Vancouver, Canada-based Naturally Advanced Technologies (NAT) has signed an exclusive two-year development and supply agreement with Minneapolis-based retailer Target Corp. to evaluate the use of CRAiLAR® Flax fiber in a range of home textiles including bedding and bath products, table linens, window treatments, and decorative pillows, among other products.

"Target represents a best-in-class partner for CRAiLAR in the domestic textiles category," said Ken Barker, CEO, NAT. "Also the fiber's performance in moisture management, shrinkage reduction, and dye chemical savings is in line with Target's sustainability efforts."

Crailar Flax is produced using a proprietary enzymatic process developed by NAT in partnership with the National Research Council of Canada to convert bast fibers such as flax, hemp, jute and kenaf into soft, durable textiles that are comparable to cotton in comfort and which can be processed using existing spinning and fabric-forming technologies. The company is ramping up production of Crailar Flax to provide the fiber to several development partners, and anticipates weekly production capacity to amount to 650,000 pounds by late 2012, with additional capacity coming online in the months following. Over the past year, NAT also has signed Crailar Flax commercialization or development contracts with Hanesbrands Inc., Levi Strauss & Co., Georgia-Pacific, Cintas, and several other companies. 

December 6, 2011