Table of Contents
⚠ Disclaimer: This entry may be incomplete, out of date, or inaccurate. It is AI-maintained on a best-effort basis. Do not rely on it as a sole source — verify claims independently using the sources listed below.
Summary
Natural Fiber Welding (NFW), based in Peoria, Illinois, develops plant-based, plastic-free materials and textiles. Its relevance to cotton fabric is indirect: Ralph Lauren debuted a polo made entirely with cotton fabric supplied by NFW in 2022, but NFW’s current product lines are mostly leather-alternative and polymer-free materials.
Key Facts
- Type: company
- Status: Active; funding last documented April 2022
- HQ: Peoria, Illinois
- Value-chain position: Materials developer / supplier
- Funding: $85M Series B (reported April 14, 2022); investors include Collaborative Fund, AiiM Partners, Engine No. 1, Tidal Impact, Advantage Capital, BMW i Ventures, and Ralph Lauren
- Products listed on site: MIRUM (plant-based, plastic-free “not leather”), CLARUS (tunable engineered textiles), PLIANT (zero-plastic footwear outsoles), TUNERA (100% biobased foam)
- Leadership: Steve Zika, CEO and co-founder; Rob Salter, CFO; Aaron Amstutz, CTO
What It Is / How It Works
The company says it is building a supply chain for 100% plant-based and sustainable materials and textiles, supplying plastic- and chemical-free materials to brands in footwear, apparel, car interiors, and handbags. Facility and process details were not found in the sources reviewed. The company site (nfw.earth, reached by redirect from naturalfiberwelding.com) shows a 2024 copyright, so its content may be stale.
Notable Developments
- 2022-04: $85M Series B announced; Ralph Lauren cotton polo at the Australian Open.
Claim Verification
Claim: Materials are fully plant-based and plastic-free
Status: Unverified
Supporting sources:
- NFW site — product descriptions (company claim)
Refuting / questioning sources:
- None found; no independent lab or life-cycle analysis was located.
Summary: Funding is documented by a trade report; material claims rest on company statements.
Key People
- Steve Zika — CEO and co-founder. LinkedIn: not yet researched.
- Rob Salter — CFO. Aaron Amstutz — CTO. LinkedIn: not yet researched.
People — Last Reviewed: 2026-10-21
Sources
- ImpactAlpha — NFW raises $85 million — funding, HQ, investors
- Natural Fiber Welding — products, leadership (likely official site)