with established consumer brands, complemented by direct sale of featured collaboration products.
Footwear, apparel, fashion, accessories, luxury and automotive brands seeking non-plastic material alternatives.
Compiled by commissioned research from 1 cited public sources β announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Non-dilutive funding Β· 5 SBIR/STTR awards
Federal grants β no equity taken| Agency | Phase | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. ArmyArmy | Phase IISTTR | 2019 | $1000K |
| U.S. ArmyArmy | Phase ISTTR | 2019 | $150K |
| U.S. ArmyArmy | Phase IISTTR | 2018 | $455.6K |
| National Science Foundation | Phase I | 2018 | $225K |
| U.S. ArmyArmy | Phase ISTTR | 2017 | $150K |
Source: SBIR.gov award data (U.S. Small Business Administration). SBIR/STTR awards are competitive federal R&D grants and contracts β non-dilutive capital alongside any venture rounds above.
Timeline Β· 4
launches, deals, and filingsNFW was named one of fifteen finalists for the 2024 Earthshot Prize, selected from nearly 2,500 nominees across 139 countries. The Earthshot Prize was launched by Prince William in 2020 to identify and scale solutions to environmental challenges by 2030.
Fast Company listed NFW among the world's most innovative companies in the Energy & Sustainability category, a second consecutive year of recognition.
Fast Company listed NFW among the world's most innovative companies in the Style category.
The Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation named NFW chemists Luke Haverhals and Aaron Amstutz 2022 Inventors of the Year.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
βΈResearch sources Β· 1
primary sources listed
- Naturalfiberweldingnaturalfiberwelding.com Β· web
1 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Naturalfiberwelding do?
- Natural Fiber Welding makes plant-based, plastic-free performance materials for footwear, fashion and consumer products.
- Who founded Naturalfiberwelding?
- Naturalfiberwelding was founded by Steve Zika, Luke Haverhals.
- Who are Naturalfiberwelding's investors?
- Naturalfiberwelding's investors include BMW i Ventures, Evolution VC Partners.