TEXTILES.ORG
New technologies will be able to transform ocean byproducts into high-quality, durable leathers and performance textiles, promoting sustainability and reducing waste, says Tidal Vision founder and CEO, Craig Kasberg. The new, Juneau, Alaska-based company formally launched on Kickstarter May 27.
“Two billion pounds of seafood byproducts are thrown away each year in Alaska,” Kasberg says. “By developing new technologies to upcycle these byproducts, Tidal Vision is looking to add value to sustainable fisheries, reduce waste, and provide quality consumer products, such as durable aquatic leathers and, later, Chitoskin™ textiles.”
Tidal Vision’s naturally tanned and sustainably-harvested Alaska salmon leather launches first. The company’s proprietary tanning formula has been perfected over 25 years and combines durability with environmentally-friendly ingredients.
The company first Chitoskin™ textiles and products will be available this fall. The textiles, used for apparel and performance wear, are naturally odorless because they contain chitosan. Chitosan is a material in crab and shrimp shells that naturally inhibits odor, and it’s 100 percent biocompatible.
The company’s innovative method of extracting chitosan does not use harsh chemicals, and it produces chitosan with a higher tensile strength than is currently available, opening up additional potential applications for chitosan use.
Based on a recent survey, Kasberg says, 89 percent think that sustainability is important, but about 50 percent expect sustainable products to come with compromises in either price or quality. “We think sustainability should not be a compromise,” he says. “Consumers value sustainability, and they want quality and affordability just as much,” Kasberg added. “We have built the foundation of this company on meeting all of those requirements.”