DNFI Natural Fibres Award Celebrates 10th Year

The Discover Natural Fibres Initiative (DNFI) selects its 10th Natural Fibres Award winner this year, marking a decade of celebrating scientific research, manufacturing processes, and innovations that expand the potential of natural fibres.

Focusing on industrial and technical applications, DNFI’s Natural Fibres Award is a recognised platform for innovation across the natural fibres value chain. Past winners include bio-based composites made from cellulose and novel processes for using agricultural waste.

2025’s winner, Mohammad Faraz of BUITEMS University in Pakistan, won with a fully sustainable manufacturing process for high-performance composites made from banana and cotton fibres. Combining chemical-free fibre extraction with solar-assisted processing, the new process opens up new prospects for lightweight construction applications. These applications are particularly relevant for the automotive sector, reports the DNFI.

Noteworthy international participation

The Award receives entries from across the globe. Year after year, the submissions demonstrate the important contribution natural fibres make to sustainable material solutions and new industrial applications.

Over the past decade, projects have been entered from universities, research institutes, start-ups and industrial companies.

Closing date for this year’s award is 30 September

Once again, the DNFI invites companies, research institutions, universities and individual developers to submit their projects. Find submission forms and instructions on the DNFI website.

Submissions must be received by 30 September 2026. The 2026 Award is sponsored by DNFI member ITMF, the International Textile Manufacturers Federation.

The winner will be announced in October and invited to attend the DNFI’s plenary session on 13 January 2027. An award ceremony takes place on 14 January 2027 at the Heimtextil fair in Frankfurt. Best of luck to all who enter!

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