AI Turns Feathers to Cashmere

What happened

Everbloom introduced an AI-driven process that transforms keratin-based waste fibres, including chicken feathers from farms and poultry suppliers, into upcycled materials resembling polyester and cashmere. This process, which secured over $8 million in funding for scaling its extrusion and spinning, yields biodegradable fibres compatible with existing textile equipment. The new materials offer local fibre production with improved economics and climate outcomes, requiring significantly less land and water, and producing fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional wool or cashmere.

Why it matters

The integration of Everbloom's AI-driven fibre production introduces new due diligence requirements for procurement and supply chain management teams concerning the sourcing and quality assurance of keratin-based waste streams. Operations teams face an increased oversight burden to integrate these novel biodegradable fibres, compatible with existing textile equipment, into manufacturing workflows. This shift creates a new dependency on waste material availability and processing consistency, impacting quality control and sustainability departments in verifying material performance and environmental claims.